Ashgabat has received a certificate confirming its accession to UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities. The handover ceremony took place at the city administration, Turkmen official media reported Sunday.
The Turkmen capital officially joined the network on Dec. 4, 2025, after demonstrating strong performance in science and education, as well as efforts to provide lifelong learning opportunities for people of all ages.
UNESCO said Ashgabat’s membership reflects recognition of the city’s work to develop an inclusive learning environment and promote the right to lifelong education at the local level.
In 2025, Ashgabat was among 11 capitals admitted to the network, along with Ankara, Lisbon, Cairo, Riyadh, Hanoi and Buenos Aires. Launched in 2013, UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities now includes 425 cities in 91 countries, engaging nearly 500 million people worldwide in lifelong learning systems.