Leaders from Central Asia convened in Tashkent to discuss the region’s evolving role in global higher education at the inaugural QS Eurasia Forum 2025. This significant event brought together over 300 representatives from universities, government, and industry across Central Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The forum emphasized a collective ambition to enhance academic quality and research opportunities, marking a pivotal moment for Central Asia as it seeks to influence global educational trends.
The spotlight on Uzbekistan was particularly notable, with Sardor Radjabov, the country’s first deputy minister of higher education, science and innovations, outlining extensive reforms that have transformed the educational landscape. Uzbekistan has broadened its international partnerships, collaborating with institutions from the UK, US, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Turkey, and the EU. As a result, seven Uzbek universities are now featured in the latest QS World University Rankings, with three making it into the top 1,000. The country has witnessed a remarkable growth in its higher education system, expanding from 69 institutions a decade ago to 204 today.
Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek, commended Uzbekistan’s progress and called for enhanced regional cooperation. He described this period as a “historic window of opportunity” for Eurasia to create a more robust academic environment. Nurbek highlighted Uzbekistan’s collaborations with approximately 20 British universities as a model for others in the region.
Azerbaijan’s Minister of Science and Education, Emin Amrullayev, reported significant growth in student enrolment, noting that numbers have nearly tripled. He emphasized that while increasing enrolment is important, the ultimate goal remains to enhance academic quality.
The forum resulted in new cooperation agreements, including a significant gathering of rectors from Uzbekistan and Germany, which produced over 50 agreements. Similar high-level discussions were conducted with representatives from China and Japan. Jeffrey Hunter from George Washington University expressed his institution’s interest in establishing memorandums of understanding, exchange agreements, and joint programs, reflecting the rising academic standards in Uzbekistan.
Professor Svetoslav Spassov from the University of National and World Economy in Bulgaria extended an invitation to Uzbek students for a fully funded Master’s program in Nuclear Security, supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
According to Nunzio Quacquarelli, President of QS, the number of Central Asian universities listed in the QS rankings has surged from 14 to 32 in recent years. Uzbekistan’s ascent is particularly impressive, having risen from no ranked universities to seven. Quacquarelli noted that Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan are all improving their research output, teaching quality, and curriculum standards. This progress is paving the way for joint degrees, increased student mobility, and greater research collaboration, establishing Central Asia as a region of significant academic potential on the global stage.
