TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 25. Uzbekistan’s Minister of Higher Education, Kungratbay Sharipov, held talks with a Turkish delegation led by Erol Arcaklioglu, member of the Executive Committee of Türkiye’s Council of Higher Education, on expanding bilateral cooperation in higher education, science, and innovation, Trend reports, citing the ministry.
The meeting followed the 4th Uzbekistan–Türkiye Rectors Forum held in Bukhara, which brought together more than 50 university rectors and resulted in the signing of over 50 cooperation agreements and memorandums between universities of the two countries.
During the meeting, it was noted that four Uzbek universities and two Turkish universities are currently implementing six joint undergraduate programs, with 718 students enrolled for the 2025–2026 academic year.
Over the past five years, Uzbekistan and Türkiye have also exchanged nearly 300 professors and researchers and organized 45 joint scientific conferences.
The sides reviewed a number of major educational initiatives involving Turkish institutions in Uzbekistan, including the planned branch campus of TOBB University of Economics and Technology, the establishment of a Turkish Medical Faculty at Bukhara State Medical Institute, and the development of an innovation technopark in cooperation with Yildiz Technical University.
The officials also discussed the recently established International University of Turkic States, created under a resolution issued by the President of Uzbekistan.
Scientific cooperation was also highlighted as a key area of engagement. It was noted that more than 400 applications were submitted to joint research competitions organized with Türkiye’s Scientific and Technological Research Council (TÜBİTAK), of which 53 projects were recommended for funding.
Furthermore, the sides additionally explored expanding academic mobility and cooperation in fields such as engineering, medicine, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, agriculture, water management, and construction.
Plans to establish joint laboratories, university technoparks, startup ecosystems, and “green campus” initiatives were also discussed.
Following the meeting, the countries reaffirmed their commitment to expanding practical cooperation in education and supporting joint scientific and research projects.
