Erasmus+ support to higher education reform in Turkmenistan

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Conference "Successful results of Erasmus+ projects", organized by the National Erasmus+ Office in Turkmenistan, was held on March 29, 2023 at the Magtymguly Turkmen State University (TSU). The event was supported by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, the EU Delegation to Turkmenistan and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The Conference was aimed at presenting the latest results of Turkmen university teams in Erasmus+ ICM and CBHE projects. Welcoming speeches of EU Ambassador to Turkmenistan Mr Diego Ruiz Alonso and Rector of the Turkmen State University Bayramgul Orazdurdyeva emphasized the importance of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the EU and the role of the young people as "the source for dynamic social and economic reforms".

Professor Ivan Španik, Director of the Institute of Analytical Chemistry (Bratislava, Slovakia), addressed the Conference as Coordinator of the International Credit Mobility (ICM) project. His mentoring mission in Turkmenistan is carried out within the framework of the project supporting internship visits of TSU academic staff to Bratislava and working visits of Slovak University academics to Turkmenistan.
A presentation on the opportunities of the Erasmus+ Program, delivered by Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Turkmenistan Ayna Chorekliyeva, focused on the implementation of EU education programmes and perspectives for shaping mobility and international cooperation in higher education. As an example of the fruitful cooperation between the EU and CA universities, NEO Coordinator mentioned two active projects NICoPA and GEOCLIC.

Both project teams currently work to contribute the natural balance in Central Asia, saving the Caspian Sea ecosystem and other complex ecological needs of the region. Local Coordinators of three Turkmen university teams Sheker Ashirmuradova (TSU), and Ayna Muhammedova (IUHD) addressed with presentations on the NICoPA and GEOCLIC outcomes. Both projects have positively influenced on the developing of regional cooperation ties between EU and CA universities and enterprises in the exchange of knowledge and educational resources.
Nurjakhan Myalikgulyeva, TSU staff, told about her successful experience and results of internship in Bratislava completed within the framework of Erasmus+ University ICM project. She was acquainted with campus and infrastructure of the University, and the research, as well as educational

activities of Slovak university academics. She attended seminars and trainings and returned back with interesting ideas and methodological recommendations. Erasmus+ project activities support the transformation process of the higher education system of Turkmenistan. Each project allocates funds for modernization of university educational and technical resources: purchasing unique laboratory equipment, software and modern textbooks, long-term subscriptions for the use of world electronic educational resources and distance learning technologies for training teaching staff and students. Each completed project demonstrates growing cooperation partnership of EU and CA universities and increasing their efficiency and competitiveness in the world.