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.