"New Uzbekistan" University became the first higher education institution in Uzbekistan to receive international accreditation from QAA

New Uzbekistan University has become the first higher education institution in Uzbekistan to receive international accreditation from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

According to the university’s press service, New Uzbekistan University has successfully passed the International Quality Accreditation (IQA) international institutional accreditation by the UK’s independent organization for ensuring the quality of higher education – the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). This made it the first higher education institution in Uzbekistan to achieve QAA international institutional accreditation. The accreditation certificate was ceremoniously presented to the university by QAA Chief Executive Officer Karl Leidecker.

The university’s accreditation was assessed based on the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG). The assessment process included a thorough review of the university’s internal quality assurance system across the 10 ESG standards.

An independent team of experts appointed by the QAA visited the university from 2 to 4 June 2026 to conduct the assessment. They reviewed the university’s submissions, met with management, faculty, staff, students, alumni and external partners. They also reviewed the university’s educational infrastructure, learning resources and data management system.

The final report confirmed that New Uzbekistan University fully meets all 10 ESG standards. Thus, the university became the first higher education institution in Uzbekistan to receive QAA’s international institutional accreditation and one of only three HEIs in Central Asia to do so.

As the rector of the New Uzbekistan University, Bakhodir Ahmedov, told the Gazeta correspondent, the QAA accreditation confirms that the quality of education at the university meets international standards. According to him, this will serve to increase the international prestige of the university, as well as the higher education system of Uzbekistan as a whole.

The rector noted that the QAA is one of the most prestigious organizations in the world in assessing the quality of higher education in the UK. During the assessment process, not only the university's academic programs were comprehensively studied, but also the activities of professors and teachers, student support, quality assurance system and university management.

“Most importantly, this result is an independent external confirmation that the new higher education model we are building meets international requirements,” said Bakhodir Ahmedov.

He noted that the accreditation result will also increase confidence in the entire higher education system. The rector said that international accreditation will help expand the opportunities for university graduates to apply for work and study abroad. This will increase the competitiveness of future personnel at the global level.

In addition, international recognition can help attract the most talented students from abroad. Because QAA accreditation is one of the factors indicating that the quality of education is at an international level.

Bakhodir Ahmedov also assessed QAA accreditation as important in terms of tasks within the framework of the Uzbekistan-2030 strategy. He said that in accordance with the strategy, 10 universities should increase their international educational programs with universities that are in the top 500.

New Uzbekistan University, meanwhile, entered the top 150 this year and implemented a joint master's program with Khalifa University. “This opens a big way for other universities,” the rector said.

Bakhodir Ahmedov also touched upon the goals set by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on July 10 in the field of higher education. According to them, by 2030, it is planned to include at least five universities in the world in terms of overall rankings, another 10 in terms of subject areas, 100 university programs in the world in terms of international accreditation, and at least 150 technical schools in terms of international educational programs.

The rector noted that attracting international students and developing international research will play an important role in achieving these goals. According to him, QAA accreditation will be the basis for this process.