Uzbekistan to set up Tashkent International Fashion Academy

Uzbekistan will establish a new state higher education institution in its capital to address growing workforce demand across its domestic light industry and fashion sectors, according to a report published by Qazinform News Agency citing UzA. The Tashkent International Fashion Academy will operate under the country's Agency for the Development of Light Industry, building directly upon a joint educational framework previously introduced by the Tashkent Institute of Textile and Light Industry in collaboration with the Paris International Fashion Academy. The institution is scheduled to launch classes for the 2026/2027 academic year, with enrolled students from the pre-existing joint program transitioning into the new entity to complete their degree tracks.

Administratively, the academy will offer independent bachelor’s and master’s degree programs alongside its joint international offerings, while introducing a formal dual education system starting in the 2027/2028 academic year to align practical coursework with market requirements in textiles, garments, leather, and footwear. The presidential resolution authorizing the institution establishes a direct academic pipeline for graduates of vocational technical colleges, allowing qualified individuals to enter the third year of bachelor's degree tracks on a fee-paying basis. The academy will also function as a design hub providing commercial clothing development services for state organizations under government contracts, while administrative measures including multiple-entry visa procedures and a planned 400-bed public-private partnership dormitory are designed to integrate international faculty and students.

The initiative highlights a structural shift in how emerging manufacturing regions are attempting to move up the value chain by formalizing technical and creative education inside national borders. By embedding international academic partnerships directly into state-backed industry development agencies, Uzbekistan aims to reduce reliance on external talent while standardizing vocational-to-higher-education pathways across its expanding textile export sector. For global fashion educators, the move reflects broader trends in Central Asia toward localized talent development, bridging historical industrial output with higher-value design capability and domestic brand architecture.