Minsk and Ashgabat are getting even closer, and education is the bridge for this strategic rapprochement. The delegation of the Belarusian National Technical University, consisting of Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Yury Nikolaychik and Dean of the Faculty of International Cooperation Pavel Shirvel made a working visit to the heart of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat on May 23-25, 2026. The main goal was to expand the presence of a leading technical university in Belarus in a promising educational market, attract talented applicants and develop academic ties.
This trip was timed to participate in the International Universal Exhibition "White City Ashgabat" and included a rich business program.
The most important stage of the visit was the development of intercollegiate dialogue. BNTU representatives held a fruitful meeting with the leadership of the Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering and laid the foundation for a long-term partnership. The parties outlined key vectors of interaction, including:
Yury Nikolaychik addressed the students of the said Turkmen Institute with a presentation of BNTU, educational and research opportunities of the university.
As part of career guidance, a full range of BNTU opportunities was presented on the sidelines of the exhibition: bachelor's, master's, postgraduate studies, as well as popular short-term formats – summer and winter schools, members of the delegation held a series of individual consultations for potential applicants and their parents. The participants were told about the conditions of admission to the leading technical university of Belarus, the specifics of training and the comfortable conditions of student life in Minsk.
To ensure effective interaction with applicants on the ground and build an effective recruitment system, Yury Nikolaychik and Pavel Shirvel series of closed negotiations was held with the top management of the leading recruiting companies of Turkmenistan, issues of coordination and support of applicants were discussed, which will make the process of admission of Turkmen citizens to the Belarusian university as transparent, fast and comfortable as possible.
This working visit helped confirm the high status of Belarusian engineering education in the international arena and the availability of admission to BNTU for talented Turkmen youth.
