A Turkmen delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Education Azat Atayev, held a series of meetings in Washington, D.C., on Monday. The discussions focused on cooperation in the standardization of testing and certification, including standardized tests such as TOEFL, GRE, and Praxis.
The primary objective of the visit was to strengthen bilateral educational cooperation based on previous agreements between Turkmenistan and the United States. During a meeting at the U.S. State Department, the parties discussed the creation of a framework for academic assessments and university accreditation. The American delegation was represented by Tammy Palchikov, Deputy Director of the Office of Press and Public Diplomacy for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, along with representatives from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the U.S. Department of Education.
The discussions focused on student performance evaluation methods and international accreditation strategies to modernize Turkmenistan’s education system. They also explored the possibility of conducting educational workshops for administrators and teachers.
The Turkmen delegation also met with Shannon Litton, Director of Government and External Relations at the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Washington, D.C. During the meeting, they discussed the prospects of establishing certified testing centers in Turkmenistan.
Additionally, the delegation held talks with AC Languages CEO Ángeles Chávez and Executive Director Dr. Elias Alonzo at the U.S.-Turkmenistan Business Council office. This meeting centered on expanding language programs and fostering partnership development.
The meetings were conducted in a constructive and friendly atmosphere, aimed at further enhancing Turkmenistan’s education system.
