A UK delegation of education and healthcare experts recently concluded a strategic four-day visit to Uzbekistan. This high-impact mission has opened the door to transformative opportunities for bilateral collaboration in healthcare workforce development, education reform and ethical migration.

At the heart of this growing partnership lies an ambitious vision: the creation of a British Nursing University in Samarkand. This institution will be supported by Meros Pharm, one of Uzbekistan’s most dynamic and forward-thinking healthcare providers. With a modern hospital already operating at capacity and a new oncology centre underway, Meros Pharm is building an ecosystem that goes beyond service delivery – aiming instead to become a regional centre of excellence for health education and clinical research.

Uzbekistan is ready for such innovation. With over 100,000 applicants for only 30,000 nursing university places, and strong political backing for workforce mobility, the time is right for bold international collaboration. The Ministries of Health, Migration, and Higher Education expressed enthusiastic support for partnership with UK industry experts, reinforcing Uzbekistan’s commitment to aligning with international standards and opening up routes for ethical outbound migration.

The proposed Meros British International University will represent a paradigm shift. It will deliver UK-aligned BSc Nursing degrees, integrate WHO and NMC standards and embed digital and English-language learning from day one. More than a traditional academic model, this university will serve as a hub for lifelong learning, clinical practice and global career mobility.

This collaboration builds on the partnership between Meros Pharm and People 1st International, established through a successful EBRD-funded project to develop the Meros Pharm Academy. The initiative was designed to support the skills development of current and future healthcare professionals, contributing to the ongoing healthcare talent pipeline in Uzbekistan.

The delegation, led by Jane Rexworthy, Lead Consultant for People 1st International, included senior representatives from UK universities, NHS Trusts, English language providers and workforce planning specialists. Their expertise spans transnational education, immersive learning, CPD, and health workforce migration, offering Uzbekistan a comprehensive model of partnership and capability building. Delegates included:

• Prof Padam Simkhada, University of Huddersfield
• Prof Lorraine Dixon, Oxford Brookes
• Phil Downing, University of Greater Manchester
• Debra Evans & Mark Goninon, UHBW NHS Trust
• Peter Rodway, Specialist Language Courses
• Colette Thomson, Sensations English
• Mandy Wilkinson, Adrian Wilkinson, TalentFind
• Mike Todd, Near-Life

This timely opportunity not only aims to address Uzbekistan’s workforce challenges but also to explore a potential model for healthcare education, rooted in inclusion, quality and sustainability. Next steps will focus on further planning, with the goal of progressing towards a fully operational international nursing and medical university.