Turkmen Universities at the Forefront of Global Science and Education

Turkmen Universities Rapidly Expanding Their Multifaceted Potential

In recent years, Turkmen higher education institutions have actively advanced on the global academic stage, striving to be included in prestigious international rankings and developing highly demanded fields of research, securing a respectable place among the world’s top universities. Turkmen universities are currently focused on being listed in esteemed rankings such as the World University Rankings, UI GreenMetric World University Ranking, and the Nica Law School Ranking. The number of domestic universities making progress in this endeavor continues to grow. The reasons behind this trend and its implications are explored in a special feature by NT.

How It All Began

To start, we aimed to understand the purpose of rankings, why it is important to be included, and the benefits they ultimately bring. As stated on the official resource of Times Higher Education, which publishes the World University Rankings, these rankings serve as a reliable source of information for prospective students and their families about the world’s top universities, while for educators and researchers, they provide a relevant list of institutions with advanced research activities. The presence of Turkmen universities in these rankings not only enhances their reputation but also promotes international recognition and opens new opportunities for productive collaboration with institutions in other countries. Moreover, as previously noted, these rankings serve as valuable benchmarks for higher education experts globally.

The National Leader of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, first emphasized the need to include national universities in the list of internationally recognized institutions in 2020. Since then, Turkmen universities have begun to study ranking platforms and outline their goals based on widely recognized international criteria.

Taking Giant Steps Toward the SDGs

The well-coordinated mechanism for improving the research and organizational activities of Turkmen universities has allowed them to enter the prestigious Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which includes over 2,100 universities from 125 countries, making significant strides toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Overall, this trend can also be attributed to the strengthening ties between Turkmenistan and this globally respected institution each year.

Currently, nine Turkmen universities are included in this ranking, including the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International University of Oil and Gas, Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management, Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Construction, Turkmen Agricultural Institute, State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan, Oguz Khan Engineering and Technology University of Turkmenistan, International University for the Humanities and Development, Institute of Telecommunications and Informatics of Turkmenistan, and Dovletmammed Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages. According to the ranking, all represented Turkmen universities excel in achieving Goal 17, “Partnerships for the Goals,” with substantial progress made toward Goals 4, “Quality Education”; 5, “Gender Equality”; and 8, “Decent Work and Economic Growth.” Overall, substantial progress is evident across nearly all SDG areas.

Unlike other rankings that focus on universities’ research and publication activities, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings assesses the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of institutions. However, the evaluation focuses exclusively through the lens of education, examining university policies on achieving the SDGs, the number of related research studies and publications, the quality of partnership programs, and educational projects aimed at implementing UN principles. The methodology of this prestigious ranking encourages Turkmen universities to improve their scores, primarily by advancing their environmental, economic, and social agendas.

An Indicator of the Country’s Successful “Green” Policy

When discussing the implementation of a “green” agenda, we must refer to a ranking that reflects the interests of Turkmen higher education institutions in this area. The UI GreenMetric World University Ranking, which evaluates universities' contributions to sustainable development within the framework of global climate issues, currently includes nine Turkmen universities, among them the S.A. Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University, Oguz Khan Engineering and Technology University of Turkmenistan, Yagshygeldi Kakayev International University of Oil and Gas, Institute of Engineering and Transport Communications of Turkmenistan, Institute of Telecommunications and Informatics of Turkmenistan, State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan, Turkmen Agricultural Institute, and Turkmen State Institute of Finance.

Turkmen universities have secured a respectable position in this ranking, assessed based on factors such as infrastructure, including green spaces, energy-saving measures, efficient waste management, water conservation, public transportation accessibility, and research significance in sustainable development. The “green” policy narratives of Turkmenistan over recent years have shaped not only the development of the scientific and educational spheres but also the broader economic and social sectors. Thus, it can be assumed that in the foreseeable future, this ranking will include even more universities from the country, which are already taking decisive steps toward environmental protection and climate preservation.

The Best Among Law Schools

Another area in which Turkmen universities have fully committed to excellence is the development of legal studies. The high standards of legal education in the country have allowed the International University for the Humanities and Development and the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan to enter the prestigious Nica Law School Ranking. Each year, approximately 1,600 law schools and legal departments of major universities compete for inclusion in this ranking, widely respected and recognized in legal communities worldwide for significant achievements in legal simulation exercises, which are essential for honing skills and knowledge in national and international law.

Future Prospects in Rankings

In recent years, Turkmen universities have become directly involved in the race for high positions in prestigious global rankings. Having already studied the path to success, Turkmen higher education institutions are now preparing to enter the Times Higher Education University Rankings (THE). In 2021, the Institute of Telecommunications and Informatics of Turkmenistan became the first Turkmen university to enter this prestigious global ranking as a “reporter.” The following year, the Oguz Khan Engineering and Technology University of Turkmenistan, State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan, and Yagshygeldi Kakayev International University of Oil and Gas received the same “reporter” status. The number of Turkmen universities with “reporter” status in this authoritative list has since grown to eleven, with the recent additions of the Dovletmammed Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages, the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the Institute of Engineering and Transport Communications of Turkmenistan, S. Seidi Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute, Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Construction, and Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management. Newly included in the updated ranking are the M. Garryev State Medical University of Turkmenistan and Makhtumkuli Turkmen State University. In just four years, nearly half of the country’s higher education institutions have joined the World University Rankings.

Overall, the ranking evaluates five segments: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and university-industry collaborations.

What to Watch For

Key indicators for university inclusion in rankings include faculty publication activity and the citation of their scholarly work. This demonstrates that conducting significant scientific research in promising fields, Turkmen educators’ attainment of scientific degrees, and their participation in international scientific competitions and publications can ensure the integration of national institutes and universities into the global academic space. This not only aligns with the interests of the Turkmen academic community but also opens new opportunities for the practical application of university research findings in the national economy. Ultimately, Turkmenistan has the potential to become a major center of science and education, both regionally and globally.

Arslan MAMEDOV,

NT

November 8, 2024, No. 287

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