On May 18, 2025, London became the venue for the Education World Forum, an annual gathering of leading representatives from the educational sphere of over 100 countries. The delegation of Turkmenistan, headed by the Deputy Minister of Education Azat Atayev, commenced active participation in the forum's events.

On the first day of the forum, the Turkmen delegation took part in a strategic pre-summit session dedicated to key aspects of education development: inclusivity, sustainability, and effectiveness. During the session, Apple presented its innovative approaches to the digitalization of learning, demonstrating the successful implementation of tablets, specialized applications, and the "Everyone Can Create" and "Everyone Can Code" programs in educational institutions worldwide.

Of particular interest was the report by Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills at the OECD. He presented the results of international studies on the impact of technology on the educational process, emphasizing the importance of integrating digital tools into the work of educators, rather than using them as a replacement for traditional learning. Schleicher noted that the optimal ratio of digital technologies to traditional teaching methods, where the former occupies no more than 40% of learning time, demonstrates the greatest effectiveness.

The OECD Director for Education and Skills also highlighted the significant economic effect of raising students' basic skills to the average PISA level (approximately 420 points). Referring to the study "Universal Basic Skills: What Countries Stand to Gain" he stated that achieving this level for all students could bring countries multi-billion-dollar economic benefits by 2050.

The session also presented analytical data on the impact of digital technologies on the quality of education. Research and pilot projects showed that the moderate and well-thought-out introduction of ICT, complementing traditional teaching methods, yields the best results. Singapore, South Korea, and Finland were noted as successful models of digital education.

The program of the first day of the forum continued with a meeting between the Turkmen delegation and representatives of the OECD, during which prospects for cooperation in the field of education quality assessment were discussed. The Turkmen side confirmed the integration of PISA goals into the "Concept for Improving Teaching Methods in General Education Programs in Turkmenistan until 2028" and the parties agreed to further study the research methodology.

A working meeting was also held with representatives of Times Higher Education (THE), dedicated to enhancing the international academic reputation of Turkmen universities. THE representatives presented analytical materials on the impact of universities on the economy and human capital and offered to conduct an online seminar for Turkmen universities on improving their positions in global rankings.

The Turkmen delegation will continue to actively participate in the forum, including plenary sessions and bilateral meetings aimed at expanding international educational cooperation and exchanging best practices in the context of the digital transformation of education.

ORIENT