Kent State University has entered into an agreement with the Turkmenistan Ministry of Education to begin exploring the possibility of creating an educational partnership with several national institutes of higher learning there.
The effort is part of Kent State’s ongoing commitment to using education to foster global understanding and peace in a divided world.
Attending the signing were the Turkmen Ambassador to the United States Meret Orazov, the Turkmen Deputy Minister of Education Azat Atayev, representatives from three Turkmen institutions of higher education, Kent State President Todd Diacon, Marcello Fantoni, Ph.D., vice president for global education, and Ayya Hudaybergenova, director of Eurasia strategy for Kent State’s Office of Global Education.
Kent State Today was present when the formal documents were signed by Diacon and Atayev.
“We are so happy to sign the memorandum of understanding that will unite educational efforts in Turkmenistan with the kinds of programs we offer at Kent State,” Diacon said. “Kent State has a long and proud history of international education. We are an award-winning university in that field so it’s really only natural that we work with really great partners like our delegation from Turkmenistan to extend the Kent State experience to yet another part of the globe.”
Atayev said it was 2023 when Turkmenistan began its efforts to improve its system of higher education, and he was pleased that after just one year, there were tangible results to celebrate.
Six Turkmen students already study at Kent State.
“I hope that year by year, the number of students from Turkmenistan will increase, not only in the U.S.A., but the in world, and together we can improve in cooperation,” Atayev said.
The agreement is a “win-win” Diacon said, noting how both Turkmenistan and Kent State will gain from the partnership.
Global Education’s Hudaybergenova said the agreement is historic for both sides, as it represents the first such partnership between the Turkmen government and an American university.
Following the ceremony, Atayev and the delegation presented Diacon with a traditional Turkmenistan robe and hat, which the president enthusiastically donned to celebrate the cultural exchange.
Also attending were Shohrat Pirmuhammedov, first secretary and consul for the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the U.S.; Begench Matliev, vice rector for scientific affairs of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan; Nurmuhammet Shikhlyev, vice rector for scientific affairs of the International University for Humanities and Development of Turkmenistan; Yoly Miradov, head of the Department of Automobile Road Construction of the Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Construction of Turkmenistan; and Nurgeldi Muhammedkuliyev, professor in the Department of Electrical Supply and Electromechanics of the Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Construction.