Uzbekistan's students and educators gain free access to world-class AI, machine learning, and cloud skills training through AWS Academy, supporting the "Digital Uzbekistan 2030" national strategy and IT Park's mission to create 300,000 technology jobs
IT Park Uzbekistan today announced a collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing curriculum at 10 Higher Education Institutions (HEI) across Uzbekistan through the AWS Academy program. Starting in the 2026/2027 academic year, students enrolled in engineering, computer science, information technology, and management programs will gain hands-on, practical experience with AI, machine learning (ML), cloud architecture, data analytics, and cybersecurity skills that are foundational to Uzbekistan's ambition to become a regional IT hub.
This initiative delivers on the commitment made when the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan and AWS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 2 May 2023 during the Uzbek-German Business Forum in Berlin. That agreement established a framework for cooperation on digital transformation, AI/ML education and research, and cloud technology policy that all aligned with our national "Digital Uzbekistan 2030" strategy.
Why This Matters for Uzbekistan
“Uzbekistan stands at a defining moment. Our population of 39 million is nearly half of Central Asia's total. It is one of the youngest in the world, with a median age of just 27 years and over 30% under the age of 15. This is not merely a demographic statistic; it is a generational opportunity. If we equip these young people with the right skills, they will power Uzbekistan's transformation into a knowledge economy. If we do not, we risk losing them to labour migration abroad. Today, nearly 10% of our workforce works outside the country”, — Azamat Karamatov, CEO, IT Park Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan’s higher education sector has responded to this challenge with unprecedented expansion, growing from 107 institutions in 2020 to 222 institutions in the 2024/25 academic year, a 74.8% increase. Yet expansion alone is not enough. The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 identifies skills gaps as the primary challenge to business transformation in Uzbekistan over 2025–2030, with only 22% of our workforce expected to be able to upskill in their current role – significantly below the global average of 29%.
By integrating industry-validated, hands-on AI and cloud curriculum from AWS Academy directly into higher education institutions at no cost, the initiative gives every student access to the same industry-standard training regardless of their family's economic circumstances or their university's location.
"This collaboration represents a new chapter for Uzbekistan's technology workforce. AWS Academy gives our students direct, hands-on access to the same cloud and AI tools used by the world's leading companies, integrated into their degree programs at no cost. We are not simply teaching theory; we are building practitioners who will drive Uzbekistan's digital economy from day one of their careers. Our goal is clear: $5 billion in IT service exports and 300,000 technology jobs. AWS Academy is how we build the talent pipeline to get there", — Umida Odilova, Head of AI and R&D Division, IT Park Uzbekistan.
What Students and Educators Will Gain
Students at the 10 participating institutions will access AWS Academy courses in AI, ML, cloud architecture, data analytics, and cybersecurity. They will work directly with the AWS Management Console, not simulations, but real cloud infrastructure. Students build applications and solve problems with the same tools used by millions of businesses worldwide.
Faculty members at all 10 institutions who have completed the AWS Academy Certified Educator (ACE) accreditation process, ensuring they can deliver curriculum that meets global industry standards. These educators will receive ongoing professional development, keeping their teaching aligned with the rapid pace of cloud and AI innovation.
Through the AWS Academy Skill Builder Initiative, students and educators also receive a free 12-month AWS Skill Builder subscription with access to 600+ digital courses, game-based learning. This means students can graduate not only with a degree, but opportunity to earn globally recognized industry credentials that employers value immediately.
IT Park: The Bridge Between Government, Universities, and Industry
IT Park serves as the central convening body linking government policy, university programs, and industry demand. This AWS Academy collaboration is a natural extension of that role. IT Park is not simply hosting a program; it is connecting 10 universities to an ecosystem of 3,800+ member companies who need AI and cloud-skilled graduates today.
The World Bank's Uzbekistan Digital Inclusion Project, implemented in partnership with IT Park, reinforces the organization's commitment to equitable access: targeting 50% of new IT jobs for women, 4% for people with disabilities, and training for 6,200+ young professionals aged 18–30. AWS Academy's no-cost model aligns with this inclusion mandate.
A Global Mission, Delivered Locally
"AWS is committed to democratizing access to AI and cloud education globally, ensuring that learners everywhere, regardless of geography, can develop technical skills that will define the future of work. Uzbekistan's young, dynamic population and its government's bold digital vision make it an ideal partner in this mission. We are proud to bring AWS Academy to Uzbekistan and to collaborate with IT Park to build the next generation of AI and cloud-skilled professionals", — Inna Ozhogina, Country Manager – Central Asia, Caucasus, Mongolia, Amazon Web Services.
AWS has trained more than 31 million people across 200 countries and territories through free cloud training initiatives — surpassing its original commitment of 29 million. The $100 million AWS Education Equity Initiative specifically targets underserved and underrepresented learners worldwide.
How to Get Involved
The AWS Academy program is available at no cost to qualifying higher education institutions globally. Uzbekistan HEI interested in joining can contact IT Park Uzbekistan directly or apply at aws.amazon.com/training/awsacademy/.
About IT Park Uzbekistan
IT Park Uzbekistan operates under the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan and was established by Presidential Decree. Its mission is to foster the country's IT ecosystem — incubating startups, training talent, driving IT exports, and attracting international technology companies — under a zero-tax regime. Since its founding, more than 3,800 resident companies have joined IT Park, including over 1,000 fully foreign-owned companies. IT Park's strategic goals include reaching $5 billion in IT service exports, expanding membership to 10,000 companies, creating over 300,000 jobs in the technology sector, and developing 1 million square meters of infrastructure.
Media Contact: IT Park Uzbekistan Corporate Communications | press_name@outsource.gov.uz
