Polina Shlikhtemaier. Uzbekistan's Higher Education Market in 2016–2025: Competition Dynamics and Prospects for Russia

Since 2016, Uzbekistan's higher education system has been undergoing major institutional reforms. Between 2016 and 2025, youth enrollment in higher education grew from 9% to 47.7%, with the government targeting 50% by 2030. The country produces over 380,000 high school graduates each year, and young people under 29 make up about 27% of the population. Growing demand has driven supply expansion: the number of universities rose from 70 in 2016/2017 to 222 in 2024/2025. While state universities remain dominant, private institutions are growing rapidly and branches of foreign universities are opening.

Three main competitor groups have emerged. National universities (state and private) enroll most students. Universities from distant countries (UK, South Korea, Turkey, etc.) form the second group through their branches. Russian universities constitute the third, via local branches and training programs in Russia.

The Uzbek market remains strategically important for Russian higher education. Linguistic and cultural proximity, as well as sustained trust in Russian education quality, create competitive advantages. However, competition has intensified recently. Chinese, South Korean, Turkish, and Western European universities are now aggressively targeting Uzbek applicants. This study assesses the competitive positions of these three groups, identifies their strengths and weaknesses, and offers recommendations for Russian universities to strengthen their market presence...