- 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. 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. 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.