APPLICANT

In order to improve the mechanisms for shaping state orders for training personnel in higher education institutions and allocating state grants, enhance the conditions for quality education for youth, and direct personnel training to the developing sectors and fields of the economy, the following measures are established:

Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year: a) The practice of distributing state orders by higher education institutions will be abolished, and a system of approval for undergraduate education areas and master's specialties in the form of full-time education will be introduced, except for higher military and militarized educational institutions; b) Priority will be given to engineering, medicine, and natural sciences in the distribution of state order quotas; c) Higher education institutions will be allowed to participate in the distribution of state orders according to established procedures and conditions; d) The funding for each student based on state orders will not exceed the average cost per student for financially autonomous higher education institutions; e) The distribution of state grant quotas by higher education institutions will be based on the choice and scores of applicants who registered for the relevant undergraduate education areas; f) Higher education institutions will form their admission parameters for the next academic year based on their material-technical base, teaching staff, and educational-methodical support and submit them to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovations; g) The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovations will review the validity of the admission parameters of higher education institutions and submit them to the State Commission for Admission to Educational Institutions of the Republic of Uzbekistan (hereinafter referred to as the State Commission); h) The State Commission will approve the overall admission parameters for undergraduate education areas, additional admission parameters for privileged applicants, target admission quotas, and master's specialties, with a separation between state grants and tuition contracts, and submit them to the Education and Skills Assessment Agency; i) From the 2024/2025 academic year, the share of state grant quotas in relation to the total admission parameters for each education area will be determined by the State Commission; j) Starting from 2025, the state order parameters will be approved for a four-year period based on the demand forecast for higher education personnel, as formulated by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovations, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the "Education Sector Projects Center" project office will start allocating state grants to students in the form of social-incentive grants and education grants from the 2024/2025 academic year. It is established that: a) Social-incentive grants are allocated based on legislative privileges and within the framework of targeted admission to students admitted to higher education institutions, as well as to grant recipients from sectors and organizations; b) Education grants are allocated within the framework of state orders for students admitted to higher education institutions; c) From the 2024/2025 academic year, education grants will be allocated for one academic year. For:

• First-year students, education grants will be based on the highest scores obtained in entrance exams for state order quotas allocated to higher education institutions;
• Second and subsequent-year students, education grants will be redistributed based on high academic performance and social activity, as determined by higher education institutions;
• Education grants will be distributed according to a tiered system, and stipends will only be paid to students who receive the full education grant; d) Students who receive social-incentive grants will have their state grants fully covered for the duration of their studies; e) The requirement to work for at least 3 years after completing education for students receiving education grants will be abolished.

It is established that: a) The minimum passing score for admission based on state grants and tuition contracts will be determined by the State Commission based on the average passing scores for the previous academic year for the relevant undergraduate education areas; b) Targeted admission quotas will be allocated within the framework of state orders to meet the needs for higher education personnel in regions, sectors, and industries. In this case:

• State bodies and organizations, as well as economic entities with at least 50% state ownership, will be considered as targeted admission customers and will submit their personnel needs to the State Commission;
• Targeted admission will be conducted among applicants who have permanent residence in the relevant region and have completed general secondary, secondary special, and vocational education in the region;
• A four-party contract will be signed between the recommended student, the relevant district (city) administration, the sectoral state body (organization), and the higher education institution to ensure employment and monitor the student's work in the region or organization after graduation; c) Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the total admission parameter for other forms of education in higher education institutions will not exceed the quota set for full-time education.

It is established that for admission to master's specialties and post-graduate education specialties, the following levels of foreign language proficiency certificates will be required:

• Foreign language specialties: at least S1 level;
• Humanities, biological and related sciences, mathematics and statistics, business and management, law, service, social and behavioral sciences, journalism and information, information and communication technologies: at least V2 level;
• Other educational areas and cultural and sports specialties: at least V1 level.

Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, admission exams to state higher education and vocational training institutions (excluding vocational schools) will be held simultaneously according to the "test first, then selection" principle. In this case: a) Applicants will first participate in the selection for admission to undergraduate education programs based on their test scores, and then to vocational training institutions; b) The admission process to state higher education institutions will be conducted in two stages:

• The first stage will involve applicants registering for test exams from June 5 to June 25 (including June 25) and choosing the subjects, language of instruction, test location, and if there is a professional (creative) exam, the relevant higher education institution;
• Entrance exams will be held in July-August;
• The second stage will involve applicants choosing a higher education institution, undergraduate education area, and form of education within 15 days after the completion of the test exams; c) From the 2025/2026 academic year, admission to education areas where foreign language is the primary subject will be based on a national or international certificate of foreign language proficiency; d) All state colleges and technical schools will follow the "test first, then selection" principle for admission, where applicants will choose the college and/or technical school, specialty, and form of education within 10 days after the announcement of the final results of admission to higher education institutions.

It is established that: a) Applicants with privileges for admission based on state grants will be admitted to the chosen first undergraduate education area based on the relevant exemption in the registration process; b) Applicants with special admission parameters (persons with disabilities, orphans from "Mercy" homes, children's towns, SOS children's villages, and foster children under the age of 25) will participate in the selection process within the specified special admission parameters; c) Applicants who participate in the selection process within special admission parameters but are not recommended for admission will participate in the general selection process for their chosen undergraduate education areas; d) International sports competition winners will be admitted to undergraduate education areas in physical education and sports based on additional state grants without exams, ensuring compliance with the relevant sports field; e) Privileged applicants who are recommended for state grants cannot use the same privilege again; f) Second and subsequent higher education programs will be conducted on a tuition basis, and state grants will not be allocated again for the same education level; g) The single database of privileged applicants for admission to higher military, militarized, and military-academic lyceums will be formed by the relevant ministries and agencies and integrated into the specialized information system of the Education and Skills Assessment Agency by June 1 each year.

The National Social Protection Agency will form a database of individuals with disabilities, including the blind, by June 1 each year, specifying disability groups, and ensure its integration with the information system of the Education and Skills Assessment Agency.

The Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovations, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and employers' associations will: a) By the end of 2024, scientifically research the expected changes in the labor market, including the list of professions (positions) becoming obsolete and emerging professions, and their required qualifications and competencies; b) By May 1, 2025, create and annually update the "Atlas of New Professions in Uzbekistan" electronic platform based on accumulated data. The costs associated with this will be financed by the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovations, together with the "Education Sector Projects Center" project office, will, within three months: a) Develop a draft Government Resolution on the procedure for allocating education grants to higher education institutions' students on a tiered basis for one academic year; b) Develop a draft Government Resolution on forming targeted admission quotas, organizing admission processes, and defining specific responsibilities of personnel customers; c) Submit proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers regarding amendments and additions to the legislation arising from this Decree.

The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovations, K.A. Sharipov, will be personally responsible for the effective organization of the implementation of this Decree. The supervision of the Decree's execution will be

COMPLEX OF SUBJECTS, NUMBER OF TASKS AND THEIR ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

I.             The number of test items and assessment criteria for subjects subject to the test

1. Application for admission;
2. A scanned copy of the passport (in PDF format, in electronic form);
3.  Scanned copy of certificate, diploma, studied subjects and grades (points) obtained from them (in PDF format, in electronic form). A scanned copy of bachelor's diploma, studied subjects and grades (points) for the master's degree (in PDF format, in electronic form);
4.  Photo size 3.5×4.5 (in JPEG format).