Today, Turkmen capital is a recognized center of international cooperation, visual symbol of the policy of positive neutrality, peace-loving and open doors, which is steadily pursued under the leadership of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

140th anniversary of Ashgabat, little more than two months is from this remarkable date and all best intents are related to the coming anniversary. Many things have been changed in life of the city for the time of its existence. But one thing remained unchanged – in all times, Turkmenistan citizens loved their capital sincerely and passionately. 

In modern time, Turkmenistan has achieved unprecedented success in all spheres of life. Architectural releases in the capital and regions, which have been held and planned to be held in the year under slogan “Turkmenistan – Home of Peace and Trust”, are visual evidence of unprecedented scale of the changes.

Works for fundamental modernization and further development of infrastructure of scientific and educational sphere of Ashgabat are carried out at high rates. Having initiated an integrated reform strategy, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the system of national education as a foundation for implementation of program goals and a platform for innovative development of the country.

Super modern schools provided with advanced technologies, kindergartens, sport complexes, recreation and creative centers are built in the capital. New student camps with all necessary conditions for study and interesting leisure are opened every year.

Thus, specialized training and educational school No. 21 for 720 school students and 320 children in primary group has been opened in Ashgabat last year.

It has all conditions for proper lessons, educational work, organization of physical training, sport and cultural events, cognitive development of pre-school and school students. The classes and rooms are equipped with modern computers and multimedia hardware, learning manuals on various subjects.

Annual victories of Turkmen school and university students ate prestige international contests on various disciplines have become a visual result of successful implementation of innovative reforms initiated by head of the state Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in educational sphere.

All opportunities are available for younger citizens of Turkmenistan today for good education and personal development. If success of our youth is a pride for the country, the success of the state becomes a pride for young people, lessons of patriotism and citizenship. Therefore, achievements of Turkmen capital, its development and growing international recognition are the contribution to the future of human measurement of Ashgabat and its future generations.

Today’s Ashgabat is a modern scientific and educational center. Opening of the complex of buildings of International Oil and Gas University, which is named after Yagshygeld Kakayev these days, Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International University of Humanitarian Studies and Development, Naval Institute of the Ministry of Defense of the country, Aman Kekilov Pedagogical College, Oguzkhan Engineering and Technology University, Institute of Telecommunications and Informational Science of Turkmenistan and other educational facilities have been held with participation of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the last years.

The growth rates of the states today require training of specialists who master innovative technologies perfectly. In this regard, equipment and facility base of educational system is improved purposefully, reforms and modernization are carried out in this direction.

Thus, the head of the state has made a decision on re-organization of the Institute of Municipal Services into the Institute of Engineering, Technical and Transport Communications of Turkmenistan. This university is to train professionals of new formation, specialists for transport sphere, provision of services to giant and growing business complex of the cities and villages.

For successful development of widespread physical culture and sports of the highest achievements, the President has signed the Resolution of renaming of National Institute of Sports and Tourism of Turkmenistan into Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, having initiated its reorganization.

It will give an opportunity to the university to focus its activity on sport component while to combine the education of personnel for tourism industry with the sphere responsible for culture, which comprehensively meets the trends of development of the world industry of travel and holidays. In this regard, the head of the state has signed the Resolution of improvement of activity of Turkmen State Institute of Culture.

The Resolution of approval of the structure of higher educational institutes of Turkmenistan has also been signed. Number of new specialties has been introduced in universities of Turkmenistan and this process in continued.

The opening ceremony of new administrative center of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and faculty of the Olympic sports of Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports has been held with participation of the President of Turkmenistan on the Day of Knowledge and Students in 2020.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov notes that it is necessary to transfer these higher educational institutes to full self-sustain format for further modernization and improvement of financial and economic condition of the university with commercial form of education and development of international cooperation in educational sphere.

In addition, the network of secondary professional educational facilities has been significantly expanded. Big perspectives are opened for further turning of Ashgabat into big center of international cooperation in scientific and educational sphere.

The initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for activation of international contacts in this sphere, which is some kind of intellectual diplomacy, a link between educational and scientific systems of various countries and nations, solid human bridge to the present and future of bilateral and multilateral relations, has played a big role in improvement of the quality of education. Many educational institutes of the country have established close partnership with dozens of foreign educational institutes.

Cooperation between Japanese Tsukuba University and Oguzkhan Engineering and Technology University, where specialists from Japan are teaching, is an example of successful productive contacts. Since 2016, Japanese language is studied in 12 secondary schools and 5 higher educational institutes of our country.

Memorandum of Understanding between Turkmen State Energy Institute and Kazan Energy University, Agreement on Cooperation between the Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technology of Turkmenistan and Innopolis University independent non-commercial higher education organization, Agreement on Cooperation between Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management and Kazan Federal University have been signed under the working trip of Turkmen leader to the Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation in 2019.

The head of Turkmenistan pays special importance to education and knowledge of foreign languages by the youth, which is the main communication means between people and expression of advanced ideas. Therefore, effective measures are undertaken for improvement of process of teaching foreign languages on all levels of education starting from pre-school facilities. 

Thus, regular training courses, meetings with partners and international experts, training seminars and educational activities dedicated to use of the world practice and introduction of innovations to education have been organized in 2020 on the basis of National Educational Institute under several phases of implementation of the European Union’s project “Support of Educational System of Turkmenistan”.

The cycle of seminars on Methods of Teaching English Language for teachers of secondary schools, secondary and higher professional educational institutes has been held by representatives of Pearson International Educational Company, which is specialized in training of teachers for improvement of quality of teaching English language according to current standards in this field.

Important documents, which include the Program of improvement of activity of children pre-school facilities in the sphere of early development and preparation of a child to school in Turkmenistan for 2020 – 2025, are aimed at the reformation of the sphere of national education.

Technological transformation of all branches and government administration of the branches is provided under the implementation of the Concept of development of digital economy. In this regard, the head of Turkmenistan sets objectives for training of personnel, which are competent in digital environment and IT sphere.

Development of Turkmen science is carried out on program basis. Thus, Program of transfer of scientific sphere of Turkmenistan to digital system for 2020 – 2025 and the State Program of integrated development of chemical sciences and technologies in Turkmenistan for 2021 – 2025 have been adopted. 

Scientific and research institutes and Technology Center of the Academy of Sciences work actively in introduction of innovation to the development of fuel and energy complex as well as on solution of the issues of saving of energy resources.

It is worth to mention that institutes of the Academy of Sciences continue steadfast work under the implementation of the Program of reduction of seismic risk in seismic active zones of Turkmenistan, which was approved by the Resolution of the head of the state in January 2019. Number of projects in this sphere is implemented in the partnership with Japanese International Cooperation Agency, the UN Development Program and other competent organizations. 

Universities of the country also participate in innovative reforms in Turkmen capital. In particular, students of the Institute of Telecommunication and Informational Science as well as Oguzkhan Engineering and Technology University have accomplished the projects of development of residential buildings under the 16th phase of the capital’s development based on ‘smart home’ principle.

Teachers and students of Turkmen State Architectural and Construction Institute, State Art Academy have been involved in development of architectural projects of construction of modern mega project Ashgabat city.

Students of Turkmen State Architectural and Construction Institute have developed scientifically based project for social facilities and proposed the project to relative ministries and profile departments.

Investment of big financial resources to the development of educational and science, construction of profile infrastructural facilities indicate harmonious development of the economy and society.

The initiatives of the head of the state in educational and scientific spheres are mainly dictated by high responsibility for the destiny of the country, future of current and all future generations of Turkmenistan citizens, who would have to live and work in the age of rapidly developing scientific and technical progress and great achievements of human thought.