Uzbekistan Moves to Phase In Qualification-Based Employment System

Uzbekistan is making a major shift toward a qualification-based employment system, where the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) will serve as a national benchmark for defining skill levels, professional standards, and competencies across industries.

According to a presidential decree on “Measures to improve the efficiency of management in the vocational education system,” starting from January 1, 2027, a phased system will be introduced, requiring employment in various sectors of the economy only for specialists holding a diploma or qualification certificate corresponding to the level of the National Qualifications Framework.

The decree also provides for the establishment of the Agency for Vocational Education under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. The new structure aims to create an integrated and effective management system for the development of vocational education.

The new agency will:
– coordinate the activities of technical colleges and oversee the management of the vocational education sector;
– define the content of educational programs, qualification levels, minimum training periods, criteria for assessing graduates’ knowledge, and requirements for educational and methodological support.

Under the decree, the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction will be responsible for organizing vocational training for citizens who are not covered by the voucher system.

The Migration Agency, in turn, will direct citizens to training in in-demand professions and foreign languages based on requests from overseas employers.

In addition, state vocational education institutions will be allowed to independently set tuition fees based on market conditions and directly engage specialists on a contractual basis.

Regional business councils will also be established to address the development of the vocational education system and enhance cooperation with the private sector.