Turkmenistan’s "Three Bridges" in Dialogue with the UK on Human Capital
On September 14, the inaugural "Central Asia – UK" (C5+UK) Think Tank Forum concluded in Tashkent. The forum’s final session focused on the human dimension of cooperation—specifically education, professional skills, and regulated labor mobility. The packed hall at the International Institute for Central Asia (IICA) remained energetic throughout the evening; the panel featured lively and at times spirited discussions, accompanied by questions from the audience and substantive responses from the speakers.
The panel, titled "Human Bridges: Education, Skills, and Safe Labor Mobility," brought together a distinguished group of experts from Oxford, Sussex, and Newcastle, as well as from leading think tanks across the region.
The tone of the discussion was set from the very start: statistics show that citizens of Central Asian countries currently form the core of the UK’s Seasonal Worker Scheme, having secured approximately 78% of all visas in this category over the year leading up to March 2026. Yet, it was precisely this figure that sparked the forum’s most intriguing conceptual debate.
When Bekdurdy Amansaryev, a senior researcher at the Center for Strategic Studies under the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, took the floor, his opening remarks struck a note that contrasted sharply with conventional labor migration patterns:
"Let me begin with a statement that might seem paradoxical for a session on labor mobility. Turkmenistan is not a labor-exporting country, nor does it participate in the UK’s Seasonal Worker Scheme. Yet, our presence here is entirely logical: for us, cooperation with the United Kingdom is part of a multi-vector strategy in which 'human bridges' are built according to entirely different blueprints."
This point generated significant interest among the audience. The Turkmen analyst’s presentation outlined the country’s national strategy in terms of three fundamental "bridges," illustrating an alternative yet highly effective model of human capital development.
The first bridge: Building the domestic economy rather than exporting talent. Unlike its regional neighbors, who actively participate in labor mobility programs, Turkmenistan focuses on attracting human resources into the country to implement mega-projects of Eurasian scale.
The speaker clearly illustrated the scale of the domestic demand for skilled professionals. These needs are driven by major infrastructure and energy projects: the construction of the TAPI (Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India) gas pipeline, the installation of associated high-voltage power transmission lines, and the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Tajikistan railway.
Also included in this scope are digital transit between Asia and Europe and the creation of a major telecommunications hub. Terrestrial fiber-optic lines from Kazakhstan (via Garabogaz–Temirbaba) and a Caspian cable from Azerbaijan converge in Turkmenistan and extend through Afghanistan (Herat, Kandahar) to Pakistan, establishing a high-speed, redundant digital gateway for South Asia. Running in parallel is the Uzbekistan–Iran backbone route, utilizing the Alat–Turkmenabat and Ashgabat–Quchan connection points.
"We do not need seasonal workers abroad; we need top-tier engineers, IT specialists, logistics experts, and managers here at home. Our priority is not exporting people, but training a workforce for the economy we are building. This is not isolationism, but a different ordering of priorities: first, establishing a solid domestic foundation, followed by targeted institutional mobility," Amansaryev emphasized.
The second bridge: Facts over intentions—how the British track works. The second part of the Turkmen expert’s presentation focused on the evidence base—concrete, ongoing projects that refute the notion that these ties are merely declarative. Particular mention was made of the Chevening program and the "Silk Road" initiative; in the 2024–2025 academic year, 12 Turkmen citizens were awarded Chevening scholarships. In September 2026, Turkmen alumni launched the "Chevening Connect Silk Road" regional platform, uniting graduates from five countries in the region to host webinars and academic conferences. Scaling up British Council expertise is of particular importance. The AELLCA program (Accelerating English Language Learning in Central Asia) encompasses the country’s leading universities. Inclusive teacher training methodologies (PRESETT and INSETT programs) are being implemented at the D. Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages in partnership with Nottingham Trent University.
In 2025–2026, specialists from the University of Westminster conducted training series on CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) and ESP (English for Specific Purposes) methodologies at the International University for the Humanities and Development, Magtymguly Turkmen State University, and Seydi Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute.
Also highlighted were the Turkmen delegation's participation in the Education World Forum in London and consultations with the OECD regarding the integration of international PISA assessment standards into the national system.
The third bridge: A shift toward institutional standards and AI. Projecting the trajectory of cooperation into the future, a Turkmen analyst proposed three practical steps based on the roadmap established during the April 2024 visit to Ashgabat by former UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron.
These steps involve moving from individual scholarships to university alliances and launching joint educational programs, dual-degree modules, and online courses between universities in Turkmenistan and the UK; implementing certification for the Middle Corridor and adopting British professional standards—covering financial security, arbitration, and English law—to train logistics and customs specialists for Caspian transit operations; and focusing on EdTech and artificial intelligence—specifically, integrating British digital technologies and AI tools into Turkmenistan’s education system to proactively train the workforce for the digital economy.
"We are a country that builds gas pipelines, power transmission lines, digital channels, and human bridges. They may not be the widest, but they are built to stand firm and endure. And it is better to build them together with a truly Great Britain than without it," concluded Bekdurdy Amansaryev to the audience's applause.
Following the main presentations, the expert discussion moved into a Q&A session. Forum participants showed keen interest in the details of digital infrastructure, mechanisms for certificate recognition, and the potential for adapting British methodological standards to regional realities. The speakers' responses demonstrated a deep command of the subject matter and a readiness for practical implementation.
In his closing remarks on the first C5+UK expert meeting, Javlon Vakhabov, Director of IICA, expressed confidence that the Tashkent forum would become a regular analytical platform capable of providing the governments of Central Asian nations and the UK with high-quality, practical analysis.
