Higher Education in IT: An Overview of IT Park University

IT Park University is the first university in Uzbekistan focused on practical education in the IT field. The university was established by the leading international IT company EPAM Systems in collaboration with IT Park under the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan.

Bachelor's Programs

Studies are conducted in a hybrid format, allowing students to learn from leading global IT experts and effectively implement an individualized approach to education.
“Software Engineering”
Duration: four years
Language of instruction: English
Tuition fee: 22,000,000 Uzbek som per year

Bachelor's program specializations:
In addition to the main specialization “Software Engineering,” students master one of five in-demand practical specializations, enabling them to start working immediately after graduation:
— Back-end developer: develops the server-side of web applications, ensuring data processing, database integration, and communication with the user interface
— Front-end developer: creates the user interface of web applications, providing the visual and interactive part that users interact with
— Full-stack developer: builds web applications “from start to finish,” working on both the user interface and server-side logic
— Mobile developer: develops applications for mobile devices, creating interfaces and functionality for user interaction on smartphones and tablets
— Automated testing specialist: creates and conducts automated tests to verify software functionality and performance, ensuring reliability and quality.
Online lectures: webinars with expert practitioners from the international company. Students do not need to travel to another city and can study from any convenient location.

Offline exams: exams are held twice per semester directly at the ITPU university building in Tashkent.

Faculty

70% of the faculty are active programmers from the international IT company EPAM. In other words, these are employees of the international company EPAM who not only guide students through lectures. During their studies, they prepare them for work in the IT field. They share practical experience and explain how to apply acquired skills in real life.
As a result, the program is updated every year, taking into account the latest industry trends.

50% of the curriculum consists of practical assignments, and students also complete four internships during their studies.

Opportunities for Students

— International education: students participate in internships abroad, allowing them to broaden their horizons and gain international experience
— Immersion in the industry: students complete mandatory internships at IT companies, and the best go on international internships
— Soft Skills: students master skills such as self-organization, decision-making, business communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork
— Resume experience: by the end of their studies, students will have a portfolio with more than six individual projects, which will help them secure a position at a leading IT company.

Internships

50% of the program consists of practical assignments. The assignments are as close to real-world scenarios as possible, which students will encounter when entering the workforce.

Academic Mobility

In April 2023, eight first-year students of IT Park University completed internships in Lithuania and Poland. Participants were selected based on academic performance and motivational videos.

Student Life

ITPU has an active extracurricular student life. Currently, there are interest clubs where each participant can join. The most popular club is the Movie Club, with plans to screen a film outdoors soon. Clubs for chess, esports, and sports are also popular; students often gather to play football, basketball, and so on. Board game clubs help students switch off from studies and develop creativity.

Additionally, every Monday, the university holds online and offline training sessions aimed at improving soft skills, which will help in professional activities. For example, time management, stress management, leadership qualities, and others.

Every holiday is celebrated with great enthusiasm from students, and everyone can showcase their leadership and creative qualities.

The university also places great emphasis on developing professional skills, so IT-related olympiads and hackathons are regularly held.