The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, in cooperation with The Nippon Foundation, implemented a research project in 2023–2024 titled “Higher Education Dynamics, Internationalization and Institutional Diversity in Uzbekistan”.

This project was launched in the context of Uzbekistan’s ongoing higher education reform and aligned with national development goals set in the Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy. The research aimed to support evidence-based policymaking by analyzing the structural transformation of the country’s higher education system since 2016, with particular emphasis on innovation ecosystems, internationalization, and institutional diversification. A special focus was placed on identifying Japan’s potential role in supporting these reforms through grant tools and academic cooperation.

The main directions of the research included:

• Sociological fieldwork — large-scale surveys conducted among 1,275 respondents (students, faculty, and experts) in Tashkent, Nukus, Samarkand, Fergana, and Termez to assess perceptions of quality, innovation, and international engagement in higher education;
• Comparative analysis — evaluation of global practices from Japan, the United States, the EU, and the UK to identify applicable models for Uzbekistan;
• Needs assessment — identifying gaps in technical capacity, funding, research ecosystems, and the ability to integrate into global academic networks;
• Policy guidance — developing strategic recommendations for enhancing institutional sustainability and boosting student and faculty engagement in scientific innovation.

Key findings of the study pointed to:

• High motivation among Uzbek students to engage in scientific work, yet limited opportunities due to resource constraints and weak research infrastructure;
• Strong interest among faculty in pursuing research, but hindered by teaching overload and lack of access to international collaboration platforms;
• A generally respectful attitude toward science in Uzbek society, yet the need to bolster support systems for young researchers;
• Japan was frequently cited, alongside the U.S. and EU, as a key model for building academic innovation, with calls to deepen joint programs, grants, and mobility schemes.

Project Details

Funding: The Nippon Foundation (Japan)

Duration: October 2023 – March 2024

Research Team: Prof. Sherzod Abdullayev, Prof. Valery Khan, Dr. Akram Umarov, Rustam Makhmudov, Mekhriniso Abdurasulova, Hamza Boltaev, Olga Khan