Training for representatives of Turkmenistan’s education system continues under the U.S. Department of State’s “International Visitor Leadership Program” (IVLP)

As part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), representatives of Turkmenistan’s education system participated in the training program titled “University Management: Cooperation and Commercialization” at the College of Engineering and Polymer Sciences at the University of Akron, Ohio. The event was attended by Dr. K.T. Tan, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Auburn Science and Engineering Center, and Dr. Ajay Mahajan, associate dean for research and industry relations and professor in the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering.

During the meeting, a detailed overview was provided of the university’s five transfer centers, particularly the Center for Advanced Materials Performance (CAMP). It was highlighted that the center specializes in developing and studying new materials and technologies, collaborates with about 20 reputable companies, such as Goodyear and Bridgestone, and conducts unique research applicable to industries ranging from aerospace to medicine. The center also actively engages with manufacturers and higher education institutions, resulting in the establishment of several enterprises based on the research outcomes of students and professors.

The meeting emphasized that successful collaboration between government, higher education institutions, and industry is more likely when all parties work in harmony.

The Turkmen delegation later toured the advanced laboratories of the Center for Advanced Materials Performance, including the Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Lab, which focuses on developing new nanostructures and materials with unique properties (e.g., superconductors and ultralight materials); the Energy Materials Lab, dedicated to creating new materials for batteries, fuel cells, and sustainable technologies; the Composites Materials and Structures Lab, which develops composites for construction, transport, and aviation; and the Materials Properties and Testing Lab, which conducts research on strength, corrosion resistance, thermal conductivity, and other parameters.

In the afternoon, the meetings continued at a public school specializing in cybersecurity. On the U.S. side, the event was attended by Ms. Holly Harris Bane, Director of Economic Development for the City of Aurora and President of Akron’s Global Connections Council, Mr. Paul Milcetich, assistant to the deputy principal for academics, and Mr. Nick Kukarola, a cybersecurity instructor.

The meeting revealed the main reasons for the school’s focus on cybersecurity, highlighting that the program was launched at the request of industry regulatory agencies, serving as an example of the close ties between educational institutions and industry. It was noted that specialized subjects are taught to 10th–12th graders, with 60 students currently enrolled. The curriculum consists of three parts: the first level (ParadigmCyber 1) includes 12 sections, the second level (ParadigmCyber 2) includes 10 sections, and the third level (ParadigmCyber 3) includes three modules.

Later, the school principal, Mr. Mike Hayes, introduced the Turkmen delegation to the school’s academic activities, classrooms, and sports and cultural facilities.