Turkmenistan

On November 20, 2022, the esteemed President of Turkmenistan signed the law on accession to the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region. Besides, in the Revival of the new era of the powerful state, with the purpose of the improvement  of the provision of our country with the personnel having vocational and higher education, improvement of the recognition of the documents on the higher and vocational education issued by the foreign countries in Turkmenistan and fulfillment of  the obligations proceeding from the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, on March 28, 2023 by the Order of the President of Turkmenistan the Innovation Information Center of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan was determined as an authorized institution that performs the functions of the national information centers specified in the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region.

System of Education
The classification of levels of education in Turkmenistan is based on the UNESCO International Standard Classification of Education and is carried out in accordance with the content of educational programmes, based on their complexity, acquired knowledge and skills, established requirements for previous educational programmes, conditions of organization and methods of providing educational services.

2. According to general educational programmes, the following levels of education are established:

1) level of preschool education;

2) levels of general secondary education:

a) primary education;

b) basic secondary education;

c) complete secondary education.

3. The following levels of education are established for professional educational programmes:

1) level of vocational education;

2) level of secondary vocational education;

3) levels of higher professional education:

a) specialist programme;

b) bachelor’s programme;

c) master’s programme;

4) level of post-graduate professional education.

University Education
Higher professional education
The areas of training and specialties in educational programmes of higher professional education are determined by the State Classifier of Directions of Training and Specialties of higher professional education of Turkmenistan or the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan.

13. The standard term for mastering educational programmes of higher professional education is for full-time education:

1) bachelor's programme - four academic years;

2) master's programme - from one to two academic years;

3) specialist's programme - from five to six academic years.

The specific period of study for full-and-part-time and part-time forms of study is determined by the curriculum of the relevant area of training (speciality).

14. Obtaining higher professional education is certified by a document on education with the assignment of the following qualifications:

1) bachelor's degree indicating the direction of training (bachelor's programme);

2) a master's degree indicating the direction of training (master's programme);

3) a specialist with an indication of the speciality (specialist’s programme).

15. Graduates of higher educational institutions are sent to work in accordance with the Regulations on the placement of graduates of institutions of secondary vocational and higher vocational education, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan.

16. Documents on higher professional education with the qualifications of a specialist and a master's degree allow their holders to continue their studies in educational programmes of postgraduate professional education.

A document on higher professional education with a bachelor's degree qualification allows its holders to continue their studies in a master's programme.
Postgraduate professional education

1. Postgraduate professional education includes:

1) training of highly qualified scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel as the highest level of the continuous education system in Turkmenistan;

2) training of highly qualified medical specialists in internship and (or) clinical residency programmes.

2. Postgraduate professional education is carried out in availability of higher professional education (master's degree, specialist's degree).

3. Postgraduate professional education for the preparation of scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel of the highest qualification can be obtained in institutions of higher professional education and scientific organizations, as well as through competition.

4. Postgraduate professional education for the training of highly qualified medical specialists in internship and (or) clinical residency programmes can be obtained in educational institutions and scientific organizations engaged in medical or pharmaceutical works; in medical institutions with structural units of educational institutions and scientific organizations of medical profile, as well as in organizations engaged in the production of medicines, production and manufacture of medical devices, pharmacy and other organizations operating in the field of protecting the health of citizens of Turkmenistan.

Passage of internship and (or) clinical residency programmes is carried out for graduates of a higher educational institution of a medical profile who studied on a budgetary basis - at the expense of the State Budget of Turkmenistan, and who studied on a paid basis - at their own expense.

5. Issues of postgraduate professional education are regulated by the legislation of Turkmenistan.
Here is the link of classification of education
https://nic.gov.tm/en/science/detail/bilimin-hilinin-halkara-standartlary-msko-boyunca-turkmenistanda-bilim-ulgamynyn-gurlusy/

Information on the accredited education institutions, are available on the official website of nic.gov.tm.

Link(s): Turkmen, English, Russian

Framework

The National Qualifications Framework of Turkmenistan consists from levels, which corresponds to the European Qualifications Framework and educational cycles. The proposed levels are described in the form of the Law of Turkmenistan on Education (new edition), (June 5-th, in 2021).

Self-Certification

Responsible organisation

Information on DS (legislation, template, chart, etc)

In November 20, 2022 was recieved the decision by the President of Turkmenistan "On accession to the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education in the European Region The Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education in the European Region, adopted at Lisbon on 11 April 1997, is attached."