“El-Yurt Umidi” foundation to be transferred to the Presidential Administration

The “El-Yurt Umidi” Foundation under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan is set to be reorganized into the “El-Yurt Umidi” Foundation for the Training of Promising Personnel. This initiative was presented on May 5 during a session reviewing proposals on the targeted training of future specialists and support for overseas education, which President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended.

The meeting highlighted the state’s strong focus on the development of human capital across all sectors. The education of youth and the professional development of specialists are key priorities supported at the national level.

To date, the “El-Yurt Umidi” Foundation has sent 2,225 scholarship holders to study in nearly 45 countries, with a total of 1.5 trillion sums allocated from the state budget. Of these, 1,400 graduates have returned to Uzbekistan and are currently working in sectors such as the economy, education, science, medicine, and public administration. At present, 748 scholars are studying at universities ranked among the global top 300.

“To further expand the scope of this work, the foundation will be reorganized into the ‘El-Yurt Umidi’ Foundation for the Training of Promising Personnel under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Additionally, the Academy of Public Administration will be transformed into the Academy of State Policy and Administration under the President. Together with the Agency for the Development of Public Service, these institutions will form a personnel training cluster,” the report stated.

As part of this initiative, civil servants will be sent abroad not only for degree programs—bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral—but also for targeted internships lasting up to six months. Priority will be given to key sectors of the economy such as energy, urbanization, transport, architecture, geodesy, land management, technology, engineering, public administration, and social services.

Candidates admitted to universities ranked in the global top 100 on a grant basis will receive the “El-Yurt Umidi” scholarship without exams. Those entering top 300 universities on a grant basis will have their international travel and accommodation expenses covered, also without the need for additional examinations. Graduates of Presidential Schools accepted into top 20 universities with at least a 50% scholarship will be granted scholarships without competition.

To maintain active engagement with Uzbek students abroad and support their education and well-being, a Council of Parents of “El-Yurt Umidi” Scholarship Holders will be established. Diplomatic missions will be tasked with offering legal and organizational support to these students.

The Academy of State Policy and Administration will also play a central role in training modern, high-caliber specialists. Programs such as the “School of Governors,” “School of Women Leaders,” and “Future Leaders” have already trained over 13,000 individuals in the past academic year.

Under the new system, the academy will offer three distinct programs for civil servants: advanced training, retraining, and a master's degree. These programs will be developed in collaboration with international partners and based on the standards of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The new master’s degree programs will span up to 18 months and focus on areas including Public Administration, Public Policy, Integrated Territorial Development, Human Resources Development, and Public Finance Management. In addition to state-funded placements, students will also be accepted on a contract basis.

To enhance academic quality and foster international collaboration, an International Academic Advisory Council will be established at the academy. It will provide guidance on improving educational and research programs and building ties with leading global academic institutions.

Furthermore, four new centers will be launched at the academy. One example is the Center for Scientific and Practical Research on Public Administration Issues, which will focus on boosting efficiency in public service and incorporating advanced private-sector practices into government operations.

“Our President approved the proposals and issued instructions to implement these systems based on modern approaches. The importance of continuously identifying and training talented youth, improving the qualifications of foundation and academy staff, and involving skilled experts in ongoing reforms was emphasized,” the report concluded.