A delegation of Turkmenistan has recently returned from a 10-day study tour of Latvia which was organized by the UNDP Project “Information Sharing in Turkmenistan for Sustainable Human Development” (InfoTuk)”. The delegation composed of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the Supreme Council for Science and Technologies of Turkmenistan was hosted by Latvian ICT Association (LIKTA). The purpose of the study tour was to expose Turkmenistan delegation to normative and regulatory framework of ICT in education, operations of ICT divisions in state organizations, ICT equipment and Internet in educational institutions, networking arrangements, and ICT driven interaction between science, research and education, reported United Nations Development Project in Turkmenistan (UNDP) press release.

During meetings at various Latvian ministries and organizations, companies and associations that oversee ICT development at the national level, members of Turkmenistan’s delegation learned Latvia’s experience of ICT introduction in the country and familiarized with a number of innovative technologies and approaches that were used to achieve positive results both at the state and regional levels, the UNDP said.

The delegation showed particular interest in Latvia’s projects on creation of information systems in schools and setting up an information network between libraries with access to high-speed Internet. The first project provides for a 3-layer information system – teachers, pupils and parents. There are specific options for each layer that make it possible to simplify and optimize preparation of study materials, completion of on-line home-work, control over study progress and certification of pupils and many other options. The second project has been extended to more than 800 libraries across the country. All libraries have been equipped with modern computers and connected to Internet. They provide free access to Internet via Wi-Fi connection, informed the press release.

It is expected that the study tour experience will help create conditions for development and introduction of similar projects in Turkmenistan to allow for more efficient use of ICT in the country.