GOVERNMENT OF UZBEKISTAN, AKYLADE® SIGN M.O.U. TO PROVIDE IT, CYBERSECURITY, & DEVELOPER EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan – A Memorandum of Understanding to bring quality IT, cybersecurity, and developer certifications and educational programs to students overseas was signed between the Center for the Development of Digital Education in Uzbekistan and AKYLADE®, it was announced today by AKYLADE Founder and Chief Product Officer, Jason Dion.

Held recently in the capital of Tashkent with representatives from the Government of Uzbekistan, Dion and Azamat Eshankulov, Director of the Digital Education Development Center, signed the MOU that acknowledges AKYLADE's certification framework as maintaining ISO 17024 compliance and folds it into Uzbekistan's national talent development roadmap. Built on the expertise of industrial leaders and subject matter experts, AKYLADE delivers high-quality, credible certifications designed to empower individuals advancing careers in cybersecurity, cyber resilience, risk management, and video game development and coding.

"We are truly honored to have this landmark international endorsement of the Government of Uzbekistan, which publicly recognizes all three AKYLADE tracks (cyber, developer, and AI) as ISO-17024 compliant," Dion said. "And for Uzbekistan, the programme is a tactical lever for its ambition to become 'Central Asia's premier IT-outsourcing powerhouse,' rapidly widening the local pool of certified developers, cyber-defenders, and AI specialists."

Anchoring the deal with the Government of Uzbekistan includes a reimbursement tier consisting of:

• Intermediate level (partially subsidised): Cyber Resilience Fundamentals (A/CCRF), Risk Management Foundation (A/CRMF) and AI Security Foundation (A/AISF).

During the meeting, guests were informed about projects launched in Uzbekistan aimed at improving IT education and digital literacy of Uzbekistan's student population. The cooperation agreement between the Government of Uzbekistan and AKYLADE includes the implementation of new educational initiatives, improving the knowledge of young people in the field of digital education, and developing innovative approaches to education.

The ceremony drew a government contingent led by senior officials from the Ministry of Digital Technologies, plus industry partners Jon Weinberger, CEO of GameDevHQ, and Bekhzod Djalilov, President of Tashkent Metropolitan University, underscoring how seriously the country is courting international ed-tech players.

Earlier that day, Dion had addressed a packed audience at GameFest 2025 with his speech on "Bridging Skills Gaps for Digital-First Economies," setting the stage for the agreement.

Tashkent Metropolitan University alone expects to train approximately 500 learners per year under the certification paths, while nationwide projections run higher as regional IT hubs come online over the next 24 months.

Implementation will begin immediately as AKYLADE's Authorized Training Partners in the country finalize their study materials and launch pilot cohorts ahead of the government's formal "approved-certification" list update later in 2025.

-30-

ABOUT AKYLADE

Founded by world-renowned cybersecurity and AI specialist & educator Jason Dion, AKYLADE empowers the next generation of IT and cybersecurity professionals by validating real-world skills through practical, experience-driven certification exams. Built by industry experts with decades of hiring and operational leadership experience, our certifications are designed to meet the demands of today's workforce -- not just the classroom. Whether you're launching your career or advancing to the next level, AKYLADE certifications help bridge the gap between learning and doing -- giving you the credibility and confidence to succeed. For more information, visit akylade.com or call 866-AKYLADE.