First meeting within the framework of the European Union Erasmus+ project

In the International Year of Peace and Trust under the wise leadership of the President of Turkmenistan Arkadagly Serdar, our country is rapidly moving towards new heights of development. As a result of the special attention paid by our Esteemed Arkadagly Serdar to the development of the national education system, wide opportunities for cooperation in science and education and exchange of experience with prestigious universities, companies and research centres of foreign countries are created. Continuous efforts of our state and the necessary conditions created for the future generation of our Motherland, to receive modern education, training and mastering a profession, are the guarantee of our bright future.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of our Esteemed President, international cooperation of Turkmenistan with the European Union in the field of science and education is developing favourably.

Under the Erasmus+ programme funded by the European Union, friendly relations and international cooperation between European countries and other countries of the world are being strengthened.

The ERASMUS+ programme, which runs from 2021 to 2027, contributes to the improvement of the education system and the training of specialists for various sectors of the economy. The programme is focused on areas such as active youth participation in public life, green and digital transition and social inclusion.

The programme is coordinated by the European Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

In order to strengthen regional cooperation with the Central Asian States in 2024, it was decided to fund the project “Integration of Environmental concerns, societal needs and good governance in Central Asian education and employment sectors” (ESGCA) under the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union and to appoint the University of Genoa as coordinator of this project. The higher education institutions of Turkmenistan, namely the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International Oil and Gas University and the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan, are eligible to participate as partners in this project.

The project involves leading universities from Romania, Slovakia, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The main objective of the project is to implement cooperation in the field of effective environmental management and social support, training of specialists in these areas, development and improvement of training programmes, promotion of research and innovation and analysis of demands in specialists. Project implementation period: from December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2027.

On January 20-24, 2025, a first meeting was held in Genoa (Italy) with the participation of representatives of higher education institutions to introduce the ESGCA project partner organisations, to discuss the project structure and implementation phases, as well as to develop a strategy for the implementation of master programmes and innovative solutions.

At the invitation of the University of Genoa and based on the decision of the Government of Turkmenistan, representatives of the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International Oil and Gas University and the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan were sent on a working visit to participate in this meeting.

On January 21, 2025, at the Rectorate of the University of Genoa, the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of the University addressed the foreign representatives participating in the project and wished them success and fruitful work, also Angelo Musaii, ESGCA Project Coordinator, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the University of Genoa had speech at the meeting. In his speech Angelo Musaii thanked the participants of the ESGCA project, all representatives of higher education institutions of Europe and Central Asia and presented the agenda of the meeting.

Gadam Akmyradov, representative of the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan, made a presentation in English about his higher education institution and the work carried out under the project at the meeting.

Maksat Churiyev, representative of the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International Oil and Gas University, also made a presentation in English about his higher education institution and the work carried out under the project.

As part of the meeting, a preliminary version of the ESGCA project website, available at https://esgca-erasmus.com/, was prepared, including information and photos about the meeting, as well as information about the higher education institutions participating in the project.

The project coordinators presented to the participants the action plan for the development and implementation of the ESG Master's programme, which will be implemented in the near future, and it was announced that special training courses and seminars will be held for specialists in Romania and Slovakia, for those who will develop this Master's programme.

Based on the results of the meeting and the decisions taken, it was assigned to hold a comprehensive discussion by organising round tables.

We would like to express our gratitude to our Arkadagly Hero Serdar and Hero Arkadag for the opportunities created for us in the field of science and education, for exchange of experience with prestigious profile universities, companies and research centres of foreign countries. We wish our Esteemed President and Hero Arkadag health, long life, prosperity and great successes in deeds for the benefit of the people and the state!