• Djibouti, Uzbekistan agree to boost ties in education, research
• Deal includes exchanges, joint programs, and 10 student scholarships
• Partnership supports Djibouti’s STEM focus, youth employment goals
  

Djibouti and Uzbekistan discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in higher and vocational education, as well as in science and innovation. The meeting took place on November 1 in Samarkand, on the sidelines of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, between Uzbekistan’s Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Qong‘irotboy Sharipov, and Djibouti’s Education Minister, Mohamed Mahmoud Mustafa.

According to Uzbekistan’s higher education ministry, the discussions focused on launching joint programs involving student and faculty exchanges, collaborative research, and the adoption of advanced international standards in technical training. The two ministers also agreed to link universities and vocational centers in both countries and to formalize these projects through a long-term cooperation framework.

As an initial step, Uzbekistan will award ten scholarships to students from Djibouti to pursue studies at Uzbek universities and technical institutes in engineering, medicine, information technology, and artificial intelligence. Minister Mustafa described the initiative as “a strategic step toward deepening educational and professional ties between the two countries.”

For Djibouti, the partnership marks an important step toward diversifying technical training and improving youth employability in high-growth sectors. This focus is timely: fewer than 2% of African students under 18 complete school with basic STEM skills, according to a June brief by the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa. A 2024 UNESCO report likewise urged African governments to expand STEM education to unlock the continent’s innovation potential.

The agreement comes amid Djibouti’s ongoing education reforms. In July 2025, the country secured a $2.97 million World Bank grant to improve access to schooling and services for young people, particularly those with disabilities, highlighting the central role of human capital in Djibouti’s long-term development strategy.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou