Two remarkable events took place in Ashgabat on the eve of the national holidays – Knowledge and Students’ Day – the ceremonies of opening the branch of I. M. Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas and bidding farewell to the young people, who would go to the Russian Federation to study at the higher educational establishments. RF First Deputy Prime Minister, Co-Chairman of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Russian commission for economic co-operation Viktor Zubkov attended the ceremonies.

The guests were cordially welcomed at the Turkmen Polytechnic Institute. One of its buildings would henceforth house the branch of I. M. Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas. The cabinet ministers, the members of the Russian government delegation, the representatives of the Ministry of Educational and the Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources of Turkmenistan, chancellors, teachers and students of the institutions of higher education of Ashgabat and journalists took part in the ceremonies.

The initiate to open the branch of one of the prestigious higher schools of the Russian Federation in Turkmenistan was put forward by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who had declared education to be a priority of the national policy and took great efforts to improve the national education system through expanding international co-operation as well. Completely supported by the leadership of the Russian Federation this initiative had been implemented within the shortest period.

Speaking at the ceremony Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Meredov and First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation V. Zubkov emphasized that Turkmen-Russian co-operation had entered a new stage of development that as vividly proved by the humanitarian sphere, particularly education – an important aspect of bilateral co-operation. The RF First Deputy Prime Minister informed that the new building of the University would be built in Ashgabat within the next one-two years. Wishing the teachers and students success in their work and studies the high-ranking officials expressed belief that the new educational establishment would train highly qualified specialists who would make a worthy contribution to national economic development in the near future.

The ribbon was cut and the participants of the ceremony accompanied by Head of the branch of I. M.Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas Professor. V. I. Darishchev entered the building. Everything was ready for the new academic year.

The celebrations were continued in the assembly hall of Magtymguly Turkmen State University where the ceremony of bidding farewell to our young compatriots – the students of the prestigious higher schools in different cities of the Russian Federation. Over 250 young people of Turkmenistan would study at the educational establishments under the intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements and in accordance with the Order of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

The heads of the higher educational establishments and largest public organisations of Turkmenistan, journalists, teachers and students of the higher schools of Ashgabat cordially greeted the representative Russian delegation led by the First Deputy Prime Minister in the assembly hall of the principal educational establishment of the country.

More than 35 higher schools in different regions of Russia had admitted the Turkmen boys and girls. The Russian partners had allocated over a hundred of scholarships for the Turkmen students. The young citizens of Turkmenistan – in the near future oil and gas specialists would acquire knowledge and skills at Russia’s largest higher educational institutions including I. M. Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, Tyumen University of Oil and Gas, Ufa State Technical Oil University, Kazan State Technological University, Russian State Technological University (MATI), Moscow State Mining University, Volgograd Technical University.

The higher schools in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Ulyanovsk and Voronezh, Belgorod and Irkutsk, Yaroslavl, Kazan and Astrakhan would train specialists in information technologies, agriculture, architecture and construction, medicine and sport, economy and finance, maritime and fishing industry and dozens of other professions. Most of the children would study under the sponsorship of the sectoral departments and enterprises of Turkmenistan that would guarantee employment to young specialists after they graduated from the institutes.

Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov and Firdt Deputy Prime Minister V. Zubkov cordially congratulated the students on the remarkable event in their lives and wished them successful studies. The ceremony symbolized the new level of Turkmen-Russian co-operation. Minister R. Meredov noted that opening the branch of the branch of the Russian university and sending the Turkmen young people to study in Russia were the landmark events in the life of the Turkmen society and state and it was pleasant to know that they were linked with Russia – an old friend and dependable partner of Turkmenistan.

The students assured all those present that they would be the worthy envoys of the independent Motherland, successfully acquire knowledge and make a worthy contribution to the welfare and prosperity of the beloved native land upon returning to Turkmenistan.