Mathematics competitions are rapidly gaining popularity across Central Asia, with thousands of young participants competing in events held in countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. These competitions have become a significant part of the region’s academic landscape, reflecting its long-standing tradition in mathematics. The historical significance of the subject is rooted in the work of scholars such as Al-Khwarizmi, the 9th-century mathematician and ‘father of algebra’ from Khiva, present-day Uzbekistan.
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Under Soviet rule, the importance of mathematics was emphasised, especially as the Cold War arms and space races highlighted the subject as a strategic asset. Despite this strong historical connection, Central Asian countries have not consistently ranked highly in international mathematics assessments. Kazakhstan remains the only country in the region to consistently place in the top 30 at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), but that trend may be changing.
With the rise of regional competitions, there are growing hopes that Central Asia will see improvements in international rankings. Events such as Turkmenistan’s Open Mathematics Olympiad for University Students and Kazakhstan’s International Zhautykov Olympiad are now attracting global attention. Last year, Uzbekistan’s Nordic International University launched the Tashkent International Mathematics Olympiad (TASIMO), which aims to bring together some of the brightest minds from across the region and beyond.
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Sherzod Mustafakulov, the rector of Nordic International University, sees these competitions as crucial to the region’s socio-economic development. He believes they help to identify and nurture young talent, fostering innovation and solving complex problems. Studies have shown that participation in STEM competitions correlates strongly with long-term career success. Mustafakulov also highlighted the international collaboration that has already taken place, with global mathematics professors contributing to TASIMO and the university working alongside the IMO to improve competition standards.
