A New Step for Turkmenistan's Digital Future: A "Roadmap" for IT Specialist Training Developed

On April 27–28, a Foresight session titled "Developing IT Specialist Training Considering Future Labor Market Needs" was held. The event was organized by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan with the active participation of the Union of Economists of Turkmenistan, "Junior Achievement Turkmenistan," and private companies "Maslahatly Chozgut" and "Expert Consulting." This event is a timely step given the country's efforts to implement the Concept for the Development of the Digital Economy for 2026–2028 and the growing demand for high-level specialists who meet the current and future needs of employers. To establish an analytical foundation, special surveys and interviews were conducted among employers prior to the session. These studies allowed for a deeper understanding of labor market requirements for IT professionals. Additionally, a preliminary analysis of the current market situation and an overview of the IT training levels in Turkmenistan's educational institutions were prepared. The main goal of the session was to identify the gap between IT training in educational institutions and labor market demands. Private sector representatives highlighted the core skills they expect from graduates and discussed necessary changes to curricula and programs alongside educational experts. Modern discussion methods like "Aquarium" and "World Café" were used to foster open dialogue, enabling an effective evaluation of proposed solutions and their practical implementation possibilities. The joint consultations resulted in a "Roadmap" for necessary changes, which will be submitted to the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The document outlines specific steps, including: - Responsible parties and organizations; - Estimated implementation timelines; - Necessary resources; - Key Performance Indicators (KPI). Organizers noted that conducting regular Foresight sessions will help track labor market changes and ensure timely adjustments in the professional training of IT specialists.