As part of the International Exhibition and Fair ‘Kids Expo’, mental arithmetic competitions were held, organised by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan in conjunction with educational centres. The event was attended by 116 schoolchildren aged 6 to 14 from all velayats of the country. This was reported by IIC. Turkmen students set new world records. Rovach Begenjov (10 years old) broke the record in the category ‘Fastest mental addition’ by adding 100 random numbers three times in 15.58 seconds. Ali Orashov (14) from Balkanabat became the best in the category ‘speed flash anzan’, adding 150 two-digit numbers that appeared at intervals of 0.3 seconds. Mekan Batyrov (11 years old) from Balkanabat set a record in the category ‘Fastest mental multiplication of 10 consecutive 8-digit numbers.’ The guest of honour at the event was world-renowned Turkish memory development expert Melik Duyar, Guinness World Record holder and founder of the ‘Mega Hafıza’ organisation. The intellectual competition concluded with the final stage of the ‘Amazing People’ contest, with five winners receiving valuable prizes.
From 13 to 17 August, a delegation from Turkmenistan visited Canada. The group included representatives of media agencies and leading universities in the country. This was reported by the online news resource TerraNews. During the visit, Turkmen specialists learned about the experience of Canadian universities in the field of journalism and media technologies, and also held meetings with the management of the CBC television company, UN experts and professors from the United Nations University. The prospects for joint courses, internships and the expansion of educational cooperation in the field of media and international communications were discussed.
The international conference ‘TESOL: Technology, Teaching, and Transformation’ has kicked off in Ashgabat. The forum, organised with the support of the US Embassy as part of the ELCD programme, brought together around 250 English teachers from all over Turkmenistan. This was reported by the news agency Orient. The event is being held at the International University for the Humanities and Development with the participation of the International Association of TESOL and QED Group, LLC. The aim of the conference is to introduce teachers to modern approaches to teaching English and to create a platform for the exchange of experience. Over the course of three days, experts from the United States and Turkmenistan will give lectures and master classes. Speakers include Dr. Beth Clark-Gareca, Dr. Manuel Gomez Portillo, Lisa Mann, as well as Turkmen teachers Sulgun Saryeva, Bahar Bahbidova, Maksatmyrat Ilamanov, Dr. Meretguly Gurbanov and Jebran Hudayberdiyev. They will present practical solutions for implementing technologies, developing communication skills and creating ‘talking classrooms’. The conference not only strengthens international cooperation, but also promotes the introduction of innovations in education, which improves the quality of training for future specialists and their readiness for global integration.
The second Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) of 2025 will be held in Ashgabat on 7 December. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The JLPT is the largest international Japanese language test, held annually in Japan and abroad. The exam is intended for non-native speakers of Japanese and certifies the language proficiency of participants. Applications will be accepted by the Japanese Embassy from 25 August to 1 September. Documents can be submitted on weekdays from 09:30 to 12:45 and from 14:00 to 17:00.
For two years, the CAREC office in Turkmenistan, led by Mergen Kepbanov, has been helping talented Turkmen students enrol in master's programmes at the Kazakh-German University (DKU). This cooperation opens up unique opportunities for young professionals to receive a quality education in the field of sustainable development and ecology. This was reported by IIC. On 12 August, the CAREC office hosted a meeting with three students who successfully enrolled at DKU this year. They expressed their gratitude to Mergen Kepbanov for his comprehensive support during the preparation and admission stages. The Kazakh-German University offers programmes in sustainable development and ecology with the opportunity to study German and English, as well as the opportunity to participate in academic exchanges with Germany. Mergen Kepbanov emphasised the importance of this educational project, stressing that the knowledge and skills acquired by the students will contribute to their professional growth and, in the long term, help to implement important initiatives for the sustainable development of Turkmenistan and the entire Central Asian region.
The ‘Sanly Bilim’ digital platform has been launched in Turkmenistan, bringing together the resources and services of the Turkmen Ministry of Education to provide convenient access to educational materials. This was reported by the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The system operates on a ‘single window’ principle: after registering and receiving a personal identifier, users can access all educational resources through their personal account. The platform includes the ‘Ukyply’ educational portal with video lessons and lectures on history, art, music, literature, science, philosophy and foreign languages, as well as the ‘E-kitaphana’ electronic library, where works by Turkmen authors, textbooks and professional literature are available for online reading or downloading in PDF format. To organise the learning process, there are ‘E-mekdep’ services for teachers, parents and schoolchildren to interact, and ‘E-bakja’ for parents of preschoolers. Through the ‘Sanly bilim hyzmatlary’ section, users can pay for educational services, including professional development courses and university education, while the news section provides information about events in the field of education. The project is being implemented as part of the Digital Education Development Concept and aims to increase the accessibility of educational services using modern information and communication technologies.
From 3 to 9 August 2025, a delegation from the International University of Humanities and Development for the Turkmenistan has participated in the ‘Future is Now’ Summer Educational Programme at the University of Malaya (Malaysia). The group consisted of five students and one teacher. This was reported by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The programme provided participants with an opportunity to study modern world practices, innovative approaches and creative methods in various fields of knowledge. This academic initiative was made possible due to the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two universities in December 2024. The agreement provides for the development of academic exchanges, joint research projects and the strengthening of educational cooperation between Turkmenistan and Malaysia. Participation in such international programmes contributes to the professional growth of Turkmen students and teachers, as well as strengthening the position of the national higher education system in the international arena.
At the World Robotics & Computer Science Olympiad, organised by the Indonesian Young Scientist Association (IYSA), Turkmen students took first place in the ‘Computer Technology’ category with their project ‘Car rental using Artificial Intelligence.’ This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The team from the International University for the Humanities and Development was represented by B. Toylyev, B. Rejepov and Y. Batyrov. The competition included categories on ecology, robotics, games, physics and engineering, as well as computer technology. More than 30 teams from 12 countries took part.
From 28 July to 30 August, eleven students from eight universities in Turkmenistan are improving their language skills in Germany. The selected candidates represent the country's leading universities, including the Magtymguly Turkmen State University, the International University for the Humanities and Development, as well as specialized institutions in the fields of medicine, engineering, pedagogy and international relations. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. Classes are held at German universities under the guidance of experienced teachers using modern methods. The programme includes not only in-depth language study, but also an introduction to German culture and history. The DAAD programme, which has been supporting academic exchanges since 1997, regularly organises educational projects for Turkmen students and researchers. These initiatives contribute to the development of scientific and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
The British Embassy in Ashgabat has begun accepting applications for the Chevening Scholarship Programme. The programme, funded by the British government, covers tuition, accommodation and travel expenses, and provides access to exclusive events and internships. This was reported by the IIC. Candidates will be selected on a competitive basis. The main requirements include a higher education diploma, at least two years of professional experience and language proficiency. Applications will be accepted until 12:00 (UTC) on 7 October 2025 via the programme's official website. The Chevening Scholarship allows you to obtain a master's degree at one of the UK's universities within one academic year. Upon completion of their studies, scholarship holders become part of the programme's international community of alumni. Detailed conditions of participation and selection criteria are published on the website chevening.org.
Teachers from the Department of Romance-Germanic Languages and a trainee teacher from the Department of Foreign Literature at Magtymguly Turkmen State University (TSU) attended a two-week advanced training course at the University for Foreigners in Perugia (Italy). This was reported by the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The training brought together Italian language teachers from different countries and included lectures, interactive classes, the study of modern teaching methods, the use of digital resources, as well as in-depth lessons on grammar, phonetics and lexicology. Participants also learned about the cultural and linguistic characteristics of Italian cities. According to the teachers, the trip contributed to the exchange of experience and the strengthening of international scientific and educational ties. The knowledge gained will be used to improve Italian language teaching methods in Turkmenistan. The event was held within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between TSU and the University of Perugia, the oldest and most prestigious Italian university specialising in teaching foreign students and promoting Italian culture. Cooperation between Turkmen universities and Perugia continues, involving both teachers and students.
From 27 July to 3 August, the Bulgarian city of Blagoevgrad hosted the 32nd International Mathematical Competition for Students (IMC-2025). The Turkmen team performed successfully, winning two gold, two silver and three bronze medals in the individual competition, according to the news agency Orient. A total of 434 students from 52 countries took part in the competition. Over two days, participants solved complex problems in algebra, analysis, combinatorics and geometry. The Turkmenistan team included representatives from five leading universities in the country: Magtymguly Turkmen State University, the International University for the Humanities and Development, the Turkmen State Architectural and Construction Institute, the Seyitnazar Seydi Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute and the State Institute of Energy of Turkmenistan. For the students, the Olympiad was not only a test of their mathematical skills, but also a unique opportunity to meet peers from different countries and establish new friendships.