The Turkmen delegation visited key educational institutions of Armenia

As part of the 10th meeting of the intergovernmental commission between Turkmenistan and Armenia, held on March 26 in Yerevan, Deputy Minister of Education of Turkmenistan visited key educational institutions. These visits were aimed at exploring innovative educational models, sharing experiences and finding opportunities for future cooperation. Below is a detailed report on each visit, based on information collected from official sources.

TUMO Center for Creative Technologies: Focus on Extracurricular STEM Learning

The first point of the visit was the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies "TUMO" (TUMO), known for its unique model of free additional education for teenagers aged 12–18. The center focuses on extracurricular learning in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) field, including animation, game development, web development, programming, robotics, and new media. The program is built on the principles of self-study, master classes, and lab projects, which allows teenagers to independently choose the learning path. According to the data, more than 20,000 teenagers attend TUMO centers around the world, including Armenia, France, Germany, and Switzerland. The center covers 14 educational areas, such as graphics, music, photography, and 3D modeling, making it an important resource for developing digital skills and competencies of the future. Azat Atayev was likely impressed by this approach, especially in the context of preparing young people for the challenges of the digital economy. Opportunities for Turkmenistan include adapting similar programs to increase technological literacy among students.

National Centre for Vocational Education and Training Development (NCVETD): Dual Education and the Labour Market

The second visit was to the National Center for Vocational Education and Training Development (NCVETD) (MKUZAK), which plays a key role in reforming the vocational education system in Armenia. The Centre is engaged in the development of qualification frameworks, quality assessment, accreditation of programmes and training of workers. Particular attention in the discussions was paid to dual education, forecasting labour market needs and cooperation with the private sector.

Dual education, which combines theoretical training in educational institutions with practical experience in the workplace, is an important tool for increasing the competitiveness of graduates. NCVETD also represents Armenia in WorldSkills International, an international organization that organizes vocational skills competitions. For example, in 2021, WorldSkills Armenia attracted 92 participants, of which 37 reached the finals, competing in areas such as jewelry, cooking, and web technology. This underlines the Centre’s contribution to integrating education with real economic needs. For Turkmenistan, such approaches can become the basis for reforming vocational training, especially in cooperation with the private sector.

Armenian National Engineering Laboratories (ANEL): Innovations in Engineering Education

The third visit was to the Armenian National Engineering Laboratories "ANEL" (ANEL), a center of excellence located at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia. Founded in 2013, ANEL comprises 30 modern educational and research laboratories aimed at training specialists for high-tech industries.

The main goal of the center is to meet the needs of the engineering industry for qualified personnel capable of increasing the added value and innovation of Armenian high-tech companies.

Discussions with ANEL focused on the exchange of experiences in engineering education, research and innovation. The laboratories are equipped with modern equipment for high-precision research and offer basic, advanced and specialized courses in more than 50 disciplines, including certification at the international level (e.g. CLAD, CLD, CLA). This visit probably inspired the strengthening of ties between educational institutions of Turkmenistan and Armenia, especially in the field of engineering research and training of personnel for high-tech industries.

Possible results and future cooperation

During the visits, productive discussions were held with the institutions' leaders and staff, exploring opportunities for future collaboration. The proposed areas include student exchanges, joint research projects and the adaptation of best practices in education and training. These visits highlight the growing partnership between Turkmenistan and Armenia, with an emphasis on the mutually beneficial development of educational systems.

Şeýle hem okaň: Orient

Şeýle hem okaň: Turkmenportal