First ever admissions process underway for New Uzbekistan University

New Uzbekistan University welcomed its first applications this August, just months after it was established. Applicants will now take part in an admissions process, supported by Cambridge, before study begins in October.

One of the youngest and largest populations in Central Asia, half of Uzbekistan’s 33.5 million people are under 30. Since 2016, education has been placed at the centre of national development objectives, aiming to establish an education system that develops human capital. According to the UNSECO Institute for Statistics, the gross enrolment ratio of tertiary education in Uzbekistan rose from 8.2% in 2015 to 15.9% in 2020.

A key element of national education transformation, New Uzbekistan University aims to become a first-class hub of science and technology in Central Asia and across the globe. It hopes to promote economic growth and national development towards a knowledge-based economy. The university plans to develop the next generation of Uzbekistan, offering grants to Presidential School graduates, but also to attract international students.

Professor Dr Wolfgang A. Herrmann, President Emeritus of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), will act as Honorary President of New Uzbekistan University. TUM will act as the strategic and operative partner of New Uzbekistan University, while Massachusetts Institute of Technology will offer collaboration on curriculum development, exchange programmes and professional development. Cambridge University Press & Assessment, led by experts at Cambridge Admissions Testing and supported by Cambridge Partnership for Education, will develop and support entrance exams.

In developing New Uzbekistan University, education specialists have identified future professions in the country and sought to understand how the institution can best equip the next generation. They plan to establish faculties of engineering, mathematics, physics, natural sciences, business, information technology and financial management. University leadership is also planning to create new directions in agro-technologies, in recognition of Uzbekistan’s resources in the agricultural sector.

In the first year, study at New Uzbekistan University will focus on three areas: Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Software Engineering. At the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, students will help develop solutions to global problems in key areas such as creating molecular transformations, climate change, clean energy, air and water. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering will lay the foundation for students to build their future in large industries including automotive, heating and cooling, manufacturing, and aviation. In Software Engineering, students will design and create prototypes, applying theoretical knowledge and practical skills to engineering issues.