In today’s environment, the development of engineering education in the Republic of Uzbekistan has acquired strategic importance and has become one of the key areas of state policy in modernizing the economy and strengthening national human capital. The consistent implementation of structural reforms aimed at deepening the processing of raw materials, accelerating the growth of high-technology industries, introducing renewable energy sources, and advancing the digital transformation of the economy has objectively generated a growing demand for a new generation of engineers.
The modern labor market places qualitatively different demands on engineering personnel. Today the specialists in demand are those who possess not only fundamental knowledge of the engineering sciences but also competencies in digital technologies, project management, mathematical modeling, design engineering, and the introduction of innovative solutions into production processes. A new-generation engineer must be able to support the entire life cycle of a project — from the scientific substantiation of an idea and engineering calculations to development, testing, industrial deployment, and subsequent technological support.
A milestone in reforming the national system of engineering education was the adoption of Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PP-278 of September 8, 2025, which approved the long-term initiative “Uzbekistan — a Country of Advanced Engineers.” This legal act laid the conceptual foundations for a modern model of engineering training oriented toward international educational standards, the needs of an innovation-driven economy, and the country’s scientific and technological development priorities.
The document provides for the creation of a network of new-generation engineering schools, improved teaching of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects, deeper integration of education, science, and industry, expanded practice-oriented training for students, and the establishment of sustainable mechanisms of cooperation between higher education institutions and industrial enterprises and high-technology businesses. These measures are intended to substantially narrow the existing gap between the academic preparation of future engineers and the current requirements of the real sector of the economy, ensuring the training of competitive specialists able to work effectively amid technological transformation and global competition.
The large-scale modernization of engineering education in Uzbekistan is taking place against a background of unprecedented growth in investment activity in the high-technology sectors of the economy. This applies above all to the energy industry, where major infrastructure projects are being implemented with the participation of leading international companies and financial institutions. Such dynamics objectively increase the demand for highly qualified engineering and technical specialists capable of designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining modern production facilities.
A telling example is the work of one of the world’s largest energy companies, ACWA Power. During the Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF-2025), it was noted that the company’s total investment in the economy of Uzbekistan had exceeded $15 billion. Its investment portfolio comprises 19 major projects, 18 of which are being implemented in renewable energy — evidence of the country’s consistent focus on developing a low-carbon economy and diversifying its energy mix.
An important step in the further development of investment cooperation was a series of bilateral talks between government circles of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the management of ACWA Power, held on the eve of the Tashkent International Investment Forum TIIF-2026. The meeting reviewed prospects for expanding cooperation not only in renewable energy but also in the development of transport infrastructure, industrial cooperation, and the modernization of the healthcare system. This reflects a gradual shift of the investment partnership from individual sectoral projects toward a comprehensive model of technological and infrastructure cooperation.
At the same time, international financial institutions continue to take an active part in energy projects. In particular, the Asian Development Bank allocated $116 million for the construction of the 300 MW Bash-2 wind power plant in the Bukhara Region. Projects of this kind significantly increase the need for highly qualified engineers with up-to-date competencies in energy, automation, digital technologies, and the management of complex infrastructure systems.
An equally important area of state policy is the development of digital infrastructure in the regions. This was confirmed by the working visit of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Namangan Region on June 23, 2026, during which particular attention was paid to the training of engineering personnel for the digital economy. The President reviewed the work of the artificial intelligence laboratory of Namangan State Technical University, where students and faculty carry out research and applied projects in artificial intelligence, intelligent control systems, and digital technologies.
A key event of the visit was the groundbreaking ceremony for a modern IT park in the town of Yangi Namangan, Davlatabad District. The project, worth $117 million, is being implemented jointly with Chinese partners on a turnkey basis and provides for a modern technology complex with a total area of about 18,000 square meters. Once the facility is commissioned, some 2,000 highly skilled jobs are expected to be created, and the region’s exports of IT services are projected to reach $30 million a year.
The IT park in Namangan is part of a large-scale government program to build a network of regional innovation centers. Similar technology hubs are planned in Samarkand, Chirchik, Nurafshan, Urgench, and Navoi. The consistent implementation of these projects points to the emergence of a new technological architecture of the national economy, in which the quality of engineering education is becoming one of the key factors of investment appeal, technological independence, and the long-term competitiveness of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Another important element of state policy on engineering education was the adoption by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan of Resolution No. 300 of June 11, 2026, approving the Regulation on the national competition “Ilgor muhandislik maktabi” (“Advanced Engineering School”) for the Prize of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The document is aimed at identifying and supporting talented young people, improving the quality of teaching in engineering and technical subjects, and building a modern system for training future engineers as early as the level of general secondary education.
The competition is intended for students in grades 8–10 and is held in three stages — district, regional, and national — ensuring the consistent selection of the best-prepared students in physics, mathematics, and computer science.
The conceptual novelty of the initiative is that state support is extended not only to the winners of the competition but also to the educational institutions that have succeeded in building an effective system for training engineers. This approach fosters healthy competition among schools, encourages higher-quality teaching of STEM subjects, and creates additional conditions for the professional growth of teachers. The prize fund, calculated in base calculation values (BCVs), is distributed as follows:
The creation of a modern material and technical base is of particular importance in reforming engineering education. Under Resolution No. 300 of the Cabinet of Ministers, the school that wins the national stage of the “Advanced Engineering School” competition receives a targeted grant of 1 billion soums from the State Budget to establish a modern technology park and equip engineering laboratories. This mechanism stimulates not only the development of talented students but also the modernization of educational infrastructure.
The reforms under way are consistent with the priorities of the “Uzbekistan — 2030” Strategy, approved by Decree of the President No. UP-158 of September 11, 2023, as well as with national targets for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The development of engineering education directly contributes to SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), and SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), building modern human capital for the high-technology sectors of the economy.
A practical example of the successful integration of education, business, and the state is the Al Jabr project, implemented at the Shirin Energy College in partnership with ACWA Power. The program trains specialists for solar and wind power facilities and draws in young people from the regions where investment projects are under way, thereby developing human capital and increasing employment at the same time.
The high standard of training is confirmed by international achievements. In 2026, participants in the Al Jabr program won two gold medals at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition ITEX-2026, demonstrating the competitiveness of the Uzbek engineering school on the global stage.
The modernization of engineering education in the Republic of Uzbekistan has thus become one of the key areas of state policy, underpinning the country’s long-term technological and socioeconomic development. The steady advancement of STEM education, stronger cooperation among the state, educational organizations, and business, and the integration of science, industry, and innovation are creating the conditions required to train a new generation of engineers able to work effectively in a digital economy undergoing technological transformation.
The reforms being carried out contribute to the achievement of the national Sustainable Development Goals, enhance the competitiveness of domestic industry, accelerate the growth of high-technology sectors, and strengthen human capital. In these circumstances, engineering education is becoming not only a vital element of the education system but also a strategic factor in the innovative development, technological sovereignty, and sustainable economic growth of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Shahzoda Rahimova
Sustainable Development Center — Expert