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Abstract
The contemporary transition toward knowledge-based macroeconomic frameworks dictates a fundamental reevaluation of capital allocation within tertiary education. While pedagogical reforms dominate modern academic discourse, the underlying physical and digital infrastructure acts as the ultimate determinant of long-term institutional resilience. This study investigates the econometric elasticity between targeted capital expenditures on material-technical bases—specifically smart laboratories, integrated ICT networks, and energy-efficient facilities—and the academic output of 34 public universities in Uzbekistan. Utilizing a retrospective panel data design with fixed effects over a recent period (2018–2024), the research quantifies the return on infrastructure investment. Empirical findings reveal a statistically significant positive correlation between proactive funding models and enhanced research commercialization. Strategic resource allocation transcends basic campus maintenance; it fundamentally reshapes the capacity of higher education ecosystems to attract international grants and retain elite human capital. Shifting from reactive facility management to an innovation-driven infrastructural paradigm enables universities to achieve fiscal autonomy and elevated global competitiveness.
References
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