On the eve of the 34th anniversary of our independence, under the chairmanship of our esteemed President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a historic meeting was held on the issue of ensuring employment for graduates of higher education institutions, in harmony with the main idea “For the Homeland, for the Nation, for the People.” This event carries great importance for both the present and future of our country. The President has always emphasized this, including in his congratulatory speech on June 30, Youth Day, when he said, “If the First and Second Renaissances were created by our great scholars and thinkers, then today history is handing the turnover to you. I am confident that you are capable of raising the flag of our country high in all fields. You are the golden generation that, as the builders of New Uzbekistan, will create new history!” These words reflect the trust placed in our young people, who are full of determination, energy, knowledge, and intellect.
A Glimpse into the Past
As is my tradition, yesterday I visited the homes of Bukhara State University veterans. As you might guess, five of our respected colleagues who spent many years as leaders and educators in the field shared their experiences. They spoke about how, in earlier times, becoming a student and graduating to find work was an uncertain process. Textbooks were scarce, classrooms and laboratories were poorly equipped, and cultural, artistic, and sports facilities were inadequate. Those who had family connections or financial means were the ones who secured good jobs, while others struggled to find their way. This practice continued in various forms up until about twenty years after independence. Today, however, witnessing the gradual but steady reforms aimed at building a New Uzbekistan, where children and grandchildren not only gain admission to universities but also find guaranteed employment after graduation, fills the heart with pride and joy.
The Higher Education System of New Uzbekistan
Like many other areas, higher education institutions mostly carried the legacy of Soviet-era buildings and equipment. The condition of several universities was deteriorating year by year. The coverage of higher education in the country dropped to as low as 9 percent. The complexity of entrance exams and doubts about their transparency pushed applicants and parents to seek opportunities in neighboring countries where the quality of education was uncertain, resulting in large amounts of money leaving the country. This was a period of great concern for the future of the nation.
Through the strong will of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, higher education has undergone a transformation over the past eight years. Today, almost 100 percent of applicants can apply to the field of their choice and achieve their dream of becoming students. The higher education coverage has risen from 9 percent to 42 percent. The number of universities, which once barely reached 70, has now grown to 202. Practices of entering universities through artificial or corrupt means have been eliminated, allowing talented and capable youth to pursue higher education based solely on merit.
In recent years, it has become common to hear that young people are being admitted to ten foreign universities at the same time. More importantly, higher education has been freed from corruption, a field once known for having the highest rates of bribery in the country. Thanks to systematic discipline and reforms led by the president, it can now be said confidently that higher education has become a corruption-free sphere. This is a major step forward, ensuring that young people who are the future builders of the nation receive quality education and grow into competent specialists for society.
Is a Diploma Enough?
There was once a mentality that having a diploma alone was sufficient. Today, such outdated views are no longer relevant. Higher education transforms individuals into dedicated, creative, and socially useful professionals. A graduate in medicine helps patients, a journalist sheds light on the truth, an engineer invents, and a teacher nurtures future generations. Thus, every graduate must become a true specialist in their field and bring tangible benefits to society.
Statistics show that more than 200,000 students graduate from higher education institutions in Uzbekistan each year and enter the labor market. However, the question remains whether all graduates are working in their fields of specialization.
Today, state policy requires that young people not only acquire academic knowledge but also learn at least two foreign languages and one additional profession. The pace of modern competition demands this. Where once 100 people were needed to do the work, now ten can accomplish it using new technologies. Digitalization and artificial intelligence are penetrating every sector. That is why students are now acquiring digital skills and gaining hands-on experience through dual education, which combines theoretical learning with practical training.
We now live in an “employer’s market,” where strong competition exists in all fields. Therefore, wherever the President travels, he meets with leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs to attract new factories, enterprises, and companies to Uzbekistan to create jobs for young people.
The recent meeting chaired by the President on ensuring the employment of graduates of higher education institutions has laid the foundation for young people to not only obtain diplomas but also pursue careers in their chosen fields and grow from entry-level positions to leadership roles. A country that cares so deeply for its youth and provides a supportive foundation for their future is rare.
Reforms for Youth Employment
In recent years, significant reforms have been implemented to ensure youth employment. Regular events such as “Career Days,” “Welcome to Education,” “Welcome to Work,” and “We Support Employment” job fairs are systematically organized for school and university graduates. Bukhara State University has also established a system of cooperation with ministries, organizations, and enterprises to attract school graduates to the university and secure employment for its graduates. Over the past two academic years, meetings have been held with city and district leaders, such as “Romitan District Mayor and Romitan Graduates” and “Kogon City Mayor and Kogon Graduates,” to facilitate the placement of graduates into available jobs. This initiative has proven effective and has been expanded this year to include all graduates of higher education institutions in the region.
Emergence of Modern Professions
It is no secret that digital technologies, and especially artificial intelligence, are conquering the world. Equipping youth with knowledge of digital skills, the internet, and AI within their professions is now more important than ever. Leading scholars at Bukhara State University are focusing on preparing young people to create new innovations, improve their knowledge in robotics, and work on AI-based projects and startups. To support these initiatives, funding and business opportunities are being mobilized under the opportunities created by the President.
For example, the university’s “Robokids” robotics center not only inspires hundreds of young people to learn robotics but also produces educational tools for preschool and school children. Students, together with their teachers, have already secured contracts worth more than two billion soums in this field. Dozens of large and small projects and startups are being developed in the university’s laboratories by both professors and students.
Young people today are mastering modern knowledge and professions quickly. Many are becoming self-employed while also earning substantial income. It is no coincidence that the President said, “You will write the new history. You will build New Uzbekistan. You are our pride and our hope.”
Youth are a tremendous force full of energy. They need only to be supported in their first steps toward the future and given encouragement when necessary. This is the key responsibility of every university leader, educator, and member of society. After all, the future and the builders of New Uzbekistan are undoubtedly our young people.
Obidjon Khamidov
Rector of Bukhara State University, Doctor of Economics, Professor
