ICHEI Explores AI-Driven Sustainable Education with Turkmenistan
On 29 August 2025, the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, together with the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE), convened the International Conference on the Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals for Education. The event brought together senior government officials, university leaders, representatives of international organizations, and education technology platforms to explore strategic directions and practical pathways for leveraging AI to drive educational transformation and sustainable development. Ms. BI Xiaohan, Deputy Director of International Centre for higher education under the auspices of UNESCO(UNESCO-ICHEI), attended the conference and delivered a keynote speech.
On-site photo
In his opening remarks, Mr. ZHAN Tao, Director of UNESCO IITE, commended the achievements of Turkmenistan's Ministry of Education in advancing artificial intelligence and sustainable development, and expressed his commitment to strengthening cooperation with Turkmenistan in the field of AI in education. Ms. Shafika Isaacs, Chief of Section for Technology and AI in Education at UNESCO, described AI as the "third major transformation" in education, underscoring its potential for personalized learning and inclusion in education. She emphasized the importance of proactive, inclusive governance of AI to ensure it serves as a public good that advances equity, cultural diversity, and ethical development. From the national perspective, Ms. Chinar Rustamova, Secretary-General of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO, highlighted Turkmenistan's policy measures to integrate AI in education, calling it a vital pathway to achieving the SDGs. She also shared progress in advancing digital transformation through international cooperation. Mr. Azat Atayev, Deputy Minister of Education of Turkmenistan, reaffirmed the central role of digitalization in sustainable development, presenting the country's achievements in intelligent technologies, educational data analytics, and international collaboration. He advocated for new cooperation mechanisms to jointly develop educational standards and open online platforms for global resource sharing.
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| Mr. ZHAN Tao, Director of UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education | Ms. Shafika Isaacs, Chief of Section for Technology and AI in Education, UNESCO | Ms. Chinar Rustamova, Secretary-General of National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO | Mr. Azat Atayev, Deputy Minister of Education of Turkmenistan |
In her keynote address, Ms. BI Xiaohan introduced the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) Micro-Certification Project, which offers tailored digital training solutions for higher education faculty in Turkmenistan. She noted that through course customization, platform localization, and Smart Classroom deployment, IIOE supports developing countries across sub-regions in building an AI-ready higher education system. She also invited more Turkmen higher education institutions to join the IIOE global network to advance digital and intelligent transformation across Turkmenistan and Central Asia.
Ms. BI Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI
Looking ahead, UNESCO-ICHEI will continue to expand its multilateral cooperation network in Central Asia, working with Turkmenistan and other partners to deepen the application of AI in education. Through building an open and collaborative platform, UNESCO-ICHEI aims to promote global resource sharing, strengthen teacher capacity, cultivate high-end digital talent, and contribute to building an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable smart education ecosystem.
