On June 10 2026, the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan announced a research grant competition on the topic “Behavioural Factors Driving High Demand for Credit in Uzbekistan”.
The main objective of the competition is to identify and assess the behavioral factors contributing to high demand for credit in Uzbekistan and to develop practical recommendations based on the research findings.
Applications were accepted until 30 June 2026. Research teams from Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) and Tashkent University of Information Technologies (TUIT) submitted their research proposals.
During the selection process, the submitted proposals were assessed comprehensively, with particular attention given to the alignment of the research plan with the topic and objectives of the competition, the proposed methodological approaches, the composition of the project team, the qualifications and research capacity of its members, and their previously published academic articles.
Based on the evaluation results, the research proposal submitted by the WIUT team received the highest assessment. A proposal to select the team as the grant winner was therefore submitted for consideration by the members of the Central Bank’s Research Council.
An online vote among the members of the Research Council was held on 14 July 2026. A total of 12 Council members took part: 11 voted in favour of selecting the WIUT team as the grant winner, one voted against, and there were no abstentions.
In accordance with the voting results, the WIUT team was selected as the winner of the research grant competition on “Behavioural Factors Driving High Demand for Credit in Uzbekistan” and as the implementing team for the grant project.
The research is expected to provide a deeper understanding of the behavioural factors shaping demand for credit and to support the development of relevant practical recommendations based on the factors identified.
