Ashgabat Discusses the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Education

The International Scientific and Practical Conference “The Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goal in Education” was successfully held in Ashgabat on August 29. The event, organized by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan jointly with the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE), brought together about 100 leading experts from 25 countries to discuss the key role of artificial intelligence (AI) in modernizing educational systems.

The conference became an important platform for exchanging experiences and best practices in the field of AI application. Participants — representatives of ministries, international organizations, scientists, educators, as well as experts from the IT industry — explored new avenues of cooperation in line with global initiatives such as the UN “Pact for the Future” and the “Global Digital Compact”.

The plenary sessions and panel discussions covered the following key topics:

Inclusion and Equity: Discussed how the ethical and responsible use of AI can make education more accessible and equal for all.

Governance Transformation: Explored the potential of AI-powered Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) to improve decision-making.

Competencies for the Future: Participants focused on the importance of upgrading the skills of educators and students in AI, guided by the UNESCO Competency Framework.

Personalized Learning: Research and examples were presented on how AI is changing approaches to personalized learning, helping to develop both academic knowledge and social-emotional skills.

The conference resulted in significant results that will serve as a basis for further development of education in Turkmenistan and beyond.

The conference also contributed to the creation of an international networking platform for continuous knowledge sharing among specialists. These results confirm Turkmenistan’s commitment to modernizing the education system and fulfilling its international obligations.

At the end of the event, the participants expressed confidence that AI technologies will become a powerful tool for creating an inclusive, fair and high-quality educational environment for all. This event was an important step towards a future where education will be available to everyone, thanks to innovation and global cooperation.

In their closing speeches, the conference participants expressed deep gratitude to the leadership of Turkmenistan for the high level of organization and holding of the event. Special thanks were addressed to the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov for their personal contribution and ongoing support for initiatives aimed at the development of science and education. The participants noted that the forward-looking policy of the country's leadership creates favorable conditions for the introduction of advanced technologies and strengthening international cooperation in the field of education, which is a key factor in achieving the global goals of sustainable development.