On December 4, 2025, Ashgabat, which achieved significant results in developing the country’s science and education system and created the necessary conditions for citizens of all ages to learn and gain knowledge throughout their lives, was admitted to the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, together with 72 cities from 46 countries. This decision recognized the high achievements of the capital of Turkmenistan in this field.
The Global Network highly praised the special efforts and commitment of the new member cities to implementing, at the local level, the right of people of all ages to education.
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education emphasized that learning cities play a key role in the development of sustainable education:
“Education goes beyond the classroom — it is a collective endeavor, and cities play a key role in advancing learning for all. The new UNESCO learning cities are redefining what it means to learn, turning every street, library, workplace, museum, and home into a space of knowledge and innovation.”
According to her, the selected cities prioritize early childhood education and lifelong learning, thereby expanding opportunities for citizens and opening new perspectives.
With the addition of new members, the Global Network of Learning Cities, established in 2013, has grown to 425 cities from 91 countries, which together support continuous learning for nearly 500 million people.
Ashgabat was among 11 capitals that joined the network this year, along with Porto-Novo, Cairo, Ankara, Lisbon, Riyadh, Hanoi, Buenos Aires, and others.
The UNESCO Assistant Director-General also noted that 12 countries, including Turkmenistan, joined the network for the first time this year.
UNESCO Learning Cities are actively developing communities where learning is integrated into daily life: in schools, workplaces, libraries, museums, and public spaces. They create opportunities for all citizens, help them adapt to changing labor markets, promote literacy, support the development of entrepreneurship, build skills for working in the age of artificial intelligence, and contribute to sustainable development.
Ashgabat’s admission to the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is an important step in the international recognition of Turkmenistan’s efforts to develop human capital and to form a society oriented toward knowledge and innovation.
