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Wider Europe - Covid-19 update - 9 July 2021

In order to keep the UK education sector updated on the market changes, priorities and give an overview of the situation with Covid-19 in Wider Europe, the International Education Services team in the region is pleased to present you with the following news. 

In this update we will give you an overview of the situation with Covid-19 in the Wider Europe countries, the pandemic effect on the education system, economy and other key areas of countries' development. 

Here are the changes at a glance: 

Kazakhstan – ‘mandatory’ vaccination, state testing finishes, new academic year to start offline, intergovernmental scholarships granted, Bolashaq announces first scholars

Turkey - Covid-19 daily cases dropped down to 5K levels, business as usual and all public places open as of 1 July.

Uzbekistan - relaxed lockdown measures, schools and HEIs deliver face-to-face, five-fold increase in governmental scholrships, Digital Uzbekistan launches

Kazakhstan

Update 9 July

Kazakhstan declared a state of emergency to curb the spread of the Covid-19 infection on 16 March through 11 May after the World Health Organization defined the spread of the coronavirus as a pandemic.

Since then, Kazakhstan has seen a number of restrictive measures being taken in order to hold the spread of virus, yet it had to allow businesses to reopen by following some sanitary requirements which include social distancing, wearing masks, limited number of people in one room, etc.

Quick summary in the beginning of July:

  • There have been a few cases of the new Delta variant detected in Kazakhstan. The number of people infected with the new variant has been increasing steadily along with the regular Covid-19 cases.
  • Kazakhstan rolled out a mass vaccination campaign in April 2021, previously it was voluntary yet starting July and with the growth of both Covid-19 and its Delta variant, the Government introduced a new legislation that requires all employees of any labour unions [businesses, government offices] of up to or over 20 people working with public to get the vaccine on a mandatory basis. However, if the employees of such unions decline taking the vaccine, they are required to take the PCR test on a weekly basis. Only people who have underlying medical conditions can be exempt from vaccination.
  • Universities are also asking their students and freshmen to provide a proof of vaccination in order for them to start the new academic year. HEIs have announced that they would be providing some incentives such as tuition fee discounts, free pass to take extracurricular activities, accommodation, etc. to those who have been vaccinated.
  • These days Kazakh dwellers have an opportunity of choosing one of the three available vaccines, i.e. Sputnik V, locally produced QazVac and Sinopharm (UAE & China joint vaccine). In recent talks, President Kazssym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the Government to take quick actions on organising the shipment of the vaccine produced by Pfizer.
  • Medical workers have been the ones who are asked to take the vaccine otherwise they might not be admitted to work.
  • Academic staff at schools, HEIs and other education establishments will have to be vaccinated before they start working in September.
  • There is also a backlash from the public and so called ‘antivaccinists’ due to the fact that people are ‘forced’ to take the vaccine and that there isn’t much information about the vaccines and their trial results. The Government has been running awareness-raising campaigns and prize draws to encourage people to take the vaccine.
  • The total number of vaccinated people in Kazakhstan is at 6,303,889 (over 31% of all population), of those 4,020,128 were vaccinated with the first component and are waiting the 21-day period to do the second jab.

School and universities

The 2020/21 academic year finished, and the students are now on summer break.

The state matriculation test, Unified National Test, has also been finalised with a total of 131,754 school leavers taking it. Only 82,154 students were able to score at or above the threshold. Those who were not successful will be able to take the test on a paid basis later in August.

The 2021/22 school year is expected to start offline, in the traditional face-to-face setting. Thus, the Ministry of Education and Science has been pushing the vaccination campaign and strongly ‘advising’ academic staff to do the inoculation before the new academic season starts.

HEIs have been instructed to accept students for offline study with a proof of vaccination or underlying medical condition that allows people to decline vaccination.

The Ministry’s initiative to close down low-quality institutions carries on, with new five higher education institutions being unlicensed in June-July. The main idea of the programme is to clean up the higher education area and eliminate those institutions that do not provide up-to-standard teaching and involved in bribery or ‘sales of diplomas and qualifications.’

Kazakhstan’s Al-Farabi University entered the top 200 list of QS World University Rankings 2021/22. The Kazakh university appears #165, placing itself between University of Rochester (US) and University of Waterloo (Canada).

According to the World Bank, Kazakhstan’s total spend on education came to 4.65% of GDP in 2020 (3.63% in 2019) and reached 3.14 trillion tenge. Most of the state budget was spent on equipping schools, construction of new education facilities and higher education institutions.

Student financial support

Kazakhstan’s full study grants for higher education with local HE providers in 2021/22 have increased to 56,000 from 51,000 in 2020/21. Applications will be accepted from 13 July to 20 July 2020. The biggest share comes for Engineering – 17,028, Pedagogy – 9,573, IT- 7,487 and natural sciences – 4,088. The remainder of places has been divided among Agriculture, Medicine, Arts and Humanitarian Sciences, Business and Administration, Social Studies and Journalism.

Over 300 Kazakh students will be able to study for free overseas this year as part of intergovernmental agreements that has been signed by Kazakhstan and other seven countries like Hungary, China, Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Azerbaijan and Vietnam. 250 students will be going to study for free in Hungary, 47 Iin China, 11 in Poland, 10 in Ukraine, three in Slovakia, eight in Azerbaijan and one in Vietnam.

The Bolashaq Presidential Scholarship has announced the results of first round of applications. According to the scholarship body 113 Kazakhstanis have been approved of full scholarship for 2021/22. The next round of applications will be concluded in August and November.

Economic situation

By the end of 2020 fiscal year, Kazakhstan’s economy shrank by 3.8%, says Eurasian Development Bank.

The World Bank predicts that the economy of Kazakhstan will grow by 2.5% in 2021, whilst the Eurasian Development Bank analysts predict an increase in aggregate GDP by 3.2% in 2021.

The Minister of the National Economy Ruslan Dalenov presented draft amendments to the law on the restoration of economic growth at the plenary session of the Senate. The amendments focus on the attraction of investment, development of entrepreneurship and the real sector, stabilisation of the financial market, digitalisation, project management, as well as improvement of monetary, social and trade policies.

Regional activities:

  • Study UK ‘Wider Europe: Meet UK universities’  - September 2021 – February 2022 (more details will follow)
  • Redesigned Digital Marketing Campaigns – more information upon request

Turkey 

Update 9 July

The number of Covid-19 cases have dropped to 5K from 60K (highest recorded on 20 April).

As of 1 July, Turkey ended all lockdown restrictions. Public institutions, organisations returned to normal working order. All businesses resumed their services.

While normalisation started, Turkey mass vaccination with Chinese Sinovac and Pfizer’s BioNTech are in progress, and 45 per cent of the total population has received first dose and almost 20 per cent received the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine as of 9 July. Turkey plans to complete the second dose vaccine by the end of July.

As the Delta variant is rapidly spreading across the globe, Turkey decided to reduce the 6-week gap timeline to 4 weeks between two doses. The aim is to achieve herd immunity with the highest possible vaccination rate and citizens aged 18 are now eligible for vaccination.

In the meantime, Turkey’s TURKOVAC which is the most advanced domestic vaccine project in country is in its the phase 3 trials.

Until 31 July, passengers arriving from Egypt, Iran, Singapore or the United Kingdom must have a negative PCR test taken at most 72 hrs before arrival.

From 8 June, direct flights can arrive in England from Turkey, but they must arrive at dedicated terminals at Heathrow and Birmingham airports. Different requirements may apply for arrivals into Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Economic outlook in Turkey

The Turkish Lira continues losing value against foreign currencies. TRY devalued 35 per cent against Sterling in the last one year.

Sources have informed that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by 1.94 percent and the Domestic Producer Price Index (D-PPI) has increased by 4.01 percent in June. Annual inflation has been 17.53 percent in consumer prices and 42.89 percent in domestic producer prices, which means that it has reached its highest since May 2019. According to the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT), consumer prices have increased by 14.55 percent and domestic producer prices have increased by 25.38 percent, considering the 12-month averages as of June.

Turkey has become one of the two countries that achieved growth in online exports and e-commerce in 2020 among G-20 countries, with China.

According to a survey conducted by the collaboration of QNET and Akadementre across Turkey, one out of every five was engaged in direct selling to increase his/her income during the pandemic period. The survey reveals that the factors such as the surge in flexible working conditions, decrease in incomes, being subject to short-term working allowance increased the interest in the direct selling sector and it is seen as an additional income source. Globally worth USD180 billion volume, the direct selling sector reached TL2.7 billion market size in 2019 in Turkey.

Speeding up its green energy investments, Turkey today is producing 53 percent of its installed power of 98,000 megawatts from renewable resources. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources is ambitious to boost this mobility and participation level.

One of Turkey's largest e-commerce platforms, Hepsiburada will now be traded in NASDAQ. This marks the company's new place among the global technology giants, and it becoming the first Turkish company to go public on NASDAQ. Hepsiburada's public offering price per share amounted to USD 12 and its opening market valuation was approximately USD 4 billion. The company has generated over USD 700 million from the public offering.

The investments of Turkish entrepreneurs abroad reached USD 43.9 billion in 2020, made through exportation activities, amounted to USD 6.4 billion in 2020. The turnover of these investments equalled USD 35 billion.

The consumer confidence index has begun to increase in June after a three-month decline. The index, which increased by 4.4 points compared to the previous month, rose to 81.7. The current situation index of the household decreased compared to the previous 12-month period, but the expectation for the next 12-month period increased.

Schools and universities

Over 26 million students are affected by Covid-19, including 18 million school students and 8 million higher education students.
Schools

The 2020-21 academic year in Turkey which continued partially online and partially in-person throughout ended on 18 June. The report cards and achievement certificates of 18 million elementary, middle, and high school students are available via the e-School system. The report cards were released grade by grade to prevent congestions. For those who request it, printed report cards, achievement certificates, and graduation diplomas are granted by school headships from July 2 onwards.

Turkey’s annual high school entrance exam results were announced on 1 July. High school selection period is between 5-16 July and the results will be announced on 26 July. 1.2 million eighth graders signed up for the central test.

Universities

The nationwide university entrance exam was held on 26-27 June 2021. The results will be announced on 4 August. Universities will reopen for f2f education on 13 September.

International Student Mobility

U.S. Consulate visa section has resumed their visa services. They now accept student visa applications.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)

Visa Application Centres (VACs) resumed their operation with reduced working hours as before. The VACs in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir are open three days a week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

Uzbekistan 

Update 9 July

Summary

  • Most of the lockdown/quarantine measures have been lifted These include the suspension of most educational activities (schools, colleges, universities etc.)
  • Majority of Schools and Universities started working f2f having all measures in place
  • 5 fold increase in funding for State Scholarship Fund “El Yurt Umidi” - State Program for the implementation of the Action strategy in five priority areas of development of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2017–2021 in the "Year of Youth Support and Health Promotion"

General situation in country and policy level developments

Economic picture:

  • In the June issue of the WB World Economic Outlook report, data on world GDP growth for 2020-2021 were announced. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is projected to lead to a 1.7% decline in the Central Asian economy.
  • It is notable that among the 24 states in the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Uzbekistan according to WB will become the only country where economic growth of 1.5% is currently expected in 2020. WB expects 6.6% increase in Uzbekistan’s economy in 2021. http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/344691588788182868/Global-Economic-Prospects-June-2020-Regional-Overview-ECA.pdf

State Budget for Education in Uzbekistan (2021)

Education Market

2020/2021 Academic Year

  • New Decree of President dated 13 June 2020 introducing unified school graduation and University entrance exams from 2021/2022. Earlier this year, the STC published for discussion a draft presidential decree that provides for the introduction of a system of admission to universities based on the results of school graduation tests, without conducting additional exams.
  • According to the project, it is proposed to introduce a unified exam from the academic year 2021/2022. Testing is planned in April-May 2021.

State Program for the implementation of the Action strategy in five priority areas of development of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2017–2021 in the "Year of Youth Support and Health Promotion" states: https://review.uz/post/gosudarstvennaya-programma-god-podderjki-molodyoji-i-ukrepleniya-zdorovya-naseleniya

In order to radically increase the efficiency of training of gifted specialists in prestigious foreign educational, scientific and other institutions for professions in demand in the republic, starting from April 1, 2021:

  • to increase by 5 times the number of young people sent to study for master's and doctoral studies at prestigious foreign universities through the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation;
  • introduce a system of training for bachelor's degree programs abroad at the expense of the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation and ensure that in 2021, 100 young people are sent abroad for education;
  • to introduce the practice of conducting on a regular basis the selection of candidates for all citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan, regardless of their place of work and residence in the republic, according to the educational programs of the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation on the basis of an open competition for scholarships;
  • introduce the procedure for holding a scholarship competition for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on the basis of applications from prestigious foreign educational, scientific or other institutions for admission to study.
  • The El-Yurt Umidi Foundation will take concrete measures within a month to radically improve the system of training civil servants and specialists abroad.
  • Special attention will be paid to improving the coverage and quality of higher education. Starting next year, the number of state grants for higher education will be increased by at least 25 percent.
  • Double the quota of scholarships for girls from low-income families and bring it to 2 thousand. Special scholarships will be introduced for girls in need of social support who study excellently.
  • At present, young people strive to enter the most prestigious universities, but there is no competition among universities to attract educated and talented youth. In this regard, a system will be introduced to provide private universities with a state order for the training of specialists in demand.
  • In order to strengthen the continuity between universities and the lower levels of the education system, 65 academic lyceums will be transferred to the jurisdiction of higher educational institutions, and 187 technical schools will be assigned to specialized universities and industry enterprises.
  • Ties with leading foreign universities, scientific and innovation centers will be strengthened, cooperation with them in the field of personnel training will be expanded.
  • In this regard, the number of young people sent to study for magistracy and doctoral studies in foreign universities through the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation will increase fivefold next year. Through the fund, we will send 100 of our boys and girls to study at a bachelor's degree in other countries for the first time. In subsequent years, their number will increase by 2-3 times.
  • In the new year, 30 leading universities in the country will have the right to independently develop curricula, determine admission quotas and solve financial issues.

Strategy “Digital Uzbekistan - 2030”

  • organization of training for 587 thousand people in the basics of computer programming, including by attracting 500 thousand young people in the framework of the project "One million Coders“
  • On January 1, 2021, compensation systems for up to 50 percent of citizens' expenses for obtaining international IT certificates in system administration, database and cloud platform management, information security and other popular areas is introduced

Opportunities:

  • Main area to highlight is GoU efforts to support education and welcome international HE’s
  • Uzbekistan is a growing market for UK English language programmes, over the last two years the number of language centers and courses and foundation programmes with UK partners increased, short-term summer courses, foundation courses, and ELT online courses are all popular in the market.

Info we have on size of the market of those considering taking a TNE delivered course

  • In 2020 survey showed that 16.4 % of pupil wanted to apply for foreign HEs in Uzbekistan. That is around 160K pupils

Contact

BCEducationServices@britishcouncil.org