Have student dormitories in Uzbekistan been put up for sale?

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation has issued an official statement regarding reports circulating on social media about the sale of student dormitories.

 

According to the ministry's information, the listings placed for public auctions are not for rooms where students live, but rather for vacant auxiliary spaces within student dormitories, such as basements, courtyard areas, kitchens, buffets, and other support areas not used as sleeping quarters.

 

Specifically, the following spaces have been put up for lease through public auctions: a 69.8 square meter vacant area in the courtyard of a student dormitory at Samarkand State Medical University, a 40 square meter room in the basement of Fergana State University, vacant rooms of 37 and 52 square meters at Gulistan State University, a 36 square meter kitchen at Urganch State University, the kitchen building at Fergana State Technical University, and a technological area on the premises of Termiz State University.

 

It is noted that these facilities are not student living quarters, and leasing them out will not lead to a reduction in the number of beds available in student dormitories.

 

The ministry also reminded that, in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PF-16 dated January 30, 2025, the task of building student dormitories with 8,000 beds based on public-private partnerships was set for 2025. It was noted that by the end of the year, a total of 11,084 beds in student dormitories were established, fulfilling the set plan by 138.6 percent.

 

According to the data, during 2022-2025, a total of 74,100 beds in student dormitories were created across the republic. As a result, the total capacity of dormitories in state higher education institutions reached 159,100 beds, and the level of student provision with dormitories amounted to 58 percent.

 

The ministry also announced that in 2026, it is planned to build and commission new student dormitories with an additional 12,110 beds across the republic.