Missoula, USA — October 22, 2025. A delegation from Turkmenistan visited the University of Montana and conducted a series of consecutive working meetings with the university leadership, as well as with heads of academic programs and experts from Missoula College. The main topics included water security and sustainable development, digital transformation of education and cybersecurity workforce training, as well as mechanisms for academic mobility and joint educational courses.

The program began with an overview session where the parties discussed the potential of interdisciplinary projects on water resource management and climate resilience. The Turkmen side expressed interest in developing joint online modules with subsequent piloting at one of the national universities. During the meeting, the commitment to systematic cooperation based on agreed goals, clear coordinators, and transparent monitoring mechanisms was confirmed.

Next, there was a campus tour with visits to classes in two academic groups, which allowed a practical view of teaching methodologies and student-teacher interaction in laboratory and classroom settings. This segment provided an opportunity to compare the university’s educational approaches with the priorities of higher education modernization in Turkmenistan.

A key part of the visit was a meeting with Andrea Lawrence, the Vice-Rector of the University of Montana. Long-term partnership tracks were discussed: preparation of a Memorandum of Cooperation with an annual roadmap, launching joint courses on sustainable development and information technologies, academic exchanges for faculty, and internships for students. The issue of credit transfer and alignment of academic requirements was separately raised to ensure seamless educational pathways.

Additionally, a cybersecurity session was organized at the university with the participation of leaders from Missoula College and the Center for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity. The Turkmen side was presented with an educational program on cybersecurity, as well as modern training methods for diagnosing and certifying IT infrastructure objects according to standards. The parties expressed interest in exploring the possibility of creating a short-term professional development program for IT instructors in Turkmen universities, as well as the prospect of a joint training laboratory/center of competence based at a Turkmen university with methodological support from American colleagues.

Following the negotiations, the parties agreed to begin preparing a draft Memorandum of Cooperation, identify focal points, and establish a working group for coordination. The initial steps include developing a pilot online module on water security, ecology, and nature-conserving technologies, as well as elaborating parameters for the cybersecurity program and agreeing on the calendar plan for academic exchanges and summer schools.

Azat Ataev, Deputy Minister of Education of Turkmenistan, emphasized that cooperation with the University of Montana meets the strategic goal of strengthening human capital and implementing modern educational practices.

The Vice-Rector for Research of the Magtymguly Turkmen State University expressed interest in natural technologies, sustainable natural resource management, and water security, highlighting the importance of an interdisciplinary approach that combines ecology, geography, and digital analysis methods. The university indicated readiness to launch joint educational modules and field schools, as well as to form sustainable research teams involving young scientists.

The Vice-Rector for Research of the Turkmen Institute of Telecommunications and Informatics stated readiness to develop cooperation in geographic information systems (GIS) and cybersecurity, focusing on applied solutions for monitoring natural resources and protecting critical information infrastructure in education. Special attention was given to integrating GIS platforms with educational data and developing professional development courses for IT instructors.

The Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International Oil and Gas University confirmed interest in developing cooperation on GIS for topogeodetic support, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure project optimization. The university representative noted the practical value of joint educational and research cases at the intersection of energy, ecology, and digital cartography and expressed readiness to participate in joint publications and project activities.

In conclusion, the Turkmen delegation invited representatives of the University of Montana to visit Ashgabat and participate in specialized educational forums and exhibitions. The parties confirmed their interest in regular experience exchange and agreed to maintain ongoing communication for prompt coordination of subsequent steps.

Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan.