Oriented on making people closer

On June 25, 2025, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan between the Minister of Education of Turkmenistan and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan, Ravshanbek Azadbekovich Alimov.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation in the fields of education and science, highlighting the special importance of the partnership between the two friendly countries. The Minister of Education emphasized that the historically strong neighborly relations between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are gaining new substance through the implementation of joint educational initiatives.

A vivid example of this practical cooperation is the current visit of a delegation from the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers, which arrived in Turkmenistan for a study internship. Over the course of 10 days, members of the Uzbek delegation will undergo practical training at facilities of Turkmenistan's agro-industrial complex. In response, a delegation from the S.A. Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University is scheduled to visit Uzbekistan in July 2025 to undertake a similar internship. These reciprocal visits strengthen inter-university ties and form a solid foundation for further cooperation.

The Turkmen side presented information on the country’s recent achievements in the education sector, including the active implementation of digital and innovative technologies, modernization of educational infrastructure, and the growing international recognition of national universities. Special emphasis was placed on the country’s progress in digitalization, the integration of artificial intelligence in education, and the participation of Turkmenistan’s universities in international academic rankings.

The sides discussed key areas for the future expansion of cooperation in education and science. Among the identified priorities were:

– the expansion of the legal and contractual framework between universities of the two countries;

– the development of academic exchange programs for students and faculty;

– and the implementation of joint educational initiatives.

Particular attention was given to organizing rectors’ forums and youth scientific conferences, as well as the establishment of start-up incubators and hackathons involving students and young professionals. The importance of shared access to digital educational platforms was also underlined.

Additionally, the sides highlighted the active participation of students and schoolchildren from both countries in international olympiads and competitions. The Turkmen side expressed satisfaction with the successful performance of the Uzbek team during the International Mathematics Olympiad held in Ashgabat in April 2025, where Uzbek students won 17 medals of various distinctions.

The Uzbek side, in turn, expressed interest in studying Turkmenistan's experience in educational process management and digital administration systems. They also proposed strengthening cooperation between public and private universities of both countries, as well as organizing a University Fair of Uzbekistan in Turkmenistan to expand opportunities for prospective students and enhance academic ties.

At the end of the meeting, the Turkmen side extended an invitation to representatives of Uzbekistan’s educational and scientific institutions to participate in the upcoming International Exhibition and Scientific Conference titled “Health, Education, and Sports in the Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State”, to be held in October 2025 in Ashgabat in a hybrid format.

The meeting was held in a spirit of friendship and confirmed the high level of mutual trust and readiness to further strengthen Turkmen-Uzbek cooperation in education.

Photo: gazeta.uz