The visit of representatives of Turkmenistan's education system to the United States continues

As part of the U.S. Department of State's "International Visitor Leadership Program" (IVLP), the Turkmen delegation was received at the U.S. Department of State. The American side was represented by Mr. Jonathan Meyer, Public Diplomacy Officer of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Mr. Iverson Long, Officer for Turkmenistan Affairs, Ms. Rosie Edmond, Programs Officer of the same bureau, Ms. Chiquita Jackson, Director of the Global Partnership Directorate and Officer for Foreign Visitors at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and Ms. Sarah Sullivan, Head of the Fulbright Program at the Department of State.

During the meeting, the American side welcomed the Turkmen delegation to U.S. soil, wished them success in their educational trips across the United States, and provided an in-depth overview of the main areas of work of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs and the Global Partnership Directorate in education. It was noted that the Bureau's primary mission is to achieve the successful implementation of U.S. foreign policy in South and Central Asia, including diplomacy, security, education, economy, human rights, and development, as well as coordinating bilateral relations between the U.S. and the region. The Global Partnership Directorate was highlighted as a structural unit aimed at creating and strengthening strategic cooperation with governments, major international organizations, private sectors, and civil societies.

The Bureau contributes to the development of education in the region through the following key programs and initiatives:

• Supporting the Fulbright exchange program aimed at strengthening educational and cultural ties between the U.S. and the countries of South and Central Asia;
• Assisting in the development of education systems in the region by providing technical and financial aid focused on improving the quality of education, introducing new teaching methodologies, and expanding access to educational services;
• Offering scholarships and grants to South and Central Asian youth to study at U.S. universities.

The American side proposed enhancing cooperation with Turkmenistan in higher education, particularly through strengthening partnerships under the Fulbright program. The floor was then given to the Turkmen side. Representatives provided detailed insights into the main directions of the national education policy initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen Nation Hero Arkadag and successfully continued under the leadership of the Esteemed President, as well as the achievements in international cooperation in education between Turkmenistan and the United States.

Following this, Ms. Jennifer Hong, Deputy Director of the International Relations Section of the U.S. Department of Education’s Post-Secondary Education Division, conducted a lecture for the Turkmen delegation on "The Role of the Federal Government in the U.S. Higher Education System."

During the session, data influencing the quality of educational activities were discussed, and the availability of federal financial aid through Pell Grants and educational loans in the U.S. was highlighted.

Subsequently, a discussion was arranged for the Turkmen delegation at the National Association of Foreign Educators (NAFSA). Participants from the U.S. included Mr. Roderick Wilson, Deputy Director for Conferences and Global Partnership, and Ms. Dale Lafler, Executive Director for Academic Affairs and Internationalization.