National Qualifications System (NQS)

The National Qualifications System in Uzbekistan was introduced in accordance with the Decree No. PQ-345 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated September 30, 2024, and the Resolution No. VMQ-369 of the Cabinet of Ministers dated June 17, 2025.

The National Qualifications System is a unified national mechanism in Uzbekistan that ensures a seamless link between the labor market and the education system. It serves to regulate the processes of providing, assessing, and recognizing the professional qualifications and competencies of the economically active population in an open, transparent manner according to international standards.

The National Qualifications Framework, as a core component of this system, defines clear criteria for assessing and structuring the knowledge and skills of the workforce. The framework consists of eight levels, each specifying the corresponding knowledge, practical skills, responsibilities, and degree of independence.

The National Qualifications System is aimed at developing human capital, improving its quality, updating curricula based on professional standards, and preparing personnel in line with actual labor market requirements. As a result, the system creates a common field of qualification standards and concepts for all stakeholders — educational institutions, employers, and individuals — and ensures the international recognition of national qualifications.

The Institute for the Development of the National Qualifications System provides organizational and methodological support for the system and acts as a regulator. Its main tasks include developing professional standards, preparing qualification frameworks and assessment instruments, coordinating the validation (RPL) of non-formal and informal learning outcomes, accrediting qualification assessment centers, digitizing the system, and continuously improving it.

The National Qualifications Framework of the Republic of Uzbekistan is a tool connecting the labor market and the education system, providing a general description of qualification levels and defining the main ways to achieve them within the territory of Uzbekistan.

The National Qualifications Framework is an integral part of the national qualifications system of the Republic of Uzbekistan and serves as the basis for developing a national assessment system for learning outcomes.

The National Qualifications Framework serves as a foundation for developing sectoral qualifications frameworks, professional standards, curricula, and mechanisms for achieving and recognizing qualifications at all levels of national and international education.

– Developing professional standards and educational programs on a unified methodological basis;
– Describing learning outcomes, qualifications, and competencies requirements from a unified perspective;
– Setting qualification requirements for hiring and for vertical and horizontal mobility of employees within and across organizations;
– Developing assessment tools and procedures for determining the qualifications of graduates at all stages of education;
– Forming a general strategy for the development of the labor market and education system, including planning various educational pathways leading to acquiring specific qualifications, advancing qualification levels, and career growth.

The National Qualifications Framework includes eight qualification levels in accordance with the European Qualifications Framework and the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Education,” as well as the main pathways to achieve the corresponding qualification levels.

– “Knowledge” The indicator defines requirements for knowledge used in professional activities and is expressed by:
• the volume and complexity of information used;
• the innovativeness of applied knowledge;
• the ratio of theoretical to practical knowledge;

– “Skills (Competence)” The indicator defines requirements for skills and is expressed by:
• the diversity (variability) of approaches to solving professional tasks;
• the need to select or develop approaches to solving professional tasks;

– “Responsibility and Independence” The indicator defines the overall competence of the employee and is expressed by:
• activity under supervision;
• discipline in independent execution;
• leadership activity;
• scope of activity — breadth of authority and responsibility, accountability, and consequences of possible errors in professional activities;