The main aim of the Tempus programme is to support the modernisation of higher education in Partner Countries outside the European Union. The targeted regions include Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Western Balkans and the Southern Mediterranean, with a total of 29 Partner Countries participating in the programme. In the field of cooperation in education, Tempus is one of the first programmes launched by the EU and it celebrated its 20 years of existence in 2010. The higher education systems of the Tempus Partner Countries operate in different realities and are based on a variety of historical traditions. Some similarities can be found between the higher education systems in certain regions, but each country has its own features and ambitions. The attached descriptions of higher education systems in the Tempus Partner Countries provide a tool for those who are either planning or already carrying out projects within Tempus. This document forms part of a series of four publications which have been produced for each of the regions covered by Tempus. This paper focuses on Central Asia. The descriptions have been drafted by the National Tempus Offices in the Partner Countries, in cooperation with the National Authorities and the EU Delegations. The collection of data on the implementation of the Bologna process was carried out in close collaboration with Eurydice, the network on education systems and policies in Europe. The overall exercise was managed by the Tempus unit of the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency. The descriptions consist of a general presentation of the higher education system in each country, information on current challenges and trends, information on the implementation of the Bologna process and on the participation in the Tempus and Erasmus Mundus programmes. They provide a snapshot of the situation in 2010, but it should be kept in mind that reality evolves at a high speed and that the constant developments in higher education cannot be reflected in these documents. Individual sections contain bibliographical references and websites. (Contains 10 footnotes.) [Funding for this paper was provided by the EuropeAid Development and Co-operation Directorate-General and the Directorate-General for Enlargement.