On October 10, Ashgabat hosted the International Exhibition "Healthcare, Education and Sports in the Era of Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State" and an accompanying scientific conference dedicated to the Day of Healthcare and Medical Industry Workers of Turkmenistan. At the forum venue, Yulia Zaitseva, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation and representative of Rossotrudnichestvo in Turkmenistan, spoke to “GA” correspondent about the professional fields most popular among young Turkmen citizens applying for higher education through quotas provided by the Russian Government.
According to the diplomat, this international exhibition and scientific conference is one of the key annual events for the Department of Education, Science and Culture at the Russian Embassy in Turkmenistan. It traditionally draws a significant delegation from Russian universities, foundations, and public organizations.
“Delegates from the Russian Federation have arrived, representing various educational profiles. Among them are the world-renowned MGIMO, Saint Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design, Astrakhan State Medical University, Tyumen State Institute, Northern (Arctic) Federal University, the Academy of Youth Diplomacy, and many others. Visitors to the exhibition have the opportunity to explore various areas of Russian education. It is especially pleasing that institutions from a wide range of Russian regions, including remote ones, are participating in the exhibition and conference in Ashgabat,” said Yulia Zaitseva.
The Rossotrudnichestvo representative noted that there is consistently high demand among young Turkmen citizens for solid Russian higher education, especially in medicine and innovative technologies.
“Over 2,500 applicants register each year in the Education in Russia network system for the 500 government quota spots allocated by the Russian Government. Among Turkmen applicants, the leading fields of study continue to be medical specialties, information technology, and cybersecurity. These are followed by economics, pedagogical sciences, and linguistics,” informed the Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation.
Zaitseva further explained that the largest number of quota placements for Turkmenistan are allocated to medical specialties, based on high-level agreements recognizing this as one of the country’s most in-demand sectors.
“I believe this is a very positive and constructive trend. In time, the young people who receive a full medical education will return to Turkmenistan and apply their knowledge in practice — in the new high-tech medical centers that are currently being rapidly built across the country,” emphasized the diplomat.
Yulia Zaitseva also shared that for the upcoming 2026–2027 academic year, the government quota program will include a large block of additional professional training in the Russian language, with up to six-month courses available in full-time and blended formats. Numerous Russian universities from various regions will present their programs. She added that this will be an excellent opportunity for students, teachers, and professionals who use the Russian language in their work.
It should be noted that following the first day of the international exhibition and scientific conference, three cooperation documents were signed with the Russian side: a Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation between Magtymguly Turkmen State University and Kalmyk State University named after B.B. Gorodovikov; a Cooperation Agreement between Magtymguly Turkmen State University and Perm State National Research University; a Cooperation Agreement between the Myrat Garryyev State Medical University of Turkmenistan and the Kazan State Medical University, a federal state-funded educational institution under the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.
This specialized forum, which will run until October 12, once again demonstrates Turkmenistan’s strategic focus on developing national education through broad-scale international cooperation.
