Does an Uzbek diploma open the way to Europe?

The number of higher education programs in Uzbekistan that have undergone international accreditation is planned to be increased from 300. Currently, this figure is close to 100.

 

This was announced at the seminar "The Path of Uzbek Universities Toward European Accreditation," held at the Abdulla Avloniy National Institute of Pedagogical Skills in cooperation with Portugal's A3ES agency.

 

 

According to the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education, 31 foreign accreditation organizations are currently included in the register in Uzbekistan. Higher education institutions can undergo accreditation from these organizations, and their results are recognized by the national agency.

 

According to Nodir Ergashev, First Deputy Director of the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, international accreditation and diploma recognition are not the same concept.

 

That is, international accreditation does not mean automatic recognition of a diploma abroad. It primarily confirms that the educational program meets the established international quality requirements and that the graduate has acquired the necessary knowledge, skills, and competencies. This, in turn, can be an important factor in assessing the graduate's qualifications when continuing studies or finding employment abroad.

 

 

During the accreditation process, not only the university's documents are reviewed. Surveys are also conducted among students, professors-teachers, and employers. In particular, it is envisaged that employers' requirements will be taken into account when forming educational programs. That is, whether the university is developing the competencies demanded by the labor market in its graduates — this aspect is also evaluated.

 

At the seminar, representatives of Portugal's A3ES agency shared their experience on quality assurance approaches applied in the European Higher Education Area, institutional and program accreditation, and mechanisms for evaluation by experts.

 

The national agency's goal of expanding international accreditation from nearly 100 programs to 200 and then to more than 300 programs is aimed at increasing the recognition and competitiveness of Uzbek universities in the international education arena.