YOUNG TURKMEN SPECIALISTS SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMED AT AN INTERNATIONAL SKILLS COMPETITION

In the Era of the Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State, educating young people to be knowledgeable, professionally skilled, creative and hardworking is one of the important areas of state policy. Today, the rapid development of technologies, the modernization of production, and the broad expansion of construction, energy, transport and logistics, and service sectors are significantly increasing demand for young specialists with a high level of professional skills. In this context, the importance of vocational and secondary professional education lies not only in meeting economic needs, but also in creating broad opportunities for the younger generation to find their place in life and make a worthy contribution to the development of the Motherland.

A delegation consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and students of vocational education institutions providing vocational and technical training paid a working visit to the Republic of Tajikistan from 27 to 30 May 2026. The delegation took part in the International Skills Forum Tajikistan – 2026, an international skills forum and professional competition held in Dangara District, Khatlon Region, Republic of Tajikistan.

This international forum was organized to demonstrate the practical skills of young specialists, improve the quality of vocational education, develop a training system that meets the needs of the labour market, and strengthen regional and international cooperation. In terms of its content, the forum corresponds to the key principles of internationally recognized skills competitions, including the approaches of the WorldSkills movement. Such competitions enable young people not only to demonstrate their professional skills, but also to strengthen their pride in their chosen profession, exchange international experience and define their future development path with greater confidence.

During the forum, participants discussed modern vocational and technical education programmes, the training of young specialists for a competitive labour market, the improvement of training and production activities, international experience in assessing professional skills, and ways to strengthen cooperation with employers. Particular attention was paid to developing the professional training of young people in energy, construction, manufacturing, services, transport and logistics, creativity and design.

On the first day of the forum, participants listened to presentations on the development of vocational education, increasing youth employment and training specialists who meet employers’ requirements, and also exchanged experience. A visit by the participants to the Nurek Hydropower Plant was of particular importance. This visit gave young specialists a clearer understanding of the practical significance of such areas as electrical work, energy, welding and technical maintenance. The reliable operation of major energy facilities requires highly qualified electricians, welders, equipment technicians and technical workers, which helped the young participants better understand the public importance of their chosen professions.

On the second day of the forum, the international skills competitions began. Young specialists from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, the People’s Republic of China and Türkiye demonstrated their skills in electrical work, plastering, electric and gas welding, and the installation and adjustment of solar energy equipment. At the beginning of the competition, participants received detailed safety instructions, after which practical tasks were assigned in each skill area. Over the course of 4–6 hours, the contestants were tested on accuracy, speed, technical literacy, compliance with safety rules and quality of work. Their completed tasks were assessed by independent international experts on the basis of technical criteria.

Such competitions show young people that a profession is not merely everyday labour, but also great responsibility, creativity, engineering thinking, technical culture and craftsmanship. A true master is not only a person who can work with their hands. A true professional is someone who can measure, calculate, read technical drawings, understand how equipment operates, follow safety rules and take responsibility for the quality of their work. Therefore, modern skilled trades are prestigious, promising and socially respected career paths for young people.

The successful performance of young specialists from Turkmenistan at this international competition was a particularly joyful and significant event. Nepes Rahmanberdiyev, a student of the Ashgabat Construction Secondary Professional School of the Ministry of Construction and Architecture of Turkmenistan, demonstrated a high level of mastery and won 2nd place. Ymamberdi Sohbetov, a trainee of the Ashgabat Energy Secondary Professional School of the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan, entered the top four strongest young specialists in a highly competitive international contest.

These results are not only the personal achievements of individual students. They are a concrete result of the work being carried out in our country to develop vocational education, equip young people with practical skills, and strengthen the link between production and the education system. Such achievements on the international stage clearly demonstrate the talent, diligence, determination and professional commitment of our youth.

The success of Nepes Rahmanberdiyev and Ymamberdi Sohbetov deserves to serve as an example for the younger generation. By approaching their chosen professions with dedication, they showed that Turkmen youth are capable of competing confidently at the international level. Such young people raise the prestige of skilled trades in society, foster respect for professional labour and inspire their peers to work, acquire a profession and continuously improve themselves.

Today, every building constructed, every electrical network installed, every production facility in operation and every solar energy device commissioned is the result of the work of skilled professionals. Therefore, skilled trades play an important role in strengthening the economic power of our country, developing new industries and improving the living standards of the population.

The achievements gained in the year “Independent, Permanently Neutral Turkmenistan — the Land of the Dream of the Akhal-Teke Horse” once again confirm the significance of the large-scale work carried out under the leadership of esteemed President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to modernize the education system, develop the professional skills of young people and train specialists who meet the requirements of the labour market. The educational reforms inspired by the noble initiatives of the Hero-Arkadag create broad opportunities for educating young people as creative, professionally skilled and patriotic individuals.

The achievements of young specialists of Turkmenistan at the international competition set new tasks for the country’s vocational education institutions. Continuing these successes, establishing systematic preparation for skills competitions, strengthening the link between training workshops and production, expanding cooperation with employers, identifying talented young specialists and promoting them at the international level are important areas of further work.

Increasing young people’s interest in skilled trades when choosing their career path is an important task not only for the education system, but for society as a whole. Every young specialist who performs their work with mastery is a true creator contributing to the development of the Motherland. The achievements of Nepes Rahmanberdiyev and Ymamberdi Sohbetov are clear evidence that Turkmen youth can reach great heights through labour, knowledge and professional skill.

Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan