Thirty schoolchildren successfully completed a two-week Makerspace educational programme at the American Centre in Ashgabat, according to the online publication Arzuw.news. As part of the programme, participants learned the basics of programming, robotics and electronics. The project was aimed at developing technical skills among future innovators in Turkmenistan. The organisers emphasised that the skills and knowledge acquired by the schoolchildren will form a solid foundation for their further professional growth in the field of modern technology.
A group of students from the Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages went on an internship at Kangwon National University in the Republic of Korea. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The training, which will run from 25 August 2025 to 25 July 2026, covers Korean and English language programmes. The initiative aims to strengthen humanitarian cooperation between Turkmenistan and South Korea, expand students' professional knowledge and train qualified specialists. The project also contributes to the development of friendly ties and opens up new prospects for partnership in the field of education and science.
Registration for the new season of XCEL international Olympiads is now open for Turkmen schoolchildren in grades 3-12. The intellectual competitions will be held in four areas: mathematics (MathXCEL), cognitive abilities (CogATXCEL), robotics (RobotiXCEL) and art (ArtXCEL). This was reported by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The project provides an opportunity for schoolchildren to demonstrate their knowledge and creativity on the global stage, gaining valuable experience. There are some updates for the current season: RobotiXCEL will include tasks with elements of artificial intelligence and robotics, and the ArtXCEL theme will be expanded to include research into the role of AI in the creative process. Students from Turkmenistan already demonstrated high results last season, winning medals and confirming their competitiveness at the international level. The winners of the national stage will have the right to represent the country at the world finals in Los Angeles in January 2026. Registration for the Olympiad is open on the official website xceledu.ai.
On 1 September, the grand opening of new facilities at the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan took place: an additional academic building, a dormitory, a sports complex, and the ‘Täze kuwwat’ monument. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. The new facilities, timed to coincide with Knowledge and Student Youth Day, strengthen the scientific and educational base of the country's energy sector. The ceremony was attended by the governor of Mary velayat, the executive secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO, deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the velayat, city and etrap Halk Maslahaty, representatives of public organisations, the media, as well as foreign structures, the teaching staff and students of the institute, and honourable elders. The event was accompanied by theatrical performances and musical performances by students. An address by the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, was read out, emphasising the importance of knowledge for the development of the country and the formation of a highly educated, patriotic young generation. The speakers noted that the reforms carried out in the field of education have given new impetus to the development of the national education system. The institute's new facilities create modern conditions for training specialists in the field of energy, including renewable energy sources. The educational building is equipped with 18 general lecture halls, 28 practical classrooms, 6 computer and language labs, 57 laboratories, a robotics and AI centre, conference rooms, a library and a research and production centre. The laboratories are equipped with modern instruments from Germany, Spain, Italy and China. The 800-bed dormitory provides comfortable living conditions for students, and the sports complex includes a gym and a fitness room with modern equipment. Solar and wind power stations and rainwater collection systems have been installed on the premises, demonstrating the country's commitment to environmentally friendly energy. During the opening ceremony, international certificates were awarded for the introduction of innovative technologies, energy-efficient construction and sustainable development. Memoranda of Cooperation were also signed with Clausthal University of Technology in Germany and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg for the training of highly qualified specialists. The ceremony concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the release of doves and balloons, and musical performances highlighting the significance of the event for the country and its student youth.
More than 18,000 first-graders will start their first school year in Ashgabat. This was reported by IIC Turkmenistan. In Turkmenistan, first-graders are traditionally presented with laptops on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The authorities emphasise their focus on developing the education system and supporting young people. On 1 September, schoolchildren in Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries will start classes, while in Japan, the school year begins in spring, and in Australia, in January. The history of education is full of interesting facts: in Russia, children used to write on birch bark, in Bangladesh there are still ‘boat schools,’ and in some countries, instead of bells, melodies or birdsong are used to signal the start of lessons.
On 30 August, a new programme and methodological guide for pre-school institutions dedicated to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction was presented in Ashgabat. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The initiative was implemented by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan in collaboration with UNICEF. The materials will help educators introduce children to the basics of environmental literacy and sustainable development through play-based methods. The programme includes topics such as respect for nature, adaptation to climate change, and basic knowledge about renewable energy sources. Thirty-six specialists from the Ministry of Education, the National Institute of Education, universities, teacher training colleges and kindergartens across the country took part in the presentation. According to Alexander Nartea, Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Turkmenistan, the programme reflects the country's desire to build a climate-resilient society, starting from an early age. The project continues initiatives to integrate climate issues into the primary and secondary education system with the support of UNICEF.
A ceremony was held in the capital of Turkmenistan to mark the end of Romain Gouvernet's diplomatic mission as director of the French Institute. The event was attended by representatives of the French Embassy, partners of the organisation and cultural figures. This was reported by IIC. In his speech, Philippe Merlin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Turkmenistan, highlighted the strengthening of cultural and educational cooperation achieved under Gouvernet's leadership. The French diplomat stressed that Romain Gouvernet headed the institute during the difficult period of the pandemic, managing not only to adapt the organisation's activities to the new conditions, but also to take it to a qualitatively new level. During Gouvernet's tenure, the institute moved to a modern complex with multifunctional classrooms, a cinema and the ‘Nadar’ gallery. The institute's educational programmes reached 22,000 students, and the technical equipment allowed for the introduction of innovative teaching methods. Significant achievements included the popularisation of Francophonie Weeks at the national level and the implementation of DELF-DALF international certification programmes. Strategic educational initiatives laid the foundation for the signing of an intergovernmental Roadmap for cooperation for 2025-2026. During the ceremony, the new director of the institute, Vincent Lorenzini, was also introduced. He will take up his post on 1 September.
On 28 August, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan between Azat Atayev, Deputy Minister of Education of Turkmenistan, and Tao Zhang, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. UNESCO experts and representatives of relevant departments of the ministry also participated in the talks. The prospects for the digitalisation of education, the introduction of innovative technologies, the improvement of teachers' qualifications and the modernisation of the system in the context of the UN SDGs were discussed. UNESCO offered cooperation in the development of educational infrastructure, training of teachers with AI skills, the use of technologies for knowledge assessment, the promotion of the concept of continuous learning and the introduction of intelligent bots in universities. The parties also touched upon issues of youth education, the formation of a healthy lifestyle among schoolchildren, and the strengthening of interaction between parents and children. Following the meeting, the intention to continue joint projects to create a modern digital educational environment and improve the quality of education in Turkmenistan was confirmed.
The Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, in collaboration with the ‘India-Central Asia’ Foundation, has published a book entitled ‘India-Turkmenistan: Perspectives on History, Culture and Economy’. This was reported by the press service of the Turkmen university. The publication was prepared by Turkmen and Indian researchers and includes articles by the institute's teachers. The book highlights the historical, cultural and economic aspects of bilateral cooperation and analyses current trends and prospects for interaction. Special attention is paid to the centuries-old ties between Turkmenistan and India, the development of trade and humanitarian contacts. Examples include architectural monuments in Merv, Delhi and Kunya-Urgench, which reflect common cultural traditions.
An international conference entitled ‘TESOL 2025: Technology, Teaching and Transformation’ was held in Turkmenistan on the eve of the new academic year, according to the online publication Arzuw.news. The event was attended by Turkmen and American experts, as well as English teachers from different regions of the country. The main topic was the prospects for the development of English language teaching and the creation of new opportunities for students and the teaching community. Participants exchanged experiences and discussed modern teaching methods. The conference was aimed at improving the quality of English language teaching in Turkmenistan.
The Cultural Centre of the Iranian Embassy in Turkmenistan has announced enrolment for free Persian language and literature courses for autumn 2025. This was reported by the news website Asmannews. Classes will start on 23–24 September. The programme is designed for different levels of proficiency and includes both conversational practice and an introduction to literature. Registration is open from 1 to 13 September. The courses will be taught by experienced teachers, creating conditions for in-depth study of the language and culture of Iran.
The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Turkmenistan held a ceremony to present admission notices to students who received Chinese government scholarships for 2025. Future students of prestigious universities passed a competitive selection process and received the opportunity to continue their education abroad, according to IIC. Chinese Ambassador to Turkmenistan Ji Shumin delivered a welcoming speech, emphasising the importance of education for the development of friendship between countries and expressing hope that the scholarship recipients would become a ‘bridge’ between the peoples. The Chinese government's scholarship programme is in high demand: it opens up opportunities for quality education, familiarisation with the country's culture and gaining international experience. The event confirmed the growing interest of Turkmen youth in studying in China and became an example of successful bilateral cooperation in the field of science and education.