On 3 December in Ashgabat, Minister of Education of Turkmenistan Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiyev and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Pakistan Faryal Leghari discussed the development of cooperation between universities in the two countries. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The parties considered issues related to the implementation of existing agreements and the possibility of expanding them. The minister spoke about measures to improve the quality of education and the achievements of the national system, noting the active participation of Pakistani youth in international events held by Turkmen universities. The Ambassador gave a positive assessment of the reforms in Turkmen education and expressed interest in further expanding exchanges. In particular, they discussed scholarships for Turkmen students and mutual visits by educational delegations.
The Oguz Han University of Engineering and Technology of Turkmenistan entered the ‘gold category’ of the UI GreenMetric world ranking for 2025. This was reported by the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The university improved its position, scoring 7,675 out of 10,000 points and rising to 306th place. Among the 12 Turkmen universities included in the ranking, the university became the leader. In 2025, 1,745 universities from 105 countries participated in UI GreenMetric. The assessment is based on six areas, ranging from infrastructure and energy to sustainable transport and scientific research. The ‘gold category’ is awarded to universities that have scored more than 7,500 points. Oguz Han University has strengthened its position for the fourth year in a row: from 637th place in 2022, it rose to 306th in 2025. This result reflects the growth of environmental indicators and Turkmenistan's efforts to develop sustainable education and comply with international environmental standards.
From 1 to 15 December, the International University for the Humanities and Development is accepting applications for study at higher education institutions in the People's Republic of China. This was reported by Turkmenportal with reference to the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. Citizens of Turkmenistan aged 18 to 25 with a complete secondary education and fluent English can submit their documents. Information about specialities, the number of applicants and the terms of study can be obtained from the admissions committee.
From 1 to 15 December, the International University for the Humanities and Development in Ashgabat is accepting applications for admission to Hungarian higher education institutions for the 2026/2027 academic year. This was reported by Turkmenportal with reference to the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. Citizens of Turkmenistan with a complete secondary education, as well as those who will graduate from school in the 2025-2026 academic year and will reach the age of 18 by 31 August 2026, are eligible to apply. A list of specialities, information on the number of applicants and conditions of study can be obtained from the admissions committee. Candidates will be selected on a competitive basis based on the results of certification tests.
A conference organised by the International University for the Humanities and Development (Turkmenistan) and a branch of Kent State University (USA) was held in Florence. The event was timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality. This was reported by the Orient news agency. After the conference, the delegation from the Turkmen university held working negotiations with their American partners, which was a continuation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024. The Turkmen side familiarised itself with the campus infrastructure and international educational projects of Kent State University. During the discussions, the parties confirmed their readiness to strengthen cooperation, develop academic mobility programmes and joint scientific and educational initiatives. Particular attention was paid to the preparation of a dual MBA degree programme. Following the meeting, areas for further work were agreed upon: student and teacher exchanges, the development of joint courses, the implementation of research projects, the organisation of summer schools and the improvement of educational approaches. Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the results achieved and their intention to expand their academic partnership.
On 28 November, the Institute of International Relations of the Foreign Affairs Ministry (IIR MFA) of Turkmenistan hosted a seminar with the participation of representatives of Lanzhou University, faculty and students of the IIR MFA, as well as high school students from Ashgabat as part of the visit of the Chinese delegation. This was reported by the press service of the IIR MFA of Turkmenistan. Presentations were given by the Deputy Head of the Institute of History and Culture of Lanzhou University, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Bai Yudong, Head of the Lanzhou University Centre for Kyrgyz Studies, Doctor of Philology, Senior Lecturer Liu Huiying, and Research Fellow at the Lanzhou University Institute for Central Asian Studies, Doctor of Law Sang Pu. They spoke about contemporary Turkmen-Chinese relations, the experience of introducing e-Government in Central Asia and China, and the life of the philosopher Confucius. At the end of the seminar, participants received answers to questions about the prospects for further friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between Turkmenistan and China.
Altyntach Janmammedova, a student at the Ashgabat Secondary Vocational School of Tourism, won the International Competition ‘The Best Student of the Turkic Peoples’, which was held in Astana. This was reported by IIC. The competition was organised by the ‘Žana Kazakhstan’ Innovative Centre – ‘Bilim-orkenieti’ and the National Innovation Research Centre. The stage was intended for students of colleges and secondary vocational schools. Altyntach Janmammedova, a second-year student majoring in Tourism Services, presented her work and received high marks from the jury. She was awarded a cup, a badge, a certificate and a first-degree diploma. The student is involved in projects in the field of tourism and participates in practical initiatives to develop the industry. According to the organisers, her success was a recognition of her professional growth and responsibility in her chosen field.
The opening ceremony of the International online Olympiad ‘International Peace and Trust – the Foundation of Economic Development’ was held in city of Arkadag. The event is timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality, the 80th anniversary of the UN and the International Year of Peace and Trust. This was reported by IIC. The Olympiad is being held at the International Horse Breeding Academy named after Aba Annayev. It involves 535 students from 72 universities in 15 countries. The aim of the competition is to develop economic thinking, deepen understanding of the role of Peace and Trust in sustainable development, and build economic analysis skills.
Igor Yermolayev, a student at the Institute of Physics, Mathematics and Natural Sciences at North Caucasus Federal University, who came from Turkmenistan, won the All-Russian ‘Foreign Student of the Year’ Award in the ‘Scientific Breakthrough of the Year’ category. This was reported by the news website Asmannews. The award ceremony was held at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia in Moscow. The award, established by the Association of Foreign Students in Russia, was presented to winners in eight categories.
On 26 November, the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International University of Oil and Gas held an international scientific and practical conference entitled ‘Prospects and Implementation of Digital Innovative Technologies in the Scientific and Educational Sphere.’ The forum was held in a hybrid format and was timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality, according to the state news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The event was attended by representatives of universities, scientific organisations, relevant companies, ministries and international structures. In total, the conference brought together about 1,500 participants from 22 countries. Before the start of the conference, guests were introduced to an exhibition of digital solutions and educational projects prepared by the university. After the grand opening, a plenary session was held, where more than 30 reports were presented. The work then continued in three sections: ‘Digitization and Digital Technologies in the Education System’, ‘Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence’, and ‘The Role of the Digital Economy in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals’. A total of more than 120 reports were heard. The main purpose of the forum was to discuss trends in digital technologies and their integration into education and science, as well as to develop international cooperation in this area. The speakers noted Turkmenistan's achievements in the field of digital solutions, which were made possible due to long-term development programmes and the introduction of modern technologies. Participants emphasised Turkmenistan's readiness to expand partnerships with foreign universities, companies and international organisations in the field of science and technology.
On 24 November, a Turkmen delegation led by the head of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, Allaberdi Ashirov, visited the Italian city of Acquasparta. This was reported by the news agency Orient. The delegation was received by the mayor of the city, Giovanni Montani. During the visit, the delegation visited the Palazzo Cesi, the world's first academy of sciences, where Galileo Galilei worked, and key cultural and scientific sites in the region. During the meeting, A. Ashirov spoke about Turkmenistan's foreign policy, which is based on neutrality, peacefulness, and mutually beneficial cooperation. The development of bilateral relations in accordance with the agreements reached during the visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Italy in October was discussed. The mayor of Acquasparta invited the Turkmen representatives to an international conference of mathematicians and physicists. In turn, A. Ashirov invited the mayor to a conference dedicated to Turkmenistan's Science Day. The parties confirmed their readiness for further dialogue and strengthening cooperation between the countries and exchanged best wishes.
Nuryagdy Bayryev, a fourth-year student at the Law Faculty of Magtymguly Turkmen State University, has won the international competition ‘Best Student of the Turkic Peoples’. This was reported by the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. He spoke at the online event and received a first-degree diploma, a badge and a cup for his achievements in the field of youth policy among Turkic peoples. The competition was held in Astana (Kazakhstan) and was organised by the ‘Bilim-orkenieti’ National Innovative Research Centre in conjunction with the ‘Žana Kazakhstan’ Republican Innovative Centre. Previous winners also included Ziyada Yusubova, a fourth-year student majoring in history at Magtymguly TSU.