On 24 March 2026, a meeting was held at the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the French Republic between the Minister of Education of Turkmenistan and a delegation from the Lyon School of Management (ECL), led by the President of the School.
During the negotiations, the parties engaged in a substantive and focused exchange of views on key areas of bilateral cooperation. Priority areas identified included the digital transformation of higher education, the development and implementation of artificial intelligence solutions in the education sector, the deployment of advanced digital student assessment platforms, and the enhancement of professional competencies among academic staff.
The Minister of Education of Turkmenistan informed participants of the establishment of the country’s first private higher education institution — the International University of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (IUIE) in Ashgabat, founded in June 2025 according to a Presidential Decree. In this context, the parties discussed prospects for cooperation between IUIE and ECL.
Particular attention was given to the establishment of a UNESCO Chair in “Digital Science,” reflecting the country’s consistent policy aimed at strengthening its scientific and educational capacity and advancing digitalization across the fields of science and education.
The President of the Lyon School of Management commended the strong progress achieved by Turkmenistan in the development of its education system, including the integration of digital platforms, as well as the high level of linguistic proficiency among students of higher education institutions. The parties also reviewed prospective avenues for cooperation between universities in Turkmenistan and the Lyon School of Management.
During the meeting, a proposal was put forward to consider the establishment of a dedicated information and presentation space (exhibition corner) for the Lyon School of Management within higher education institutions in Turkmenistan, aimed at enhancing student awareness and fostering expanded academic collaboration.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening the partnership and expanding practical cooperation across the identified priority areas.