Uzbekistan statistics website. Photo: stat.uz.
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $250 million loan to the government of Uzbekistan to support the implementation of the EduImkon program, aimed at expanding equitable access to student financing in higher, technical, and vocational education systems, the international organization said in a press release.
According to World Bank staff, the program is designed to run for three years. By December 2028, around 600,000 young people are expected to benefit from student financing opportunities under the project. They will be able to take out education loans through 12 commercial banks in Uzbekistan operating in coordination with the country’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.
About 80 percent of the funds allocated for EduImkon—more than $190 million—will go to students from vulnerable groups, including members of low-income families and women.
Another component of the program is to encourage students to choose fields of study aligned with labor market demand. As a result, priority in the allocation of education loans will be given to STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), as well as information technology.
The project also предусматривает the mobilization of an additional $30 million in private capital. These funds are intended to expand student lending opportunities and reduce the burden on Uzbekistan’s state budget.
Overall, the program includes a number of measures, including:
✅ the development and implementation of a roadmap to modernize management and operational processes in the education loan system;
✅ the launch of a unified online platform to simplify and speed up the processing of loan applications and improve efficiency and transparency;
✅ expanded access to higher, technical, and vocational education for students from low-income families and women through simplified lending procedures;
✅ closer alignment of education with labor market needs;
✅ the development and piloting of an income-contingent loan repayment system to support graduates with low earnings or those facing temporary unemployment after completing their studies.
World Bank analysts note that Uzbekistan’s authorities have been making efforts to improve the education system. In a country where the population aged 14 to 30 numbers about 10 million people, this area has been given priority. As a result, the number of higher education institutions has increased, and youth participation in higher education has risen from 8 percent in 2017 to 48 percent in 2024.
At the same time, pressure on the student loan system—largely subsidized by the state—has grown. There is also limited coordination with the labor market, meaning that funding for education is often allocated without regard to future demand for specific professions, reducing graduates’ chances of securing well-paid jobs. In addition, while women account for 55 percent of students and 80 percent of loan recipients, only about one-third of them study in STEM fields. These challenges were among the key reasons for launching the EduImkon program.
