Turkmenistan anв Russia discussed cooperation development in the sphere of science and higher education

In Ashgabat took place a meeting of the Intergovernmental commission of Russia and Turkmenistan in the sphere science and higher education, the official website of the Ministry of Education of Russia reports.

The Parties discussed the issues of education of citizens of Turkmenistan in Russian universities and establishment of a joint Turkmen – Russian University.

Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Natalya Bocharova in her speech noted that the department takes into account the needs of various sectors of the economy in training of highly qualified Turkmen specialists in its work.
To date, more than 30 thousand citizens of Turkmenistan receive education in Russian universities. Every year, the Government of the Russian Federation allocates a quota for training for Turkmen applicants, 250 places were allocated for the 2022/23 academic year. The same number of places is planned to be provided in the next academic year. The most popular areas of study among citizens of Turkmenistan are linguistics, economics, international relations, oil and gas business, computer science and engineering, architecture, psychology, dentistry.

Natalia Bocharova stressed that the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation is ready to consider the possibility of increasing the number of qualified applicants from Turkmenistan for admission to Russian universities.

The parties also paid special attention to the issue of establishing a joint university in Turkmenistan. A letter with such an initiative from the Turkmen side was received by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia this year. Several meetings were held to develop mechanisms for the establishment of the Turkmen-Russian University, the Russian side prepared and sent a concept and an action plan for the implementation of the project in mid-October 2022.

The Turkmen side expressed interest in training technical and medical specialists at the future university. Due to the fact that educational programs according to Russian standards will be implemented at the Turkmen-Russian University, the list of specialties and areas of higher education training approved by the order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia has been handed over to colleagues.

It is supposed that at the initial stage of establishing of a joint university will be chosen the universities – coordinators for provision of organizational and methodical assistance from both sides.
Besides, the Russian side has already forwarded the Turkmen colleagues a draft Intergovernmental agreement on the establishment and terms of work of the Turkmen – Russian University, which fixes the basic mechanisms of the university functioning.