REGULATORY AND LEGAL FOUNDATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS IN THE GOVERNANCE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

This article provides a theoretical and scholarly analysis of the formation and development of the higher education system in the Republic of Uzbekistan, with particular attention to its regulatory and legal foundations, governance mechanisms, quality assurance instruments, and integration into the international educational environment. Special emphasis is placed on the institutional significance of academic and financial autonomy, the modernization of state educational standards, the implementation of the credit-module system, and the further development of licensing and accreditation mechanisms. The paper also examines the relationship between state regulation and institutional autonomy in higher education governance, as well as the adaptation of international experience to the national education system. It is argued that the future development of higher education in Uzbekistan is closely associated with improving educational quality, expanding academic mobility, accelerating digital transformation, strengthening international cooperation, and enhancing the research and innovation capacity of universities.