The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $250 million loan to Uzbekistan to support a new programme aimed at widening access to student financing in higher education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
The initiative, known as the EduImkon Program, is expected to run over the next three years and will help modernise the country’s student financing support system. Through the programme, tuition loans will be expanded to reach an estimated 600,000 young people across Uzbekistan. Around 80% of the total funding will be allocated to loans for students from low-income families and women.
Uzbekistan has a comparatively large youth population, with around 10 million people aged between 14 and 30. In response, the government has made the expansion of higher education and TVET a national priority. This has contributed to a sharp rise in the number of higher education institutions and an increase in youth enrolment, from 8% in 2017 to 48% in 2024.
However, the rapid growth in student numbers has placed increasing strain on the existing student loan system, which relies on state-subsidised loans provided through commercial banks. Concerns have also emerged around the long-term financial sustainability of the system.
Another challenge identified is the limited alignment between student financing and labour market demand. Current tuition loans do not give preference to high-demand fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) or Information and Communication Technology (ICT). As a result, graduates may face difficulties accessing well-paid employment.
While women account for 55% of all university students and receive around 80% of tuition loans, only 33% of female students are enrolled in STEM disciplines, where skills shortages remain most acute.
The World Bank–supported EduImkon Program will be implemented between 2026 and 2028 by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF). Planned measures include modernising the management and operation of the tuition loan system, improving coordination between ministries and state agencies, and launching a unified digital platform to streamline loan processing and strengthen transparency.
The programme will also refine eligibility criteria and interest subsidies to expand access for vulnerable groups, enhance labour market relevance, and pilot an income-contingent loan system, where repayments are linked to graduates’ earnings.
By December 2028, around 600,000 higher education and TVET students are expected to benefit from the updated financing system, with loans issued through 12 participating commercial banks in coordination with the MEF. In addition, the programme aims to attract $30 million in private capital to support student lending and ease pressure on the state budget.
