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In the era of the Revival of the new epoch of the powerful state, Turkmenistan, under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, is steadily following the course of innovation and progress, achieving significant success on this path. Today, our Fatherland is known as a country with a dynamically developing economy and social sphere, as well as a respected and authoritative member of the international community, the author of constructive creative initiatives. And we can say with confidence that these achievements are a clear result of the neutral policy consistently implemented by Turkmenistan, which has received wide recognition and support throughout the world.
The current year, proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations «International Year of Peace and Trust», is marked for our country by a historic date - the 30th anniversary of acquiring the status of permanent neutrality. Having predetermined the direction and content of Turkmenistan's foreign policy strategy, this status, three times recognised by special resolutions of the UN General Assembly, also has a significant positive impact on internal development, the implementation of large-scale reforms and programs.
One of the priorities of the state policy of the Fatherland is the comprehensive improvement of the education and science systems, the importance of which in the modern world is increasingly growing. Strengthening and building up potential in this area, the ability to generate and transform knowledge, developing human capital, training highly qualified personnel are important and integral factors in the stability of the country, its emergence to new frontiers of progress.
At the same time, great importance is attached to studying the best world experience, building up effective cooperation with foreign partners in the humanitarian sphere. And here the effective role of educational and scientific diplomacy, systematically promoted by our country, is obvious.
The far-sighted reforms initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Hero-Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and now successfully continued by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov are aimed at introducing international standards into the educational process and solving the tasks set in this direction.
Based on modern realities, educational and scientific methods, curricula and programs are being improved. The relevant legislative and legal framework and infrastructure are constantly being strengthened, the range of specialized services is expanding. Digital and information and communication technologies are being introduced into the education and science systems. New prospects are opening up for the use of interactive and distance learning methods. At the same time, constant attention is paid to educating the younger generation in the spirit of patriotism, hard work and high spiritual and moral values of the nation. In this context, great importance is attached to the training and advanced training of teaching staff.
Significant funds are invested in the development of this area every year. Pre-school institutions, secondary comprehensive and vocational schools, new complexes of university buildings that meet international standards in all respects have been built and are being erected in the capital and all regions of the country. Thus, in particular, this year the construction of new buildings of the Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Construction and the Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute named after Seyitnazar Seydi continues.
Educational institutions in Turkmenistan are computerised, equipped with modern multimedia, other necessary equipment and teaching aids, and connected to the Internet. Students have access to electronic library resources. As a result of targeted measures taken, new relevant disciplines have appeared in the school and university schedule along with basic and specialized subjects. New specialties that meet the demands of the time are being introduced in higher educational institutions of the country. Young Turkmen citizens have the opportunity to study at prestigious foreign universities.
At present, there are a number of schools in Turkmenistan that specialise in teaching the exact, natural and humanitarian sciences, as well as foreign languages. In order to deeply study the rich history and cultural heritage of the Turkmen people, new teaching methods are used, additional clubs are created for individual subjects, and scientific literature is prepared taking into account the age characteristics of children.
All this is reflected in the adopted state programs, concepts, strategies and legislative acts aimed at the qualitative modernisation of domestic education and science, increasing their competitiveness, providing all the conditions for the education of an erudite young generation with a broad outlook, the realisation of its abilities and talents, the mastery of the chosen professions by young people, creative and scientific activities.
An important contribution to the digitalisation of the national educational system has become a single electronic platform for teachers, parents and schoolchildren eMekdep, launched by the Innovation and Information Centre of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. Among the wide range of services provided, this Centre also organises various training courses that meet the needs of students.
Higher educational institutions of the country are actively developing the digital format of education, their websites contain comprehensive information about universities, including the structure, educational programs and platforms, faculties and specialties, information for applicants, etc.
In recent years, cooperation with large foreign educational and scientific centres, authoritative international organisations, including specialized UN agencies - UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNFPA, etc., with which joint projects are being implemented, has received new impetus.
Here, as one example, we can cite the inclusion of several secondary schools in Turkmenistan in the UNESCO Associated Schools network, which unites educational institutions of the planet around a common goal - the promotion of peacekeeping and humanistic values, the development of fruitful intercultural dialogue. In addition, UNESCO departments and clubs have been created in a number of domestic universities.
We also remind you that eight higher education institutions of Turkmenistan were included in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking, published in 2023. This ranking measures the desire of universities to improve environmental infrastructure and their contribution to sustainable development in the field of environmental protection. Along with this, a number of universities in our country are members of the International Association of Universities. The Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan entered the world university ranking «The World University Rankings - 2024» with the status of «reporter». And in December last year, the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports became a member of the International Association of Universities of Physical Culture and Sports, which unites more than 60 leading higher education institutions of the planet specialising in this field.
The issues of deepening constructive partnership in the educational and scientific sphere, expanding inter-university contacts, student and teacher exchanges and youth issues in general are constantly included in the agenda of foreign visits of the President of Turkmenistan and Hero-Arkadag, negotiations at the highest, governmental and interdepartmental levels. The agreements reached are enshrined in signed bilateral documents.
It is noteworthy that Turkmen schoolchildren and students regularly participate in international subject Olympiads and competitions, where they demonstrate remarkable results and are awarded high awards. By the way, our country is also a venue for such events, including through a digital system. Along with young Turkmen citizens, their peers from different countries of the world take part in them, which helps to strengthen friendly relations between countries and peoples.
Modern educational institutions built by Turkmen builders abroad on the initiative of Hero Arkadag also serve as a vivid confirmation of the neutral Fatherland's commitment to a peaceful, constructive policy, interstate dialogue of friendship, brotherhood and good neighborliness. Thus, on the 18th of May, 2018, in the village of Funtovo in the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation, where the largest Turkmen diaspora in the region lives, a new school named after Magtymguly Fragi, designed for 190 students, was opened. And on the 1st of September, 2024, a secondary school named after Magtymguly was put into operation in the «Ergesh Sultanov» dayhan association in the Dusti district of the Khatlon region of the Republic of Tajikistan. Presidents Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Emomali Rahmon took part in the opening ceremony of the educational institution, designed for 540 students, via a digital system.
In recent years, domestic science has received powerful incentives for development. As a result of comprehensive state support for fundamental theoretical and applied research, their range is expanding, the necessary conditions for the effective work of scientists are being created, and the relevant infrastructure is being modernised. An integral part of Turkmenistan's policy in this area is the further intensification of fruitful cooperation with foreign research centers and, in general, with the world scientific community.
An important step in this direction was the approval of the Strategy for the Development of Science in Turkmenistan for 2024-2052 and the Action Plan for its implementation for 2024-2028. In this context, priority is given to the relationship between education, science and production.
As is known, in accordance with the relevant Resolution of the head of state, the Technology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan was awarded the status of the International Science and Technology Park. This solution allows scientists and engineers to deepen their interaction with leading foreign specialised structures, in particular with the International Association of Science Parks (IASP). All this contributes to the growth of the country's intellectual and scientific-technical potential, increasing the competitiveness of national science, digital transformation, and the implementation of promising developments and projects, including in the field of innovation, in various sectors of the economy, the industrial sector, and in the areas of small and medium-sized businesses.
Particular attention is also paid to involving young people in science, forming a new generation of scientists with creative innovative thinking. Steps are being taken to create postgraduate and doctoral programs in the field of innovative economics. A competition of scientific papers among young people has become traditional in our country. Every year the number of participants in this intellectual competition increases, and its prestige grows. The award ceremony for the winners of the competition is held on Science Day, which is annually celebrated in Turkmenistan on the 12th of June.
In order to continue the relevant work, with the assistance of the Academy of Sciences of the country and the Centre for Young Scientists under the Central Council of the Youth Organisation of Turkmenistan named after Magtymguly, it is planned to hold scientific and project competitions, forums, round tables, seminars, thematic meetings, festivals, and exhibitions.
As for youth policy in general, this aspect is also reflected in the Concept of Activities and Priorities of Turkmenistan within the Framework of the International Year of Peace and Trust. As noted in the document, one of the vectors of our country's activities in a multilateral format is the creation of conditions for the comprehensive development of youth, the realisation of their potential in science, creativity, and sports. Turkmenistan's approach to these issues is based on the active use and increased effectiveness of channels of interaction with humanitarian structures - UNESCO, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), etc.
The Concept also outlines a number of events proposed by our country to be held this year. These include the International Youth Competition «Peace and Trust», scientific competitions and conferences for students, video conferences between universities on international relations, and thematic open lessons in schools. In addition, as part of information and educational activities, it is proposed to organise educational events, including lectures, trainings and interactive seminars, use social networks and digital diplomacy tools to promote the ideals of peace and trust with an emphasis on global youth engagement.
It is noteworthy that in 2023, the Youth Organisation of Turkmenistan named after Magtymguly became an official member of the Global Youth Community of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). This is further evidence of recognition of our country's merits in strengthening international dialogue in this area, as well as the harmonious development of the young generation.
The «smart» city, built in the picturesque foothills of Kopetdag, can rightfully be called the city of the future, it is a visible symbol of the progressive innovative development of the Fatherland. Advanced scientific and technological achievements, developments in the field of artificial intelligence, and high environmental standards are integrated into all spheres of its life.
As you know, at the International Exhibition «World Smart City Expo», held in September 2024 in Seoul (Republic of Korea), the city of Arkadag was awarded three awards - «For outstanding achievements in the field of a «smart» city», as well as in the nominations «Foreign «smart» city» and «For great contribution to the World Exhibition of «smart» cities» «World Smart City Expo 2024». This unique city, the initiative for the creation of which belongs to the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, has also been awarded a number of international certificates and diplomas.
Today, the city of Arkadag is confidently strengthening its position as a modern educational and scientific centre. The International Academy of Horse Breeding named after Aba Annayev and the Scientific and Production Centre for Horse Breeding, the Pedagogical Secondary Vocational School named after Berdimuhamet Annayev, the Medical Secondary Vocational School named after Sachly Dursunova, the Specialised School of Arts named after Sahy Jepbarov, the Children's School of Arts named after Shukur Bagshy, the Specialised Educational Complex, as well as a number of special schools and kindergartens are located here. It should be noted that students of domestic universities and young personnel were involved in the development of projects for the construction of the «smart» city.
In this way, our country has created optimal conditions and opportunities for the comprehensive development of young people, their receipt of high-quality education, engagement in science, active participation in large-scale reforms, the implementation of innovative initiatives and creative ideas. By advocating for the expansion of fruitful cooperation in the scientific and educational sphere, neutral Turkmenistan makes a concrete contribution to strengthening constructive, trusting and mutually respectful dialogue between states and peoples, which is an integral factor in ensuring universal peace, prosperity and sustainable development.
