Ensuring the right to higher education: A general overview

https://doi.org/10.35912/ajh.v5i1.3649
Published: Nov 12, 2025

Abstract:

Purpose: This study aims to examine the right to higher education as a fundamental human right and a key state obligation. It seeks to analyze international legal frameworks, national constitutions, and comparative experiences from Germany, Indonesia, Russia, and Uzbekistan to identify how legal reforms, policy mechanisms, and financial measures ensure equitable access to higher education.

Methods: Using a qualitative and comparative approach, the study applies doctrinal legal analysis of primary sources such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ICESCR, and UNESCO Conventions, alongside national education laws. Secondary data from academic research, government reports, and statistical evidence were analyzed through content analysis to evaluate legal and institutional guarantees.

Results: Findings reveal that while international norms recognize higher education as a universal right, its realization varies among countries. Germany ensures free university access; Russia offers merit-based state-funded higher education; Indonesia guarantees education through constitutional budget allocation; and Uzbekistan demonstrates rapid progress through legislative reforms, expansion of institutions, and increased enrollment rates.

Conclusion: Ensuring the right to higher education requires a balance between accessibility, quality, and equity through sustained state commitment and international cooperation.

Limitation: The research focuses on selected case studies and does not include empirical fieldwork or student-level data, limiting its scope of generalization.

Contribution: This paper contributes to comparative educational law by linking global human rights frameworks with national implementation models, providing policy insights for developing inclusive and equitable higher education systems.

Keywords:
1. Compulsory Education
2. Educational Access
3. Educational Reform
4. Higher Education
5. Human Rights
6. International Law
7. Public Policy
8. Right to Education
9. Social Equity
10. State Obligation
Authors:
Sharapov Shukhrat
Head of the legal department of Bukhara State University, Uzbekistan
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How to Cite
Shukhrat, S. . (2025). Ensuring the right to higher education: A general overview. Annals of Justice and Humanity, 5(1), 51–61. https://doi.org/10.35912/ajh.v5i1.3649
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Vol. 5 No. 1 (2025): December
Articles
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References

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    Anfalova, A. V. (2025). Inequality in Access to Higher Education in Russia. Population and Economics, 9(2), 86-116. doi:https://doi.org/10.3897/popecon.9.e149154

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    Hani, U., Subhan, Y. A., & Rasyad, H. (2024). Depiction of Patriarchal Society in Disney's Cinderella. Jurnal Humaniora dan Ilmu Pendidikan, 3(2), 75-83. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/jahidik.v3i2.2706

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    McCowan, T. (2019). Higher education for and beyond the sustainable development goals. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19597-7

    Miahkykh, I. (2023). Social responsibility in higher education: challenges and opportunities. ??????????. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.30857/2415-3206.2023.1.11

    Moskovkin, V. M., & Zhang, H. (2024). The Impact of the University Reputation on Tuition Fees for International Students and on International Student Investment in the Country’s Economy.

    Oral, E. (2024). The environmental rule of law and the protection of human rights defenders: law, society, technology, and markets. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 24(2), 393-421. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-024-09645-x

    Osler, A., & Stokke, C. (2021). Prerequisites and outcomes of human rights education (Vol. 4, pp. 1-4): Taylor & Francis.

    Pantic, A. J. (2022). The Appropriation Of Human Rights Protection By International Organizations-Serbia And Cultural Rights. International Organizations: Serbia and Contemporary. doi:https://doi.org/10.18485/iipe_ioscw.2022.1.ch20

    Peppiatt, C. (2024). The Future of Work: Inequality, Artificial Intelligence, and What Can Be Done About It. A Literature Review. arXiv preprint arXiv:2408.13300. doi:https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2408.13300

    Popova, S., & Yanik, A. (2019). The Russian Constitution of 1993 and the constitutionalization of Federal Legislation: data analysis. BRICS Law Journal, 6(3), 128-161. doi:https://doi.org/10.21684/2412-2343-2019-6-3-128-161

    Prezidentining, O. z. R. (2019). O ‘zbekiston Respublikasi oliy ta’lim tizimini 2030-yilgacha rivojlantirish konsepsiyasini tasdiqlash to ‘g ‘risida.

    Putra, S. P., & Hariri, H. (2022). The Effect of Principal Supervision on Teacher Performance: Literature Review. Jurnal Humaniora dan Ilmu Pendidikan, 2(2), 63-70. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/jahidik.v2i2.1648

    Qodirov, F., & Murodulloyeva, J. (2024). O'zbekistonda Raqamli Iqtisodiyot. ????????????? ???????????? ? ??????????? ????: ?????? ? ????????, 3(15), 178-181.

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  3. Bond, M., Buntins, K., Bedenlier, S., Zawacki-Richter, O., & Kerres, M. (2020). Mapping research in student engagement and educational technology in higher education: A systematic evidence map. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 17(1), 2. doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-019-0176-8
  4. Brewis, E. (2019). Fair access to higher education and discourses of development: a policy analysis from Indonesia. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 49(3), 453-470. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2018.1425132
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  7. Eckersley, P. (2024). Balancing cooperative federalism with local autonomy: subnational governments and governance in Germany Handbook on Subnational Governments and Governance (pp. 299-311): Edward Elgar Publishing.
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  11. Ginting, B. P., Suganda, A., & Suasungnern, S. (2024). THE CONCEPT OF THE RULE OF LAW IN THE INDONESIAN CONSTITUTION. SIBATIK JOURNAL: Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Sosial, Ekonomi, Budaya, Teknologi, Dan Pendidikan, 3(12), 1291-1300. doi:https://doi.org/10.54443/sibatik.v3i12.2543
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  27. Oral, E. (2024). The environmental rule of law and the protection of human rights defenders: law, society, technology, and markets. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 24(2), 393-421. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-024-09645-x
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  34. Qodirov, F., & Murodulloyeva, J. (2024). O'zbekistonda Raqamli Iqtisodiyot. ????????????? ???????????? ? ??????????? ????: ?????? ? ????????, 3(15), 178-181.
  35. Sebola, M. P. (2022). The role of Technical Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVET) in higher education teaching: a higher education provided at basic education standard. EUREKA: Social and Humanities(1), 50-57. doi:https://doi.org/10.21303/2504-5571.2022.002257
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  37. Silawane, N. N., Rengifurwarin, Z. A., Ponto, I. S., & Patty, J. T. (2024). Analisis Kinerja Pegawai Pada Bagian Keuangan Sekretariat Kpu Kota Ambon. Jurnal Humaniora dan Ilmu Pendidikan, 3(2), 97-109. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/jahidik.v3i2.4331
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