From 7 to 11 September 2026, Ankara is hosting the certificate programme entitled “Cooperation in Higher Education in the Turkic World”, aimed at promoting cooperation in the higher education sector of the Turkic world, facilitating the exchange of best practices, and strengthening relations among educational and academic institutions.

Representatives from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Hungary are participating in the programme.

The Turkmen delegation includes representatives of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, Magtymguly Turkmen State University, Dovletmammet Azady Turkmen National Institute of World Languages, the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, and the International University for the Humanities and Development.

The official opening ceremony of the programme was held on 7 September. The ceremony featured speeches by Abdulhadi Turus, President of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) of the Republic of Türkiye; Osman Mesten, Member of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye; Professor Muzaffer Şeker, President of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA); and Professor Şefika Şule Erçetin, Academic Coordinator of the ORTAK Programme.

The official opening ceremony was also attended by the Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the participating countries accredited in Ankara. Their participation demonstrated the importance attached to further developing interstate cooperation in the fields of education and humanitarian relations.

During the ceremony, participants were introduced to the main areas of YTB’s activities, the objectives and tasks of the certificate programme, as well as opportunities for further expanding international cooperation in higher education.

Detailed information was also provided on joint scholarship programmes implemented by YTB, academic exchange opportunities, and prospects for strengthening cooperation among higher education institutions.

The programme’s first day continued with the module “Higher Education Policies and Strategies in Türkiye and the World.” Discussions focused on the contemporary structure and development trends of Türkiye’s higher education system, major global trends in higher education, the role of higher education institutions in shaping cultural influence and international standing, as well as issues related to strengthening humanitarian ties.

Professor Şefika Şule Erçetin and Professor Zakir Avşar delivered presentations on the above-mentioned topics.

The consistent development of international cooperation in education, the study of leading international practices, and their adaptation to the national education system constitute important areas of Turkmenistan’s state policy. Particular attention is paid to expanding the international relations of national higher education institutions, training highly qualified specialists, and strengthening scientific and educational cooperation with foreign partners.

The participation of Turkmen representatives in this international programme provides an important opportunity to study modern approaches in higher education, become acquainted with advanced international experience, expand professional networks, and exchange expertise with representatives of foreign educational and academic institutions.

The organization of such international programmes contributes to the development of direct contacts among higher education institutions of the participating countries, the implementation of joint educational projects and initiatives, the expansion of academic mobility, and the advancement of cooperation in the educational and humanitarian spheres to a new level.