The closing ceremony of International Francophonie Month was held at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The event marked the conclusion of a series of cultural and educational activities involving diplomats, lecturers, university students and schoolchildren from across the country. This was reported by IIC. The competition has been held annually in Turkmenistan for 18 years. Students from various universities who had passed the qualifying rounds took part in the final. They demonstrated their proficiency in the French language. Following the event, the winners were presented with their awards. The country’s role in the development of international cultural and educational cooperation was highlighted.
Professional development courses for secondary school English teachers across the country have begun at the Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages, as part of the ‘INSETT’ programme. This was reported by the news website Asmannews. The training is taking place as part of the ‘AELLCA’ project, with the support of the British Council and in collaboration with the Norwich Institute of Language Education (NILE) in the UK. The course aims to introduce modern teaching methods and develop teachers’ professional skills. The programme lasts 50 hours and is delivered by the institute’s trainers, who have been trained as part of the ‘AELLCA’ project. The sessions are organised in an interactive format and include group projects, discussions, analytical tasks and practical work. Upon completion of the training, participants will receive international certificates from the British Council, NILE and a language university in Turkmenistan. The ‘INSETT’ project is being implemented in Turkmenistan for the first time. If the pilot phase is successful, there are plans to roll out the programme nationwide.
A delegation from the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, led by Deputy Minister Azat Atayev, took part in the third annual meeting of the CAREC Skills Development Working Group. This was reported by the press office of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The meeting continued the regional work begun in 2024, with a focus on the development of ‘green’ skills, climate-resilient agriculture and a just transition. For Turkmenistan, participation in the initiative is of strategic importance, as the CAREC platform contributes to the modernisation of higher and vocational education, the strengthening of links with the labour market and the introduction of new forms of workforce training. The outcomes of this cooperation are already being utilised in the country to develop methodological guidelines for forecasting in-demand skills and integrating ‘green’ competencies into education policy. The development of modern skills is a key prerequisite for the technological transformation of the economy, the sustainable modernisation of industries, and the transition to more resource-efficient and innovative production models. The outcomes of the meeting are also viewed as an important contribution to the implementation of Turkmenistan’s Higher Education Development Strategy for 2026–2052, including the updating of educational programmes, the expansion of international cooperation, and the training of specialists required in the context of sustainable development.
The Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, in collaboration with UNICEF, has implemented a pilot initiative to support parents as part of the inclusive education programme. This was reported by IIC. The project included sessions for parents in nurseries and a social media campaign. The main aim was to raise awareness of early childhood development and foster an inclusive environment. Over a five-week period, around 100 parents took part in interactive sessions. Topics discussed included health, child development and parenting approaches. Parents shared their experiences and received advice from specialists. There was a noticeable increase in participants’ confidence in seeking help. Parents began to discuss their children’s development more frequently and are now prepared to involve specialists when necessary. The sessions also changed attitudes towards inclusion. Participants highlighted the importance of adapting the educational environment for children with different developmental needs. The social media campaign reached over 22,000 people. Users actively shared their experiences and supported the expansion of access to services for children and families. The initiative was implemented as part of the ‘Accessible and Inclusive Schools for Children with Disabilities in Turkmenistan’ project, with support from UK International Development.
On 30 March, a meeting took place at the Institute of International Relations of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan between Rector Gulshat Yusupova and Arsen Avagyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia. This was reported by IIC. The parties discussed the development of inter-university cooperation and the exchange of experience in training specialists in international relations. The importance of building human resources for foreign policy was noted. Arsen Avagyan highlighted the dynamic nature of Turkmen-Armenian relations and his interest in Turkmenistan’s educational practices. The institute’s management presented the structure of the educational process and the role of the university in training diplomats. As part of the visit, the Ambassador visited the Museum of the History of Turkmen Diplomacy. Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their interest in expanding academic ties.
An online meeting was held at the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International University of Oil and Gas to discuss the project to establish the ‘Luban Workshop’ in Turkmenistan. This was reported by IIC. The project is being implemented under the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 18 October 2024 in Xi’an between the International University of Oil and Gas, Xi’an Petroleum University, Hebei Petroleum Vocational and Technical University, China National Petroleum Corporation and the China Education Association for International Exchange. The participants discussed the progress of the agreements. It was noted that the centre will serve as a platform for training oil and gas industry specialists in accordance with international standards. Preparatory work is proceeding according to the approved plan. Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their readiness to continue cooperation in the educational and scientific spheres.
The 5th Open International Online Olympiad in Theoretical Mechanics was held at the State Energy Institute in Turkmenistan. Students from 121 higher education institutions across 17 countries took part in the competition, according to the IIC of Turkmenistan. The Olympiad, which took place from 24 to 28 March in Turkmen, Russian and English, included individual and team rounds on statics, kinematics and dynamics. The format allowed participants to demonstrate both their theoretical knowledge and their ability to work in a digital environment. Teams from Turkmenistan, China and Russia took the leading positions. Special mention was made of students from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology — Yegor Potapov, Ivan Lukin and Andrey Bakhvalov — as well as the Turkmen participants Musa Artykov, Govshut Orazgeldiyev, Dursunjemal Atayeva and Mahriban Azadova. The closing ceremony and the awarding of prizes to the winners reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s role as a centre for international educational cooperation and a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience among future specialists from different countries.
On 1 March, Didar Amanmuhammedov, a lecturer in the Department of Turkmen Language at the Magtymguly Turkmen State University, began teaching students at Beijing Foreign Studies University. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. Under the Memorandum of Cooperation between Magtymguly Turkmen State University and Beijing Foreign Studies University, he is delivering classes in the Turkmen language to students on the ‘Russian + Turkmen’ programme. In addition, the lecturer is giving introductory lectures on Turkmenistan. Didar Amanmuhammedov’s programme of work in China will run until 29 July.
A youth delegation from Turkmenistan, alongside representatives from other Central Asian countries, is participating in an orientation program in India from March 24 to April 2, 2026, according to the news website Turkmenportal. The visit takes place in Mumbai, Goa, and New Delhi and includes meetings with officials as well as visits to scientific, educational, and cultural sites. In Mumbai, participants visited the Bombay Stock Exchange, the Indian Institute of Technology, and several landmark attractions, including the Elephanta Caves, the Gateway of India, and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum. They also held a meeting with the Governor of Maharashtra. On March 28, the delegation is in Goa, exploring the region’s historical and cultural sites. In the coming days, visits to the National Institute of Oceanography and a meeting with the state governor are planned. The program will conclude in New Delhi with meetings with Indian ministers, participation in the Mera Yuva Bharat youth initiative, and a visit to Humayun’s Tomb. The project is implemented as part of youth diplomatic exchange between India and Central Asian countries and aims to promote humanitarian cooperation in the fields of science, technology, culture, and entrepreneurship.
At the International University of Humanities and Development, the closing ceremony of the VI Open International Mathematics Olympiad OMOUS-2026 took place, the IIC reports. In the team competition, the most awards were won by the teams from Turkmenistan (13), Uzbekistan (10), and Russia (7). Prize-winning positions were also secured by participants from Greece, Iran, Tajikistan, and the Netherlands. In the individual competition, representatives from Turkmenistan led with 198 medals. Uzbekistan took second place with 103 medals, and Russia came third with 30 awards. The closing ceremony featured performances by the creative ensembles “Mukam,” “Mengli,” and “Dovlet,” as well as university students. The organizers noted that holding the Olympiad contributes to the development of international scientific cooperation and the exchange of academic experience.
The Minister of Education of Turkmenistan, Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiyev, met with Stefania Giannini, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education. The meeting took place on 25 March at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, according to the press service of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The talks took place as part of events marking the launch of the Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM Report 2026). The parties discussed the development of cooperation in the field of education, including digitalisation, inclusive approaches, teacher professional development and lifelong learning. The Turkmen side emphasised that partnership with UNESCO remains one of the priority areas of international cooperation. Particular attention was paid to educational reforms in Turkmenistan, the expansion of cooperation with relevant UNESCO bodies, and Ashgabat’s participation in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. Stefania Giannini highly commended Turkmenistan’s efforts to modernise the education system, develop inclusive and high-quality education, and strengthen international cooperation. Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their readiness to further expand practical cooperation in the field of education.
The Minister of Education of Turkmenistan, Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiyev, held a meeting with the Director-General of UNESCO, Khaled El-Enany. The meeting took place on 25 March at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, according to the press service of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The parties discussed current cooperation and prospects for collaboration in the field of education, including issues of equal access to quality education, the digitalisation of education systems and the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies. It was noted that the partnership with UNESCO remains one of the priorities of Turkmenistan’s international cooperation in the field of education. UNESCO highly commended the reforms being carried out in the country, as well as its contribution to the development of international educational dialogue and the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 4. The meeting participants paid particular attention to the implementation of UNESCO programmes in Turkmenistan, the prospects for establishing a UNESCO Department of Digital Science, cooperation in the field of IT education, and the ‘Lifelong Learning’ initiative. Following the negotiations, the parties confirmed their readiness to expand joint educational projects.