International Scientific Conference “Sustainable Development Goals: Advancing High-Quality Education and Human Capital through Teaching Methodology and Innovations”

On October 27, 2025, in connection with the proclamation of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust, the International University for the Humanities and Development hosted an international scientific conference titled “Sustainable Development Goals: Advancing High-Quality Education and Human Capital through Teaching Methodology and Innovations.”

Under the wise leadership of the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Hero Arkadag, and our esteemed President — Arkadagly Hero Serdar, the international prestige of the Independent, Permanently Neutral Homeland of Turkmenistan continues to rise to new heights of progress. In this regard, the jointly implemented projects carried out within the framework of the expanding international cooperation between Turkmenistan and the United Nations are of particular importance.

It should be noted that Turkmenistan is currently making a significant contribution to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Among these goals, one of the most important is ensuring access to quality education. In this direction, great efforts are being made in the country’s higher educational institutions, including the International University for the Humanities and Development.

Today, in connection with the declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust, the International University for the Humanities and Development held the international scientific conference “Sustainable Development Goals: Advancing High-Quality Education and Human Capital through Teaching Methodology and Innovations.”

The conference was attended by Chynar Rustemova, Executive Secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan; Stephen Conlon, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Turkmenistan; Fabrizio Ricciardelli, Director of Kent State University’s Florence campus (Italy); Andrew Linn, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research of the University of Westminster; Atageldi Khaljanov, Head of the Department of International Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary; Tao Zhan, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education; Giovanna Farci, Lecturer in Italian Language at the Department of Languages of the International University for the Humanities and Development; as well as members of the faculty and students of the university.

An exhibition organized in the university’s lobby attracted great attention from foreign guests. Its dedication to the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Permanent Neutrality gave the conference a special festive atmosphere. The exhibition showcased international achievements of IUHD students — medals and certificates — which reflected the high successes attained in the field of education. All these accomplishments are the fruits of the country’s sacred Independence and Permanent Neutrality.

After the exhibition, the conference continued in the university’s main assembly hall. Following the opening ceremony, the Rector of the International University for the Humanities and Development, Maral Kuliyeva, delivered a welcoming speech.

All speakers noted that the development of teaching methodologies and innovations for sustainable development aims to improve the education system through the use of modern technologies and new approaches, including digitalization and individual approaches to each student. The main objectives are to enhance teaching methods based on innovations, improve the content and methods of instruction, and introduce practices of personalized learning.

The application of innovations and new technologies in education is an essential part of modern learning. To improve the quality of education and create conditions for comprehensive learning, a wide variety of methods and software tools are required. All this helps create favorable conditions for the development of human capital.

As was noted, under the wise leadership of the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Hero Arkadag, and the esteemed President Arkadagly Hero Serdar, the education system of the country is reaching new heights. National programs that fully align with international standards are being successfully implemented at an accelerated pace.

The work carried out in the nation’s higher educational institutions, including the International University for the Humanities and Development, vividly confirms this. Guided by the words of the esteemed President — “Education is the foundation of all our achievements, happiness, and prosperity, the bright path of our great past and future” — the university implements large-scale programs and agreements signed with leading universities around the world.

The activities of the UNESCO Club “Peace and Trust — the Foundation of Humanism and Development,” operating at the university, play an important role in fostering among young people a sense of pride in national values.

During the conference, the University of Westminster presented the International University for the Humanities and Development with a special certificate under the program “Accelerating English Language Learning in Central Asia (AELLCA).” This served as clear evidence of the university’s significant contribution to promoting multilingual diplomacy both globally and within the Independent, Permanently Neutral State of Turkmenistan.

The initiative of the esteemed President Arkadagly Hero Serdar, announced at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly — to establish the International Day of Multilingual Diplomacy — stands as a vivid testament to the broad implementation of the language policy in the country. The fact that all students at the International University for the Humanities and Development study in English further underscores this.

The conference program continued with musical performances by the university’s “Owaz” vocal-instrumental ensemble and the “Dostluk” dance group, during which songs and dances glorified the epoch of Hero Arkadag and Arkadagly Hero Serdar.

At the conclusion of the conference, the participants expressed their deep gratitude to Hero Arkadag and Arkadagly Hero Serdar for strengthening international cooperation with specialized UN agencies such as UNESCO and UNICEF.

International University for the Humanities and Development