On 27 January, the Mejlis of Turkmenistan held a ceremony to award certificates to deputies and parliamentary specialists who had completed advanced training courses in English. This was reported by the press service of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan. The training was organised jointly by the US Embassy in Turkmenistan and the American company ‘QED Group LLC’. The course programme was aimed at developing the participants' language and communication skills, as well as expanding their opportunities in the field of international and inter-parliamentary cooperation. The ceremony was attended by Elizabeth Rood, US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Turkmenistan, who noted the relevance of learning English and the prospects for continuing similar educational projects.
On 26 January, a delegation led by Salem bin Nasser Al-Naemi, President of the University of Doha for Science and Technology (Qatar), visited the Institute of Telecommunications and Informatics of Turkmenistan as part of a working visit to Turkmenistan. This was reported by the publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding on scientific and academic cooperation was signed between the Institute of Telecommunications and Informatics of Turkmenistan and Doha University of Science and Technology. The document aims to develop cooperation between universities in the field of science and education. On the same day, the Rector of the Qatari university gave a lecture to teachers and students, talked about the scientific and academic activities of the university and answered questions from the audience. The delegation also familiarised itself with the scientific projects and programme developments of the institute and visited the museum of the educational institution. On 27 January, the delegation from Doha University of Science and Technology visited the Oguz Han University of Engineering and Technology in Turkmenistan. The parties held consultations on cooperation in the field of science and education and discussed the training of specialists in accordance with international standards. The Qatari side expressed particular interest in cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, e-sports, robotics and electronics. The prospects for signing a Memorandum of Understanding and a student exchange agreement were also discussed. During the visit, the Qatari delegation met with Turkmenistan's Minister of Education, J. Gurbangeldiyev. The parties discussed priority areas and plans for joint work, confirming their mutual interest in developing scientific and academic cooperation between Turkmenistan and Qatar.
From 25 to 31 January, representatives of the education sector in Turkmenistan are attending advanced training courses for heads of higher education institutions in Central Asia in Cambridge (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). This was reported by the publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The training is organised as part of the AELLCA Phase II project to improve the quality of English language teaching in Central Asia. The programme was developed for the management of higher education institutions in the participating countries in collaboration with the Cambridge University Press and Assessment Department and is based on the PRESETT (Pre-Service English Teacher Training) programme. On the first day of the visit, the opening ceremony of the training programme took place. This was followed by the first training module on leadership in implementing English language teaching reforms within the framework of PRESETT. Participants discussed issues related to planning educational changes and monitoring their implementation, and learned about Cambridge University's practices in modernising curricula and expanding the use of English. The main goal of the Turkmen delegation's participation is to develop management and leadership competencies within the PRESETT system. The programme also includes studying international experience in teacher training, modern approaches to curriculum development and assessment systems, and the use of digital technologies in education. The study visit to Cambridge continues.
The State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan invites students from around the world to participate in the 5th Open International Internet Olympiad in Theoretical Mechanics, which will be held from 24 to 28 March. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. The competition is open to students of any course and specialisation and includes individual and team stages. Registration will last until 15 March: up to ten participants from each university are allowed in the individual competition, and one or two teams in the team competition. The Olympiad will be held in Turkmen, Russian and English. Individual participants will solve eight problems in statics, kinematics and dynamics in four hours, while teams will solve five problems in one hour. All tasks are available on the institute's digital platform with online assessment. Last year, the Olympiad brought together more than 700 students from 107 universities in 17 countries. The aim of the project is to identify talented young people, develop digital skills and strengthen international scientific cooperation. The event will be a notable intellectual platform in the spring and will highlight Turkmenistan's active participation in the global educational space.
On 26 January, Turkmenistan's Minister of Education Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiyev met with Luigi Ferrari, Italy's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Turkmenistan. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The parties discussed the development of cooperation in the field of education and noted its importance for bilateral dialogue. It was emphasised that the Turkmen education system is being modernised and integrated into the international educational space as part of the country's long-term development programme. The expansion of Turkmenistan's participation in Italian and European educational projects, including exchanges, language courses, internships and ‘Erasmus+’ programmes, was noted. The parties confirmed the high level of cooperation, including Italian language teaching, joint educational initiatives and cultural projects, and expressed interest in further strengthening ties. The Turkmen side invited Italian students to participate in international mathematics competitions in the spring of 2026.
On 21 January, a ceremony was held in Doha to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Magtymguly Institute of Language, Literature and National Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and the National Library of the State of Qatar. This was reported by the Orient news agency. The document aims to develop scientific, educational and cultural cooperation, including the study and preservation of national heritage. The Memorandum provides for the exchange of manuscripts, joint scientific projects, cooperation in the field of digitisation and the exchange of specialists. The agreement is expected to promote Turkmen and Arab cultural heritage and strengthen friendly relations between the two states.
Novruzalem Gurdov, a young lecturer at the Department of Horse Breeding at the Aba Annayev International Academy of Horse Breeding and a member of the International Association of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding, won the international competition ‘Best Teacher of the CIS – 2025’, which took place in Almaty (Republic of Kazakhstan). This was reported by the publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. Following the final online stage, which was held in early January, the professional activities and achievements of the Turkmen teacher were highly praised by the international jury. The victory allowed N. Gurdov to be named one of the best teachers in the CIS countries in 2025. He was awarded a first-degree diploma and a competition badge. Commenting on the result, Novruzalem Gurdov noted that participation in the international project was a serious responsibility for him and an opportunity to represent the young teaching community of Turkmenistan with dignity. According to him, this victory strengthened his desire for further professional growth. The competition was organised by the ‘Bilim’ Republican Educational Centre in conjunction with the ‘Dobro’ International Charitable Foundation and was aimed at identifying and supporting talented specialists in the field of education in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Dovletmyrat Berdiyev, a lecturer at the Oguz Han University of Engineering and Technology in Turkmenistan, took part in the international seminar ‘Rule of Law’, which was held in Tokyo from 14 to 19 January. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The event was organised by the Japanese government for the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus as part of the MIRAI programme. The seminar focused on the role of the rule of law, the modernisation of legal systems and the exchange of international experience. The programme included lectures, discussions and thematic sessions, including a special course at Keio University, where participants studied modern methods of developing legal culture. In addition to the educational part, participants visited the Keio University Museum, where they learned about the history of the Japanese education system and the scientific and cultural heritage of the university. The MIRAI programme opens up opportunities for professional growth, international cooperation and strengthening the rule of law in the countries of the region.
The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Turkmenistan has donated 190 copies of educational literature on Chinese language, history and culture to the International University for the Humanities and Development. This was reported by the newspaper ‘Neutral Turkmenistan’, according to Turkmenportal. The collection includes textbooks, dictionaries and thematic publications for students of different levels of proficiency. Among the books donated are Xi Jinping's four-volume work ‘The Governance of China’ in Chinese and Russian, as well as works on the political system of modern China. These include ‘The Chinese System: Governing China in a New Era’ and ‘Witness to China's Reform and Opening Up: Series of 40 Celebrities.’ A significant part of the collection consists of ‘Modern Chinese’ sets for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels with exercises and audio materials. The library also received frequency dictionaries for all six levels of the HSK exam, the Xinhua Chinese Character Dictionary, and phraseological and thematic dictionaries. A separate section is dedicated to publications on Chinese culture, including poetry, geography, traditions, tea culture, and fiction.
The Oguz Han University of Engineering and Technology in Turkmenistan has been shortlisted for THE Awards Asia 2026 in the ‘Research Project of the Year: STEM’ category. This was reported by the publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The university has previously been recognised by THE Awards Asia. In 2025, it was among the top eight finalists in the ‘Student Recruitment Campaign of the Year’ category. This year, the university has been recognised for its scientific research and development of STEM education. Experts noted the practical significance of its developments and contribution to the development of engineering and high-tech fields. According to the organisers, more than 500 applications were submitted in 10 categories. Eighty universities from 17 countries and territories made it to the final. The winners will be announced on 22 April in Hong Kong at a ceremony during the THE Asian University Summit. The decision was made by experts from Times Higher Education. Eight universities were selected in this category.
At Ashgabat's Specialized Secondary School No. 135, which specializes in advanced English language learning, the Central Council of the Magtymguly Youth Organization held a ceremony presenting valuable gifts to schoolchildren who won the XXII International Zhautykov Olympiad. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Education. Turkmen schoolchildren won 1 gold, 4 silver and 11 bronze medals. These achievements were the first results in 2026. The International Zhautykov Olympiad for schoolchildren has been held since 2005 by the ‘Daryn’ Scientific and Practical Centre under the Ministry of Education of Kazakhstan. It is held annually in physics, mathematics and computer science and has international status. From 10 to 14 January 2026, the XXII International Zhautykov Olympiad was held in Almaty. Twenty-eight talented schoolchildren from Turkmenistan took part in the competition, competing with more than 600 participants from 16 countries. Our young talents showed high results and won prizes at the international level. Turkmen schoolchildren have been participating in the Olympiad since 2010, and their success on the international arena is growing every year.
The second stage of the 72-hour specialised course ‘Sustainable Energy Systems: Fundamentals and Applications of Renewable Technologies’ has been completed at the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan (SEIT). The first part of the programme took place from 2 to 5 September 2025, according to Turkmenportal. The course was organized as part of the project ‘EU for a green Turkmenistan: Policy Dialogue and Climate Action 2024-2029,’ funded by the EU and the German Federal Foreign Office. The project is being implemented by GIZ. The programme was aimed at improving the qualifications of Turkmen specialists in the field of renewable energy sources. Participants studied practical methods for implementing ‘green’ energy systems, evaluating technological projects and tools for developing sustainable energy infrastructure. The training was conducted by experts from Anhalt University of Applied Sciences (Germany). Upon completion of the course, SEIT lecturers, employees of the ‘RES’ Scientific and Production Centre and specialists from the Ministry of Energy received official certificates. Dr Eduard Siemens, Director of the Doctoral Center for Engineering Sciences and Information Technologies (IWIT), Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, noted the systematic nature of the cooperation and emphasised that the programme had created a knowledge base for the effective implementation of clean technologies in Turkmenistan.