Education - The Times Of Central Asia

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Informatics Olympiad

Uzbekistan Wins Four Medals as Tashkent Hosts Informatics Olympiad

Uzbekistan won one silver and three bronze medals as Tashkent hosted the International Olympiad in Informatics for the first time. The 38th edition of the annual competition ran from August 9 to 16. Official IOI statistics recorded 375 contestants from 92 member delegations. Students compete individually, tackling algorithmic programming problems over two five-hour days in the contest. Jahonali Khaydaraliev, a ninth-grade student at the Muhammad al-Khwarizmi Specialized School in Tashkent, won Uzbekistan’s silver medal, while Timur Kadirbergenov of the Presidential School in Nukus took bronze. Ulugbek Rakhmatullaev and Jahongirshoh Avazkhonov, both from the Presidential School in Namangan, also won bronze. It was the first time all four members of Uzbekistan’s main team had won medals at the same IOI. Sardor Salimov, who competed for a second Uzbek host team, received an honorable mention. The result improved on Uzbekistan’s previous best showing; at the 2025 Olympiad in Sucre, Bolivia, the country won one silver and one bronze medal. Uzbekistan was selected to host the 2026 competition in 2023, and received the IOI flag at the closing ceremony in Bolivia last year. Digital Technologies Minister Sherzod Shermatov linked the event to the country’s effort to expand technology education. “Hosting the IOI in Uzbekistan for the first time is more than a milestone; it is a homecoming,” Shermatov said. He referred to Uzbekistan’s association with the ninth-century mathematician Muhammad al-Khwarizmi. The word “algorithm” derives from the Latinized form of al-Khwarizmi’s name. Uzbekistan has expanded specialist technology education in recent years through Presidential Schools and dedicated IT schools. Several members of the 2026 team came through that system, while the national squad had trained since November 2025 and attended camps in Romania and Kazakhstan before the competition. The government has also put programming and digital skills into national education programs. For Tashkent, hosting the IOI gave those efforts an unusually visible international stage without changing the basic character of the event: a demanding school competition decided by how well students solve problems under time pressure. Elsewhere in Central Asia, Kazakhstan also had a strong competition, winning one gold and three silver medals. Maksim Tsoi finished fifth in the individual standings, according to Uzbekistan’s national news agency. Uzbekistan first competed at the IOI in 2015. Four medals from its four main team contestants therefore marked a new high for the country on home ground. Germany is due to host the next International Olympiad in Informatics in 2027.

Foreign Students

Kazakhstan International Student Scholarships Draw 16,000 Applicants

More than 16,000 people from 71 countries applied for 550 scholarships at Kazakh universities for the 2026-2027 academic year, giving applicants a success rate of just 3.4%. The successful candidates represent 49 countries, up from 26 in the previous academic year. The largest numbers of applications came from the Palestinian territories, Indonesia, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. Kazakhstan's state scholarship program provides 490 undergraduate scholarships, 50 master's scholarships, and 10 doctoral scholarships. The awards cover tuition and provide recipients with a monthly stipend. For the first time, students from the United States, Italy, Germany, the Maldives, and South Korea have been awarded scholarships under the program. A total of 27 universities are participating in the initiative, offering 886 academic programs. The largest numbers of scholarship recipients will study at Astana IT University and L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University in Astana, Satbayev University and the Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages in Almaty, and Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau University in Kokshetau. The program involved 37 universities and offered 2,668 academic programs last year, compared with 27 universities and 886 programs this year. The ministry did not explain the change. Launched in 2019, the scholarship program is designed to attract talented international students to Kazakhstan while expanding academic cooperation with other countries. It is open to foreign nationals, including ethnic Kazakhs living abroad who are not citizens of Kazakhstan. The ministry said ethnic Kazakhs from abroad accounted for a “significant” share of applicants, but did not disclose what proportion of the 550 scholarships they received. Applicants can select Kazakh, Russian, or English as their language of instruction, depending on the degree program. They must demonstrate sufficient proficiency before admission, as the scholarship program does not include preparatory courses in basic subjects or foreign languages. Competition for the scholarships has intensified. Applications increased from 13,723 candidates from 57 countries for the 2025-2026 academic year to 16,098 applicants from 71 countries this year, an increase of 17.3%, while the number of awards remained unchanged at 550. The scholarship program is part of Kazakhstan's broader effort to establish itself as a regional higher education hub. During the 2025-2026 academic year, the country hosted 35,075 international students from 88 countries, an increase of 11% from the previous year, while the government has expanded partnerships with foreign universities and opened 32 foreign university branches, attended by approximately 12,000 students. International students nevertheless account for only about 5% of Kazakhstan’s total university enrollment. Kazakhstan occupies the top three positions in the QS Central Asia University Rankings 2026. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University ranks first, followed by L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University and Satbayev University. Eighteen Kazakh institutions appear in the QS World University Rankings 2027, although none ranks among the global top 100. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University leads the country at joint 177th, followed by L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University at joint 338th and Satbayev University at joint 351st.

Education

Why Global Universities Are Expanding into Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's campaign to bring foreign universities into the country has moved far beyond a small pilot. By July 2026, the government said it had established partnerships with 40 foreign institutions and had 32 foreign university branches in operation. A separate government summary said those institutions enrolled about 12,000 students and employed 1,500 teachers, including 500 foreign professors. The expansion has accelerated since 2021. Universities from Europe, North America, Russia, China, and South Korea now operate campuses, joint institutes, or degree partnerships across Kazakhstan. The projects range from branded campuses in Astana and Almaty to specialist programs in Petropavl, Aktobe, Turkestan, and Taldykorgan. The figures describe more than a higher education reform. Kazakhstan is importing degrees, teaching methods, and university brands while trying to retain local students and attract more from abroad. The country's international student population reached 35,075 from 88 states in 2025, an increase of 11% from the previous year. These are related but distinct trends. Most international students attend Kazakh institutions, while foreign branches serve both domestic and overseas applicants. Kazakhstan wants to turn both flows into a regional education industry. The result will depend less on the number of openings than on degree quality, graduate employment, research, and regional demand. Universities Are Following the Students International education was long built around students moving to a small group of destination countries. That model remains powerful, but universities are increasingly taking their programs to the markets where students already live. UNESCO says 7.3 million of the world's 269 million higher education students now study outside their home countries, up from about two million in 2000. This has created a large mobile market, but it has also increased pressure on housing, immigration systems, and university capacity in popular destinations. The OECD noted in April 2026 that leading host countries were reassessing how international enrollment fits with housing supply, public services, and institutional capacity. Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and several European countries have reviewed visa or admissions policies in recent years. For universities, an overseas campus or joint degree offers another route to growth. It can bring in students who cannot afford several years of housing and travel abroad. It also gives an institution a presence in a new market without relying entirely on migration. Coventry University made the logic unusually clear when it announced a second Kazakhstan campus in June. "It is harder for students to come to the UK, so we are taking quality UK higher education to them," vice-chancellor John Latham said. Foreign operations are not always replicas of the home campus. They differ in ownership, staffing, admissions, language, and the qualification awarded. Some universities manage a branded campus. Others deliver programs through a Kazakh partner's buildings and staff. This makes expansion faster and cheaper, but it also makes quality assurance more important. Why Kazakhstan? Kazakhstan offers universities a sizeable domestic market and access to a much larger region. The country enrolled 678,100 higher education students at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, including more than...

Education reform

World Bank Approves $100 Million to Improve Primary Education in Uzbekistan

The World Bank has approved $100 million in concessional financing to help Uzbekistan improve the quality of primary education, strengthen foundational learning skills, and expand school capacity in some of the country’s most underserved regions, the bank announced. The funding, provided by the International Development Association, will support the Transforming Public Education for Economic Growth (BILIM) Program. The initiative will also receive a $5 million grant from the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd), marking the first partnership between IFFEd and the World Bank. Together with $273 million from Uzbekistan's government, the program has a total budget of $378 million. According to the World Bank, Uzbekistan’s public education system is under increasing pressure from rapid population growth and internal migration. School enrollment is expected to exceed 7.6 million students in 2026, requiring the construction of around 300 new schools every year to meet demand. Although more than 99% of primary school-age children are enrolled in school, learning outcomes in reading and mathematics remain below international standards. The bank also noted that teaching methods and teacher professional development require significant improvement. “Strengthening foundational skills in primary school, including reading, mathematics, and socio-emotional skills, is central to further building Uzbekistan’s human capital base and advancing its development,” said Najy Benhassine, the World Bank’s Division Director for Central Asia. “These skills will help children develop more advanced competencies and prepare them for the rapidly evolving jobs market. They are also critical to the country’s economic growth, which depends on a workforce capable of driving innovation.” The BILIM Program will be implemented by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Preschool and School Education and the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Karakalpakstan and the Khorezm, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, Bukhara, and Navoiy regions. These areas account for about 45% of the country’s schools and face some of the greatest shortages of education infrastructure and learning resources. By 2030, the program aims to train 50,000 teachers, school leaders, and education administrators and create 27,000 student places through school construction and expansion. It will also improve education planning through better data collection and management. Around 2 million primary school students, half of them girls, are expected to benefit from the reforms. The financing adds to the World Bank’s existing education work in Uzbekistan. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the bank approved a $250 million loan last December for the Edulmkon Program, a three-year initiative designed to expand access to higher and vocational education. Scheduled for implementation between 2026 and 2028, that program is expected to benefit around 600,000 young people. About 80% of the financing will go toward tuition loans for students from low-income families and women, who continue to face significant barriers to higher education.

Kazakhstan-Canada Relations

Beyond Resources: Ambassador Kussainov on Kazakhstan and Canada’s Partnership in AI, Education, and Innovation

For decades, Kazakhstan and Canada built their partnership around natural resources. Today, that relationship is expanding into new territory. From artificial intelligence and innovation to education and workforce development, both countries are increasingly looking beyond traditional sectors to shape the next phase of cooperation. This trend is already reflected in economic indicators. More than 160 Canadian-linked enterprises operate in Kazakhstan, Canadian investment has exceeded U$ 6 billion since 1994, and bilateral trade reached approximately U$ 458 million in 2025. At the same time, sectors that will shape the competitiveness of both economies in the coming decades are gaining greater importance. “I believe Kazakhstan-Canada relations are entering a new and dynamic phase,” said Dauletbek Kussainov, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Canada, in an interview with The Times of Central Asia. According to him, changes in the global economy are creating new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries. “Canada brings world-class expertise, technology and investment, while Kazakhstan offers significant resource potential, industrial capacity, and a strategic position connecting major markets,” the ambassador said. Although mining and energy remain central to bilateral cooperation, the scope of engagement is expanding into areas linked to technology, innovation and workforce development. This shift is also visible in the practical agenda of bilateral relations. In June, Astana hosted several major events involving Canadian business representatives. The Astana Mining & Metallurgy Congress brought together representatives of around 70 companies from 15 countries, including Canada, while the seventh meeting of the Kazakhstan-Canada Business Council brought together more than 100 participants, including senior representatives of Kazakhstani government agencies, the business communities of Kazakhstan and Canada, experts and academics. “This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Inkai joint venture, a lasting example of successful cooperation between Canadian and Kazakh partners,” Kussainov noted. Three decades after the creation of one of the most successful joint projects in the uranium sector, bilateral cooperation is gradually moving beyond the traditional resource-based partnership and expanding into new areas, from education and technology to innovation and workforce development. From Extraction to Value Creation Critical minerals remain one of the key areas of cooperation between the two countries. As Western economies seek to diversify supplies of strategic raw materials, Kazakhstan is attracting growing attention because of its mineral resources. Canada, in turn, has one of the world’s strongest areas of expertise in geological exploration, mining engineering and sustainable resource development. According to Kussainov, the greatest potential lies in three areas: geological exploration, mineral processing, and human capital development and knowledge transfer. Processing is becoming especially important. “Today, the key challenge for many resource-rich countries is not simply extracting minerals, but creating more value from them domestically,” the ambassador said. This point reflects a broader shift in Kazakhstan’s economic strategy. In recent years, the country has been placing greater emphasis on developing processing industries and localizing technological processes. In this context, Canadian expertise in engineering, metallurgy, processing technologies and industrial project management is particularly relevant. The discussion is not limited to traditional industrial competencies. “The same applies...

Smartphones

Turkmen Schools Introduce New Rules for Smartphone Use

Turkmen authorities have approved new regulations governing the use of personal mobile devices in educational institutions, introducing formal rules for smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices used by students and teachers. The document, prepared by the Ministry of Education, outlines how digital devices may be used in the learning process. Under the new rules, such technology may serve as a source of information and be used to access electronic libraries, educational platforms, and distance-learning tools. Schools have been assigned a number of responsibilities. Educational institutions must ensure access to essential digital services, specialized software, and data networks. They are also required to train staff in the use of modern technologies and provide students with methodological support in configuring devices for academic purposes. A separate section of the regulations addresses digital discipline and safety. Students are required to use devices exclusively for educational purposes and only with a teacher’s permission. During lessons, devices must be switched to silent or airplane mode. The document also prohibits taking photos or videos of participants in the educational process without their consent. The document says the new measures are intended to strengthen preventive work with students and parents, with a focus on protecting children’s moral and physical well-being. Oversight of compliance with the new regulations has been assigned to the relevant departments of Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Education.