New paid departments will open in the coming academic year at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan in connection with the transition to a two-stage (bachelor's and master's) educational program. This was announced by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov at a government meeting on Friday, according to today's issue of the “Neutral Turkmenistan” newspaper.

According to the Vice - Premier, in subsequent years, the university provides for training on this basis and in other specialties, as well as the transfer of the institute to self-financing.

Along with this, in order to improve the structure of the IIR, it is planned to open new educational departments in it, including a school for young diplomats at the university, a scientific center for strategic studies, as well as create a department of digital systems and communications.

Having listened to the report, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that young specialists trained by the IIR in the near future will have to adequately represent Turkmenistan in foreign states, authoritative international organizations, in the world economic, humanitarian, legal and information space. The leader of the nation emphasized:

- The main and especially responsible task of the activity of Turkmen diplomats is the consistent implementation of the foreign policy of the Motherland, which is based on the principles of positive neutrality, peacefulness, good neighborliness and broad constructive cooperation.

Therefore, the head of state noted, all conditions should be provided at the university so that students can effectively master modern knowledge and professional skills in their chosen specialties, master advanced digital technologies, improve their erudition, engage in specialized science, in order to subsequently contribute to the development of fruitful interaction of our country with foreign partners, promotion of creative initiatives of Turkmenistan that meet the interests of common well-being.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov approved the proposals presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and instructed to continue systematic work on training highly qualified specialists for the national diplomatic service.

The Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan was opened in March 2008. Currently, IIR has 4 faculties, 6 departments, 3 centers.