According to the findings of a comprehensive nationwide survey conducted across Uzbekistan, a significant majority of employers express satisfaction with the overall preparation of higher education graduates. However, business representatives strongly emphasize the urgent necessity for educational institutions to intensify practical training components and establish more robust cooperation with the corporate sector.
Key Takeaways: Over 3,700 employers from all regions of the country participated in the study, evaluating graduates from 169 universities and 591 technical schools. While 86.8% of respondents reported satisfaction with university graduates, approval for technical school graduates dropped significantly to 65.1%.
The persistent gap between traditional academic curricula and the evolving demands of the national labor market continues to pose structural challenges for the domestic economy. Despite ongoing state-led modernization efforts, structural disconnects frequently leave fresh graduates underprepared for the operational realities of modern enterprises, highlighting systemic inefficiencies in curriculum design.
Among the primary structural concerns identified by respondents is the notable deficiency in practical experience, with 40.7% of participants citing this issue regarding universities and 53.7% concerning technical schools. Furthermore, the survey revealed that nearly half of all employers—specifically 45.2%—maintain no permanent collaborative ties with specialized academic institutions.
Looking toward future labor market trends, participants underscored a rapidly surging demand for professionals capable of navigating artificial intelligence technologies, digital solutions, and advanced industrial equipment. Meanwhile, when hiring new staff, employers continue to prioritize fundamental personal competencies such as professional discipline and personal accountability above all else.
Based on these empirical findings, upcoming policy adjustments are expected to focus on refining educational frameworks, advancing dual education models, and expanding structured partnerships between employers and academia. Additionally, planned expansions within state technical schools aim to integrate international professional qualifications for an aggregate of 5,000 students by the 2026/2027 academic year.
Source: podrobno.uz