The development of a modern, skilled workforce is a critical priority for Uzbekistan’s growing economy. In line with national goals to enhance the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system, a significant step has been taken with the modernization of a key regional institution.
On December 3, 2025, as part of a collaborative effort to strengthen vocational training infrastructure, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and UNESCO, with generous financial support from the European Union, officially inaugurated the newly modernized Samarkand Regional Retraining and Advanced Training Centre. This initiative is a core component of the EU funded project “Skills Development for Employability in Rural Areas of Uzbekistan,” implemented by UNESCO.
The primary objective of the modernized centre is to systematically upgrade the skills of industrial training instructors and specialized subject teachers from vocational colleges across Samarkand and neighboring regions. By enhancing educator qualifications, the project directly contributes to improving the quality of vocational education for students nationwide.
The inauguration ceremony brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, the UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan, the Samarkand regional administration, educators, and project partners, underscoring a shared commitment to advancing vocational training.
The centre’s activities are based on a structured 144-hour curriculum approved by the Institute for the Development of Vocational Education. The curriculum covers essential modules such as state policy in vocational education, information and communication technologies, the development of professional skills, and modern assessment methodologies. Previously focused on engineering disciplines, the centre’s scope has now been substantially expanded.
A cornerstone of this expansion is the complete renovation and equipping of a 150-seat training workshop, established as a hands-on “Training and Practice Base” on the premises of the Samarkand Tourism and Cultural Heritage Technical College. This facility enables the centre to offer advanced training in high-demand service sectors. Consequently, starting from 2026, in addition to engineering, the centre will provide specialized courses for instructors in tourism, hotel service, restaurant service, culinary arts, and hairdressing.
Furthermore, this modernized base will serve a dual purpose. It will not only train instructors but also provide over 300 students from the Samarkand Tourism and Cultural Heritage Technical College annually with access to state-of-the-art facilities for their practical training, thereby directly enhancing the learning experience for the next generation of professionals.
The Samarkand centre is one of eight technical schools renovated under the project and is designated as one of four new regional hubs. This strategic modernization strengthens the national technical and vocational education and training infrastructure, promotes unified training standards, and raises the overall quality and relevance of vocational education across Uzbekistan, ensuring it meets the evolving needs of the economy and the labor market.
