Kyrgyzstan requires “El Umuty” scholarship holders to work at least five years

Kyrgyzstan's Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a resolution updating the model agreement for recipients of the President's international scholarship “El Umuty”. According to the press service of the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Innovation, the main aim of the changes is to ensure targeted and effective use of state funds and to increase scholarship holders' responsibility for their contractual obligations.

Under the revised terms, scholarship holders must return to Kyrgyzstan within three months of completing their studies. They must also work for at least five years in state bodies, local self-government bodies, state or municipal institutions and organisations, or enterprises with state participation. Their work should match their specialty unless the ministry sets a different employment direction.

The ministry will monitor graduates' employment and compliance with the agreement, and scholarship holders must submit annual documents confirming their work. If they fail to meet obligations without valid reasons, including stopping their studies or refusing mandatory work, they must repay the state's actual costs for education, accommodation and travel.