Partnering for progress
Advancing leadership and assessment reform in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is transforming its education system with a vision centred on a commitment to excellence.
The Ministry of Preschool and School Education is delivering on this by modernising the curriculum, strengthening assessment systems, and expanding access to quality education in response to a growing population.
Recognising the importance of robust assessment systems and strong educational leadership, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education has actively sought out international expertise to inform its plans for education improvements.
This case study presents two of the projects that demonstrate how Uzbekistan is building capacity in key areas of its education system, assessment and school leadership, in collaboration with AQA Global.
Project 1: Building national assessment expertise
To drive smarter policy decisions, improve results, and enhance the credibility of qualifications, Uzbekistan made high-quality assessment a cornerstone of its national education improvement plan.
This training project was designed to empower senior officials from the Ministry of Preschool and School Education with the expertise to lead national assessment reform.
The training delivered:
A deep understanding of international best practices in assessment design and quality assurance
Practical skills in developing valid, fair, and reliable assessments
Strategic insights into how assessment data can inform policy and improve learning outcomes
A foundation for long-term collaboration between Uzbekistan and UK-based assessment experts
AQA Global welcomed a delegation of senior officials to Manchester for an intensive two-week training programme. The initiative was designed to build deep expertise in modern assessment principles and practices, aligned with international standards.
Covering the essentials of good assessment practices
Week one focused on the foundations of assessment design, including the assessment life cycle, construct definition, task design, and the development of both multiple-choice and constructed response items. Participants also explored vocational assessment and how to assess competence in practical settings, an area of growing importance.
Moving on to advanced testing approaches
The second week addressed fairness, accessibility, and the use of data to evaluate test performance. Participants were introduced to statistical models such as Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory, and explored how these can be used to ensure reliability and validity in national assessments. Sessions on the future possibilities for assessment in Uzbekistan covered on-screen and adaptive assessments and the potential of item banking.
Understanding the wider context of international assessment
The programme concluded with a focus on developing a national assessment framework and understanding global trends in assessment innovation. Participants left with a strengthened capacity to lead assessment reform and a clear understanding of how to apply international best practices in the Uzbek context.
I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks for your support in facilitating such a wonderful training program with AQA Global over the past two weeks. I must say the training was exceptionally well-organized with excellent content. The whole experience was incredibly valuable, and I am confident it will be highly beneficial moving forward.”
Aslan Ibragim, Doctor of Education (EdD), Advisor for the Ministry of Preschool and School Education of Uzbekistan
Project 2: Leadership development for Presidential Schools in Tashkent
Strong school leadership is one of the most important drivers of educational improvement. Effective leaders inspire teachers, raise standards, and create the conditions for sustained success across entire school systems. Recognising this, Uzbekistan recently invested in strengthening the leadership capacity of its Presidential Schools, elite institutions that serve as models of excellence across the country. By bringing together school leaders for training and collaboration they ensured that successful strategies, both from abroad and at home, could be replicated across the entire network.
To achieve this, Uzbekistan’s PIIMA agency partnered with AQA Global to deliver a tailored leadership development programme in Tashkent, supporting the development of a confident, collaborative leadership culture.
The five-day programme was led by Professor Sam Twiselton and Ann Burgess and brought together senior leaders from across the Presidential School network.
This programme enabled participants to:
Reflect on and refine their leadership styles
Develop strategic action plans aligned with national goals
Strengthen instructional leadership and teacher development
Build a network of leaders committed to regional collaboration and school improvement
The training was designed to be highly interactive and reflective. It began with participants exploring their own leadership journeys and identifying strengths and areas for development. This set the stage for a week of focused professional learning, grounded in the realities of leading high-performing schools in a dynamic national context.
Qualities of good leaders
Participants examined the qualities of effective leadership, with a particular emphasis on adaptive leadership, an essential skill for navigating change and complexity. They worked collaboratively to develop shared visions for their schools and explored how to build a culture of continuous improvement.
Strategies for school improvement
Midweek, the focus shifted to instructional leadership. Leaders considered what makes a school effective, how to support teacher development, and how to use self-evaluation as a tool for school improvement. The fourth day addressed the challenges of leading change, drawing on international case studies to explore how to motivate staff and implement policy effectively.
Space for sharing best practice
The final day was dedicated to strengthening regional collaboration. Leaders shared their action plans, received peer feedback, and reflected on the week’s learning. The programme concluded with a celebratory presentation of certificates, marking the beginning of a new chapter in leadership for Uzbekistan’s Presidential Schools.
Looking ahead
Uzbekistan’s commitment to strengthening assessment and leadership offers valuable lessons for education systems across Central Asia. These projects demonstrate how targeted investment in people and systems can drive meaningful, sustainable change.
As experts in assessment and leadership development, AQA Global and AlphaPlus are proud to support Uzbekistan’s journey. We look forward to continuing to build on these successes with the team in Uzbekistan in the months and years to come.
We believe there is great potential for collaboration across the region and we invite Ministries and education leaders to partner with us in building stronger, more effective education systems.
Training tailored to your goals
If you're exploring how to strengthen assessment or leadership in your education system, we’d be delighted to help. Our expert, Syed Shah, can work with you to design a tailored introductory training programme that aligns with your national goals and priorities.
Whether you're just beginning your reform journey or looking to build on existing progress, we’re here to support you every step of the way.