University 4.0 is a new model that goes beyond combining education and science. It envisions universities becoming innovation hubs that directly contribute to regional development. In this regard, the experience of Osh State University (OshSU) deserves attention. In recent years, the university has systematically worked to direct research towards solving the region’s socio-economic problems, attract international investment, improve research quality, and train a new generation of researchers.

Research Focused on Regional Challenges

Research at OshSU goes beyond theoretical studies and aims to address the region’s socio-economic challenges. Projects cover water resource studies, assessing the potential for constructing small and micro hydropower plants, using solar and wind energy, developing tourism, protecting mountain ecosystems, and introducing green innovations.

Over the past four years, joint projects worth 197 million soms have been implemented. Of this amount, 25 million soms came from the Ministry of Education and Science, 34 million soms from the university, and 138 million soms from international investment funds. In addition, 25 million soms was allocated over the past three years to research aimed at solving the region’s socio-economic problems.

The university has also directed research towards addressing socio-economic challenges, implementing projects worth 51 million soms through internal grants over the past five years. During the 2025–2026 academic year, 30 university-level, three national, and eight international innovation projects were implemented. In line with the University 4.0 model, OshSU has integrated industrial and research projects and signed eight agreements.

Integration into the Global Research Community

Another important area of OshSU’s research activity is integrating its research into the international scientific community. In recent years, the number of scientific publications by university staff has continued to grow. This year, articles by 351 researchers were published in scientific journals indexed in the Scopus database. The number of publications increased sixfold between 2021 and 2025, reaching 900.

OshSU researchers rank fourth in Kyrgyzstan in terms of the number of scientific publications. Their work has appeared in leading international Q1, Q2, and Q3 journals. The impact factor of the Bulletin of Osh State University has increased, helping raise the international profile of the university’s research achievements.

To encourage more scientific publications, the university also provides financial incentives. Depending on the authors’ research output, annual rewards range from 15,000 to 75,000 soms. The university also attracts highly qualified foreign professors and researchers. This cooperation creates opportunities to produce joint research, publish in highly ranked journals, and undertake research placements at leading scientific centres worldwide. Researchers, lecturers, specialists, and volunteers from France, the United States, Hungary, South Korea, and Japan are currently contributing to various areas of the university’s work.

Developing Research Talent

The quality of research personnel is particularly important for the University 4.0 model. OshSU is among the country’s leading universities in the number of academic staff holding research degrees. In 2025, five doctoral dissertations, 39 Candidate of Sciences dissertations, and eight PhD dissertations were defended. As a result, the total number of Candidates of Sciences, PhD holders, and Doctors of Sciences reached 600.

The university currently offers PhD programmes in seven fields, with 69 doctoral students conducting research. Since 2022, additional salary payments have been introduced based on annual performance rankings to support the academic engagement of teaching staff.

A Digital University

Digital transformation is another key component of OshSU’s University 4.0 strategy. The university has developed a comprehensive roadmap for the digitalisation of information and education services for 2024–2029.

The MyEDU automated learning platform is fully operational and has become an advanced system that allows students to create individual learning pathways. The digital education portal mooc.oshsu.kg is also available, providing undergraduate and postgraduate students with access to online learning resources. A dedicated video studio was opened to improve the quality of distance education, and nearly 300 video lessons were produced within one year.

To ensure transparent and efficient academic services, the process of issuing certificates has been fully automated and transferred to the next.oshsu.kg platform.

The system includes electronic document management, electronic gradebooks and assessment records, an electronic library, an anti-plagiarism system, a distance-learning platform, and digital personal accounts for lecturers and students. As a result, a range of processes—from student admission to graduation—has been transferred to a digital format.

Quality Assurance and International Rankings

OshSU also focuses on assessing the quality of its educational programmes through independent accreditation. In 2023, the university renewed its institutional and programme accreditation and received accreditation for seven years. Between 2023 and 2026, a total of 127 educational programmes were accredited, representing 94% of all the university’s programmes.

In Eurasian rankings conducted by the Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating (IAAR), OshSU consistently maintains positions in the Top 5 and Top 3. It has also entered international rankings such as QS Quacquarelli Symonds and received a four-star QS Stars rating. In the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026, OshSU ranked 316th among 1,526 institutions and 22nd among 74 universities in Central Asia.

In the QS Sustainability Rankings, OshSU ranked 1,251st for environmental and social impact and 1,107th for governance. Overall, it was placed in the 1501+ category among 2,022 participating institutions.

Turning Research into Innovation and Industry

A fourth-generation university should have a direct impact on the socio-economic development of its region. OshSU is successfully implementing a collaboration model that brings together higher education, science, industry, and commercialisation.

The IRCAPS research centre has been established to study air pollution and its effects on human health. Researchers from Tokyo visit the centre and conduct studies in collaboration with OshSU specialists.

A Centre for Early Detection of Oncological Diseases is set to begin operating at the new Medical Clinic under construction. New programmes in oncology, radiology, and medical informatics will be introduced for students and medical professionals.

The Satellite Analysis and Remote Sensing Centre, the Central Asian Critical Minerals Innovation Centre, and the Mountain Ecosystem Conservation and Green Innovation Consulting Centre have been established and are actively operating.

With support from the Uzgen District Administration and the Jalpak-Tash agricultural administration, a research and production project called Kurbu-Tash Forest is being implemented across 300 hectares of landslide-prone territory. More than 30,000 trees have been planted as part of the project. Experiments in raising Peking ducks are also underway in the Kurbu-Tash area.

In cooperation with China’s Jiangsu Huibo Robotics, the Future Generation Hub robotics centre was opened. It is described as the first and only laboratory centre of its kind in Central Asia and the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Specialists in robotics are currently being trained there. The Future Generation Hub is gradually developing into a centre for artificial intelligence, robotics, and information technology.

OshSU also has projects designed to transfer practical research results into production. For example, a project aimed at preserving the genetic resources of farm animals, improving breeding quality, and monitoring epizootic conditions led to the registration and patenting of the Ala-Too sheep breed, adapted to local conditions.

In addition, over the past three years, university researchers have obtained patents and certificates of authorship in mathematics, physics, engineering, information technology, medicine, and agriculture. Their developments include computer programmes, a micro hydropower plant, a hydrogen-generating device, medical technologies, and 3D models.

Under the University 4.0 model, universities are expected to identify regional social problems and help solve them through research. One such initiative at OshSU focuses on preventing dental caries among children. Tooth decay is a significant child-health concern in Osh city and Osh Region. Researchers are currently examining the dental health of schoolchildren in Osh and identifying factors that contribute to caries.

The project is expected to identify the main risk factors for tooth decay, establish risk groups, and scientifically substantiate preventive measures tailored to each group.

Historic achievements have also been made in medical education and practical healthcare. At the university’s medical clinic, eight kidney transplants and five liver transplants have been successfully performed, expanding access to medical services in southern Kyrgyzstan.

A new seven-storey clinic at OshSU, being constructed pursuant to a presidential decree, is nearing completion. The campus covers two hectares and includes departments in nine areas, as well as six research and rehabilitation centres.

University–Business–Industry Cooperation

Internal university grants and the Business Park play an important role in bringing research developments closer to industry. In 2025, projects funded through internal grants led to agreements with enterprises on basalt material processing, livestock farming, biology and ecology, and laboratory services in medicine.

OshSU’s Business Park supports projects in information technology, artificial intelligence, agricultural technology, the green economy, medicine, and creative industries. These include UpBulak, Webordo, Smart Greenhouse, GFace, Smart Barrier, AgroTech, Den Tish, and Online Printer.

In 2025, the Business Park supported 21 startup teams, and 14 new startups began operations. At the Expo Youth Startups 2026 competition, one of the country’s major national events for youth entrepreneurship, the Enactus OshSU team won and became the national champion. The team will now represent Kyrgyzstan at the Enactus World Cup 2026, which will take place in São Paulo, Brazil, from November 16 to 19 this year.

Cholpon Kiizbaeva, Kut Bilim

Prepared under the “Social Contract” project of the Ministry of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic.