The Magtymguly Turkmen State University has been included in the authoritative global Impact Rankings 2025 compiled by Times Higher Education (THE). This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. This ranking reflects the contribution of universities from around the world to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Turkmen university was assessed in four main areas: SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 5 – Gender Equality, and SDG 17 – Partnerships for Sustainable Development.
On 18 June 2025, a meeting was held at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan with a delegation from Kent State University (USA) led by Vice President Marcello Fantoni. The parties discussed the implementation of joint educational programmes within the framework of the previously signed Memorandum of Understanding, as well as the exchange of experience in developing curricula, according to the press service of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Kent State University has signed three Memoranda of Understanding with higher education institutions in Turkmenistan, including the International University for the Humanities and Development, the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Turkmen State Architectural and Construction Institute, with the aim of developing academic and scientific projects and strengthening cultural ties. The guests visited the institute's educational and cultural facilities, including the Museum of Diplomacy, the UNESCO Club, and the German and Turkish language libraries. The visit was an important step in strengthening the partnership and promoting Turkmenistan in the international educational arena.
David Pommerenke, Professor of Electrical Engineering at Graz University of Technology (Austria), paid a working visit to the Institute of Telecommunications and Informatics of Turkmenistan. The Austrian expert's visit was aimed at strengthening scientific and educational cooperation between universities in the two countries. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. During the visit, the professor gave a lecture to students on ‘Electrostatic damage’, where he shared his professional experience and answered questions from future specialists. Particular attention was paid to the protection of electronic components from static electricity. A significant part of the visit took place in the ‘Antenna and Feeder Devices’ laboratory, where an exchange of experience in the field of radio engineering systems took place. Teachers and students of the institute demonstrated to the Austrian guest their developments in the field of digital television, satellite broadcasting and radio communication systems, which were highly appreciated by the professor. The parties discussed prospects for further cooperation, emphasising their mutual interest in developing partnerships. Particular attention was paid to the importance of integrating advanced international experience into educational and scientific processes.
The Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan hosted a seminar on ‘Digitalisation, IT and Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education,’ dedicated to the introduction of the STEM approach into the educational process. The event was conducted by Melda Yildiz, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Fulbright Scholar and lecturer at the New York Institute of Technology. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The seminar was attended by students and teachers, as well as specialists responsible for the digitalisation of education, the development of digital platforms and the integration of AI into the educational environment. Participants were introduced to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) concept as a model of interdisciplinary education aimed at developing critical thinking, technical literacy and teamwork skills necessary for a successful career in the context of digital transformation. After the event, the international guest was given a tour of the institute, including visits to the Museum of the History of Turkmen Diplomacy, the UNESCO Club ‘Culture of the World’, the Training Studio and the ‘White Yurt of Turkmen’ pavilion, created as part of the university project ‘Young Messengers of Peace’.
Hiroshi Sasaki, Japan's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Turkmenistan, visited Specialised School No. 140 in Ashgabat. This was reported by the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. As part of the international initiative READ JAPAN PROJECT, the diplomat donated books about Japan to the school. This project is being implemented with the support of the Japanese foundation ‘The Nippon Foundation’ and the ‘’Tokyo Foundation for Research Policy. Japanese is part of the curriculum at School No. 140 from the early grades. The READ JAPAN PROJECT, launched in 2008, aims to distribute English-language literature about Japan to universities and libraries around the world.
An official delegation from Turkmenistan, led by Deputy Minister of Education Alexander Amanov, took part in the Third International Forum of Ministers of Education ‘Shaping the Future,’ held on 11 June in Kazan. This was reported by the news resource Turkmenportal. According to the source, the event brought together representatives from more than 30 countries, including Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, Laos, the UAE, Belarus, Afghanistan and other states. During the forum, participants discussed key challenges facing the global education system. The focus was on issues such as the formation of a value system, approaches to education, improving the quality of education and expanding its accessibility.
Currently, more than 47,000 citizens of Turkmenistan are studying at Russian universities, of which about 7,000 are receiving education at the expense of the Russian Federation's state budget. This was reported by Ivan Volynkin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Turkmenistan, in an article for the newspaper ‘Neutral Turkmenistan’, according to the news resource Turkmenportal. According to him, there is still a lot of interest in Russian culture in Turkmenistan. In the first half of 2025, performances by Albert Zhalilov, Honoured Artist of Tatarstan, İlya Kuzmin, soloist of the E.V.Kolobov ‘Novaya Opera’ Theatre of Moscow and the musical groups ‘Turk's Choir’ and SOPRANO were sold out in Ashgabat. Kolobov, and the musical groups ‘Turetsky Choir’ and SOPRANO. The Russian film festival held in March also received a positive response from the audience. The Ambassador noted that Russia remains one of Turkmenistan's leading trade and economic partners. Major Russian companies such as ‘Gazprom’, ‘Tatneft’, ‘Kamaz’, the ‘Vozrozhdenie’ group of companies and others operate in the country. Interregional ties remain an important area of cooperation. Among the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tatarstan, St. Petersburg, Astrakhan and Chelyabinsk regions are the most active. According to the diplomat, Moscow and Ashgabat demonstrate similar positions on key issues of the global and regional agenda, including ensuring international security. He recalled that at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, a resolution initiated by Turkmenistan, ‘2025 – International Year of Peace and Trust,’ was adopted, with Russia as a co-author. ‘Our interests also coincide within other international platforms, such as the CIS, the Caspian Five and the OSCE,’ Volynkin emphasised. This year, Turkmenistan is co-chairing the highest bodies of the CIS and plans to assume the chairmanship in 2026. One example of strengthening cooperation was the 16th International Economic Forum ‘Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum,’ held in Kazan from 13 to 18 May. The Turkmenistan delegation was led by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
A new issue of the scientific and methodological electronic journal ‘Issues of Philology’ has been published in Turkmenistan by the Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages. This was reported by the state news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The materials in this issue reflect current trends in science and education in the country. The articles analyse the processes of reforming the education system, the introduction of modern methods of teaching foreign languages, the digitisation of the educational process and the use of innovative technologies in teaching. A separate section of the publication is devoted to the study of Turkmenistan's cultural heritage. In particular, it examines the contribution of the poet and thinker Magtymguly Pyragy to the development of the Turkmen literary tradition, as well as efforts to preserve and popularise his work among young people. A scientific review of the legacy of the Turkmen historian and writer Khalil ibn Aybeg Safadi, whose works remain relevant today, is presented. The source notes that the issue is available in Turkmen, Russian and English.
On 12 June, the Oguz Han University of Engineering and Technology hosted the International Scientific Conference ‘Science, technology and innovation technologies in the period of the Revival of new epoch of the powerful state’, dedicated to Turkmenistan's Science Day. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. The forum, organised by the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, is being held in a hybrid format and is scheduled to last two days. It has become a platform for discussing modern scientific achievements and exchanging experience between specialists from Turkmenistan and foreign countries. Participants include leaders and representatives of academies of sciences, scientific centres and higher education institutions from Russia, China, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Armenia, Qatar, Algeria, Pakistan and other countries. On the eve of the conference, participants visited an exhibition of advanced technologies reflecting the rapid development of science and education in Turkmenistan. The exhibition included innovative developments in biotechnology, ecology and other fields aimed at contributing to sustainable economic development. The main reports at the plenary session were delivered by prominent scientists: Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan Sirojiddin Mirzaev, Chief Scientific Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Vasily Gursky, Academician-Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences of Georgia Vladimer Papava, Gevorg Vardanyan, expert on CIS issues at the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Ferial Filali, President of the Scientific Council of the University of Algiers, and Zona Zaidi, Scientific Advisor to the Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan. Special attention was paid to the role of science and innovation in socio-economic development. Participants emphasised the importance of scientific knowledge as a tool for solving pressing problems, from healthcare to natural risks. In particular, they discussed issues related to monitoring and forecasting seismic activity, developing anti-seismic technologies and preventive protection systems to ensure infrastructure sustainability and public safety. A cultural programme was organised for foreign participants, including visits to museums and landmarks in Ashgabat.
Two leading educational institutions in Turkmenistan, the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Institute of Economics and Management, received new publications as a gift from the Japanese Embassy. The handover ceremony took place as part of the international READ JAPAN PROJECT. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The initiative, implemented since 2008 by ‘The Nippon Foundation’ and the ‘Tokyo Foundation for Research Policy’, aims to spread knowledge about Japan through English-language publications. The donated books will replenish the libraries of universities and will be used in the educational process. As noted by the Japanese Embassy, this project helps strengthen cultural and educational ties between the two countries. The publications cover various topics, from economics and politics to traditional culture in modern Japan. The READ JAPAN PROJECT has already provided books to more than 400 universities in 60 countries around the world, promoting international academic exchange and intercultural dialogue.
From 1 to 4 June, the prestigious XCEL International Olympiad was held at the University of California (UCLA), where students from Turkmenistan won a full set of awards in scientific and technical disciplines. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. Young inventors from the ImdatBot and Turkmen-Indian Centre training centres received gold and silver medals for innovative projects in robotics. In addition, Turkmen schoolchildren showed outstanding results in mathematics and cognitive sciences, a promising field that combines research into artificial intelligence and human thinking. Some participants received special awards for the originality and practical value of their developments. These achievements confirm the high level of STEM education in Turkmenistan. The trip to the Olympiad also provided the students with valuable experience in intercultural communication and acquaintance with leading global educational practices.
On 8 June, the Embassy of Japan in Turkmenistan held an exam for the MEXT programme at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. Only candidates who had submitted applications to the embassy were allowed to participate. The exams were held in the following areas: research students (natural and social sciences), bachelor's degree programmes (social and natural sciences), students of technological institutes and specialised colleges.