Turkmenistan, Malaysia Strengthen Cooperation in Education and Oil and Gas Training
Ashgabat, The Gulf Observer: Turkmenistan and Malaysia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in education, particularly in the training of highly qualified specialists for the oil and gas industry.
The matter was discussed during a meeting held at the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan on August 21, attended by Turkmen Minister of Education J. Gurbangeldiyev, Malaysian Ambassador to Turkmenistan Mohd Suhaimi bin Ahmad Tajuddin, and a delegation from PETRONAS Çarigali (Turkmenistan) led by its Chief Executive Officer, Ismadi bin Ismail.
The participants reviewed the current state of educational cooperation between the two countries and discussed prospects for expanding collaboration in higher education, academic mobility and professional training.
Particular attention was given to the long-standing and mutually beneficial activities of Malaysian energy company PETRONAS in Turkmenistan. The company has supported Turkmen youth by providing scholarships to study at leading Malaysian universities, including Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, contributing to the development of highly qualified specialists for the country’s oil and gas sector.
During the meeting, it was also noted that the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Hero-Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, holds the title of Honorary Doctor of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS.
The sides highlighted that nearly 20 cooperation documents have so far been signed between Turkmenistan and Malaysia in the field of education. In June this year, during the visit of the Prime Minister of Malaysia to Turkmenistan, three agreements concerning student exchange and academic mobility programmes were signed between three Turkmen higher education institutions and Universiti Tenaga Nasional of Malaysia.
The agreements were concluded during the international scientific and practical conference and exhibition titled “Turkmenistan–Malaysia: 30 Years of Mutually Beneficial Cooperation in the Oil and Gas Industry.”
The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding involving Yagshygeldi Kakayev International University of Oil and Gas, PETRONAS and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS. Under the existing cooperation, lecturers and students from the Turkmen university regularly participate in professional development programmes at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS.
A key outcome of the meeting was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and PETRONAS Çarigali (Turkmenistan) Sdn. Bhd.
The signing coincided with the 30th anniversary of PETRONAS’ cooperation with Turkmenistan in the oil and gas sector and is expected to provide a new impetus to bilateral educational cooperation.
The memorandum is aimed at creating favourable conditions for expanding collaboration in education and professional training, launching new joint initiatives and projects, and providing young people with additional opportunities to enhance their academic and professional qualifications.
The agreement further demonstrates the commitment of Turkmenistan and Malaysia to strengthening human-resource development and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in education and the strategically important oil and gas sector.
