The key facts

  • In the 2026/2027 academic year, another 3,500 technical college students will begin studying under the Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Extended Diploma programs
  • The training will take place at 45 institutions across 79 specializations in six priority sectors, in three languages
  • More than 380 teachers have been prepared for the program launch; before the start, institutions must pass a Pearson review

Expansion of the BTEC program in technical colleges

In the 2026/2027 academic year, another 3,500 students of Uzbekistan's technical colleges will be able to begin studying under the Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Extended Diploma programs — this is reported by Daryo.uz citing project participants. The training will be available in Uzbek, Russian and Karakalpak and will take place at 45 educational institutions across the country, covering 79 specializations in six priority sectors: engineering, information technology, construction, travel and tourism, hospitality, healthcare and social care.

Who will study and how

The program includes technical colleges of Karakalpakstan, Tashkent and all regions — including institutions of the national network, the Nursing Academy of Uzbekistan, technical colleges of Bukhara region and presidential technical colleges. Among the named participants: Nukus City Technical College No. 1, Samarkand City Technical College No. 1, Chirchiq City Technical College No. 1, Fergana City Technical College No. 4, Bukhara City Technical College No. 1, Chilanzar District Technical College No. 1, as well as specialized institutions — the Andijan, Siyob (Samarkand) and Termez technical colleges of public healthcare named after Abu Ali ibn Sino. Student admission will be conducted by the Agency for Vocational Education and the technical colleges themselves under the existing rules; after enrollment, students will be registered for the relevant BTEC qualifications. Before the launch of training, each institution must pass a Pearson review, during which teachers' qualifications, learning resources and the quality control system are assessed. The programs provide for the study of specialized subjects and practical assignments related to the future profession.

Teacher training and third-party assessments

More than 380 vocational and technical education teachers have already been involved in preparing the program: they completed week-long training sessions in Tashkent on teaching methods, assessment and conducting practical classes. Jane Baker, Vice President for Vocational Qualifications at Pearson, stated that a student at a technical college in Samarkand or Nukus should be able to obtain a qualification that employers in Tashkent or abroad would recognize. Azimjon Husanov, Director of the Agency for Vocational Education, called the cooperation an important step in bringing the national vocational education system into line with international standards. The expansion of the program is part of the Uzbekistan-2030 strategy aimed at modernizing vocational education. According to the publication, BTEC qualifications are recognized in more than 70 countries, and in the coming years the initiative is expected to cover more technical colleges and students across Uzbekistan.