According to the proposed changes, it will be necessary to amend the presidential decree dated May 10, 2022, No. 146 "On the Establishment of the International Scholarship of the President 'El ümutü'" to bring it in line with current laws.
One of the key proposals is the introduction of a mandatory five-year work requirement for scholarship recipients. Graduates who complete the "El ümutü" program will be required to return to the Kyrgyz Republic and work in various sectors for five years, regardless of ownership type. Otherwise, they will be obliged to reimburse the expenses incurred by the state for their education.
The Cabinet of Ministers will determine the rules and mechanisms for enforcing this requirement. The Ministry of Science believes that this initiative will enable graduates to make a significant contribution to the economic development of the country and to utilize the international knowledge and experience they have gained in their fields.
It is also stipulated that scholarship recipients who have studied under the "El ümutü" program will be included in the reserve of personnel for state civil or municipal service on a priority basis, in accordance with the legislation.
These changes were developed in light of amendments to the law "On State Civil Service and Municipal Service," with the aim of supporting the development of human resources in the country.
The justification states that the changes are necessary to ensure the return on state investments in human capital development and to form a sustainable personnel potential in the country.
Research on similar international scholarship programs, such as Chevening and DAAD, shows that a work commitment period of three to five years is optimal for balancing costs and benefits. According to the ministry, a five-year term will not only compensate for state investments but also effectively implement the acquired knowledge within the framework of state projects. This approach will also help reduce staff turnover and strengthen institutional memory, which is particularly relevant in the context of long-term reforms.
Draft Decree
Draft
DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC On Amendments to the Decree of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic "On the Establishment of the International Scholarship of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic 'El ümutü'" dated May 10, 2022, No. 146
In order to improve the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic in the field of education, guided by Article 71 of the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, I decree:
To make the following amendments to the Decree of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic "On the Establishment of the International Scholarship of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic 'El ümutü'" dated May 10, 2022, No. 146:
in the Regulation on the Procedure for Awarding the International Scholarship of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic "El ümutü," approved by the aforementioned Decree:
- paragraph 1 shall be stated as follows:
“The 'El ümutü' scholarship aims to assist the most talented youth of the Kyrgyz Republic in obtaining education at the master's and PhD levels from educational organizations that are in the top 100 world rankings of foreign higher education institutions (hereinafter referred to as educational organizations) and educational programs provided by QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education”;
- in paragraph 13, the words “foreign higher educational institution” shall be replaced with the words “foreign educational organization”;
- the sixth paragraph of paragraph 14 shall be stated as follows:
- the presence of a recommendation from the educational organization (for state or municipal employees at their place of work).
- paragraph 21 shall be stated as follows:
“The contract serves as the basis for the transfer of funds to foreign educational organizations. Payment for the education of scholarship recipients is made after the contract is concluded”;
- paragraph 25 shall be stated as follows:
“25. Graduates of foreign higher educational organizations who have received education under the international scholarship of the President 'El ümutü' and have received a diploma or other equivalent document are included in the reserve of personnel for state civil service and municipal service in the manner prescribed by the legislation in the field of state civil service and municipal service”;
- Chapter 6 shall be supplemented with paragraph 251 of the following content:
“251. Upon completion of their studies abroad, scholarship recipients are required to return and engage in labor activity in the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic in various sectors regardless of ownership type for a period of 5 (five) years, or reimburse the corresponding expenses incurred for their education.
The rules for concluding contracts with scholarship recipients, the procedure for interacting with them, and the procedure for sending them for education shall be approved by the Cabinet of Ministers”;
- in the second paragraph of paragraph 27, the words “educational institutions” shall be replaced with the words “educational organization”.
2. This Decree shall enter into force ten days after its official publication.
President of the Kyrgyz Republic S.N. Japarov
