On 18 September, the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan hosted a meeting with a delegation from the British company AQA Global Assessment Services, which included Director of International Business Development Sean Crowley, Director of Assessment Systems Anna Green, and Regional Consultant Vali Guseyn. This was reported by the news agency Orient. The parties discussed prospects for cooperation in improving the quality of education and assessment systems, taking into account the needs of the labour market. AQA has extensive international experience, ranging from the implementation of national certification and qualification standardisation systems to the digitisation of testing. In particular, in Uzbekistan, the company participated in the development of a new assessment model for secondary schools, and in Kazakhstan, it participated in the creation of a criteria-based system for graduates. The future partnership involves the exchange of experience in the field of examination platforms and certification, the introduction of digital solutions, the development of uniform qualification standards and methodological support for teachers. Particular emphasis is placed on the application of international standards in the planning of educational reforms.
On 16 September, Turkmenistan's Minister of Education J. Gurbangeldiyev met with Hiroshi Sasaki, Japan's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Turkmenistan. During the talks, the parties discussed long-term prospects for cooperation in the field of education. This was reported by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The positive dynamics of cooperation, which gained new momentum after the April visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Japan, was noted. Particular attention was paid to the growing interest of Turkmen youth in learning Japanese, which is now studied by thousands of students and schoolchildren in the country. During the meeting, specific proposals were discussed for the implementation of joint training programmes in the field of hydrogen energy. Issues related to the professional development of teachers of exact sciences through JICA and MEXT programmes were considered, as well as the coordination of the work of educational institutions in Turkmenistan where Japanese is taught. The Japanese side was invited to participate in an international exhibition and scientific conference on education and healthcare, which will be held in Ashgabat in October this year. The parties confirmed their commitment to further strengthening their educational partnership and expressed confidence in the successful implementation of the planned projects.
Russia has provided citizens of Turkmenistan with 500 state-funded places to study at Russian colleges and universities in the 2026-2027 academic year. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The statement notes that the programme opens up the opportunity to receive education in Russia free of charge. Applications are accepted through the education-in-russia.com portal. Registration for participation in the 2026-2027 academic year quota campaign began on 15 September.
The ‘Oguzrobot’ team from School No. 97 in Ashgabat will represent Turkmenistan at the ‘First Global Challenge 2025’ international tournament, which will be held from 29 October to 1 November in Panama. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. This prestigious competition, known as the ‘Robotics Olympiad’, will bring together participants from more than 190 countries under the motto ‘Eco Equilibrium’. The teams' task is to create robots to protect biodiversity and restore ecosystems. ‘Oguzrobot’ has been participating in the tournament since 2017 and has already won medals and special prizes. The team is currently actively testing its robot, adapting it to the conditions of future trials. International cooperation will also be an important part of the competition: schoolchildren from different countries will come together to solve problems, which will promote the exchange of experience and the development of STEM education.
In the period of the Revival of the New Era of the Powerful State, the course set by His Excellency President Serdar Berdimuhamedov serves as a powerful impetus for development in all areas, including the education system. A striking example of the fulfilment of the tasks set is the publication of a new textbook, Korean Language, for 9th grade students in general education schools, prepared by authors D. Soyunnazarova and M. Mammedova (published by the Turkmen State Publishing Service, 2025). This was reported by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The textbook has a unique design and includes interesting exercises, poems, proverbs and riddles designed to develop students' intellect and increase their interest in the subject. Thematic illustrations contribute to better assimilation of the material. An important feature of the publication is the availability of audio recordings for dictionaries and texts, which demonstrates the practical implementation of the course on the integration of digital technologies into the educational process. The material in the textbook is structured according to a clear scheme: from learning new vocabulary through text to grammar and homework assignments. The sections at the end of the book containing information about the Republic of Korea add additional value to the manual.
Systematic work continues in Turkmenistan to modernise education within the framework of state concepts for the development of education. Under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, tasks are being implemented to integrate modern methods of teaching foreign languages and digitise the educational process. This was reported by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. One of the practical results of this work was the publication in 2025 of a Japanese language textbook for 9th grade general education schools. The textbook, developed by a team of authors consisting of H. Ito, N. Katsu and A. Taganova, fully complies with the approved curriculum and consists of eight thematic chapters covering various aspects of everyday life and culture. A distinctive feature of the new textbook is its multimedia format: the dictionary and texts are accompanied by audio recordings, which helps to develop students' language skills. The publication includes a variety of exercises, dialogues, grammar materials and a bilingual glossary that meet modern methodological requirements. This textbook is a practical implementation of the tasks of digitising education and improving foreign language teaching in Turkmenistan.
The ‘Türkmenhowaýollary’ State Service, with the support of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), held two training courses on improving national aviation security. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The classes were conducted in accordance with ICAO international standards and European practices. The first programme focused on the testing and operation of screening equipment, the analysis of images in introscopes, the operation of explosive detectors and manual screening systems. The second course covered quality control systems: the organisation of supervision and inspections, instructor training, risk analysis and the elimination of violations. The knowledge gained will help specialists during international inspections, including the upcoming ICAO USAP-CMA inspection, and will be used in the daily work of aviation services.
Ashgabat will host Turkmenistan's first Google I/O Extended conference, organised by the local Google Developer Groups Ashgabat community. The event is scheduled for 20 September, according to the online publication Orient. This format is a local version of Google's global event for developers, which aims to introduce the country's IT community to key innovations and announcements presented at the annual Google I/O conference. Participants will be able to immerse themselves in discussions on the latest trends in artificial intelligence, Android development, cloud services and web technologies. According to the organisers, the event is designed as a platform for gaining new knowledge, professional networking and finding inspiration. The event will start at 4 p.m. Participation is free, but advance registration on the organisers' official website is required due to limited seating. Registration is available at the following link: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-ashgabat-presents-google-io-extended/.
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.