The World Bank has approved a $250 million loan to Uzbekistan to support the EduImkon Program, which aims to improve access to student financing for higher education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The initiative is expected to benefit approximately 600,000 young people over the next three years, with a focus on providing tuition loans primarily to low-income students and women.
Uzbekistan has a large youth population, with about 10 million people aged 14-30. In recent years, the government has made expanding access to higher education and TVET a priority. This has resulted in an increase in the number of higher education institutions and a rise in youth enrollment rates from 8% in 2017 to 48% in 2024.
Despite this progress, the increase in students entering higher education has put pressure on Uzbekistan’s state-subsidized student loan system. There are also concerns that current tuition loans do not prioritize fields with high labor market demand such as STEM or ICT, limiting graduates' employment opportunities. While women make up more than half of university students and receive most tuition loans, only a third of female students are enrolled in STEM programs.
The EduImkon Program will be implemented between 2026 and 2028 by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It includes plans to modernize managerial processes for student loans, introduce a unified digital platform for loan processing, refine eligibility criteria for vulnerable groups, enhance links between education and labor market needs, and pilot an income-contingent loan system where repayments depend on borrowers’ income.
By December 2028, the program aims for around 600,000 students across higher education and TVET programs to receive improved financial support through participating commercial banks coordinated by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Over $190 million—about 80% of program funds—will go toward supporting vulnerable groups such as low-income families and women. The program also seeks to encourage more students to enter high-demand disciplines like STEM.
Additionally, the EduImkon Program is expected to attract $30 million in private capital investment into student lending initiatives. This measure is intended both to expand opportunities for borrowers and ease pressure on public finances.
"The World Bank–funded EduImkon Program will be implemented in 2026–2028 by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) to address existing constraints in the student financing system. Specifically, the following actions will be taken over the next three years:
Developing and implementing a clear roadmap to modernize the student tuition loan system’s managerial and operational processes, as well as improve coordination between relevant ministries and state agencies responsible for this area.
Launching a unified digital platform to streamline and shorten student loan processing time, as well as increase efficiency, transparency, loan beneficiary tracking, and data analytics for decision-making on loan allocation.
Expanding access to higher education and TVET for low-income students and women by refining tuition loan eligibility criteria and adjusting interest subsidies for vulnerable groups.
Enhancing the labor-market relevance of education and ensuring long-term financial sustainability of the student tuition loan system.
Developing and piloting an income-contingent loan system, where repayments depend on borrowers’ income, to support low-income earners and those who face temporary unemployment after graduation."
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