President Mirziyoyev Approves Performance-Based Funding and U10 Flagship Program to Reform Uzbek Higher Education

President Mirziyoyev approves U10 Flagship program, tying Uzbek university funding to national rankings, employment rates, and industrial research clusters.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 7, 2026, 8:19 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Kun.uz

The Strategic Selection of National Research Universities

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed a transformative proposal to establish the "U10 – Flagship Universities of Uzbekistan" program, a merit-based framework designed to elevate the country's academic standing. Through a rigorous competitive process, ten institutions will be granted the status of National Research Universities based on the caliber of their faculty and their performance in international rankings. This elite designation is intended to create a tier of institutions capable of competing on a global scale while serving as the primary drivers of domestic innovation. According to the presidential press service, the selection will prioritize universities with robust scientific infrastructure and a proven track record of high-quality instruction.

Capitalizing on the Creation of Scientific Clusters

To support the mission of these flagship universities, the government has authorized the creation of specialized scientific clusters that function as consortiums between academia and industry. Each of the ten selected universities will receive up to UZS 150 billion from the Fund for Financing Science and Supporting Innovation to kickstart these developments. These clusters are designed to involve not only local and foreign educational institutions but also research organizations and private industrial enterprises. By fostering these multi-layered partnerships, the state intends to ensure that academic curiosity is translated into tangible economic value through the shared use of high-tech infrastructure and collaborative research.

Transitioning to a Results-Driven Funding Model

Starting in 2027, the traditional model of university financing in Uzbekistan will undergo a radical shift toward a performance-incentive system. Under this new mandate, the volume of state funding provided to an institution will be directly linked to its position in national rankings, specifically focusing on the employment rate of its graduates. This evaluation will also weigh factors such as the quality of education, the level of digitalization, and the extent of international cooperation. By restructuring state grants to reflect labor market demands and the complexity of academic programs, the government is forcing universities to align their curricula with the practical needs of the national economy.