Dr. Adham Khudaykulov

Dr. Adham Khudaykulov has been serving as the Rector of the Tashkent University of Technology (Tashkent Tech) since September 2025. Established as a state flagship institution, Tashkent Tech is dedicated to advancing world-class education, research, and innovation in science, technology, and engineering.

Prior to his appointment, Dr. Khudaykulov held a number of senior leadership positions in national governance, where he played a pivotal role in shaping and implementing large-scale educational reforms. His work focused on strengthening national quality assurance systems, modernizing governance frameworks, and expanding internationalization in the higher education sector. As Director of the National Quality Assurance Agency for Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Dr. Khudaykulov led the introduction of a new national accreditation system, guided the revision of national quality standards, and initiated the integration of Uzbekistan’s qualifications framework into the global education landscape. During his tenure at the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan, among his key initiatives were the introduction of a new national admissions system for higher education, the transformation of the national standard classification of higher education, and the creation of Advanced Engineering Schools (AES) across Uzbekistan — a major milestone in the modernization of the country’s education ecosystem.

Earlier, as Vice-Rector of the Tashkent State University of Economics, he developed strategic partnerships with leading international institutions, launched academic exchange programs, and advanced joint research initiatives. He also served as Director of Research and Innovation at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, contributing to the development of a modern national policy in science, technology, and innovation.
Dr. Khudaykulov received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy. He subsequently earned a master’s degree from the University of Nottingham (United Kingdom) and the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (Japan). He later completed his PhD in Development Economics at the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom).

His research interests focus on how regulatory regimes, state institutions, and governance frameworks shape economic and social development in Central Asia. Situated at the intersection of development economics, education policy and institutional studies, his work offers critical insights into transformation processes, institutional reform and sustainable development in transition economies. He is the author of the two books (The Transition Trap: Three Decades of Transition in Central Asia; Transformation of Higher Education (Oliy ta’lim transformatsiyasi)) and dozens of scholarly articles in international peer-reviewed journals.

In recognition of his academic excellence, his doctoral dissertation was awarded the James Claydon Award by St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge, for the best PhD thesis in Economics.