An international conference was held in Baku to present the findings of a large-scale sociological study conducted by the Turkic Academy — "Turkic Barometer 2024: Current Approaches to Education and Scientific Cooperation in Turkic States." The event was organized in collaboration with the Center for Social Research of Azerbaijan.
During the conference, President of the Turkic Academy, Prof. Dr. Shahin Mustafayev presented the key results of the project. Members of the research team, comprising representatives from five countries — Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Türkiye — also delivered remarks.
The study is conducted annually as part of the Turkic Academy’s analytical initiative “Turkic Barometer” and aims to assess the actual level of cooperation among the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) across various fields. This year, the focus was placed on collaboration in science and education. The survey included 4,131 educators from secondary and higher educational institutions, as well as 156 respondents comprising rectors of leading universities, prominent scholars and education experts.
One of the key findings of the study was the low level of awareness among the academic community regarding the "Orhun" academic mobility program. More than half of the respondents (51.44%) indicated they had never heard of the program. In Türkiye, only 1.87% reported using its opportunities and even in Azerbaijan — the country with the highest usage — the figure reached just 9.49%.
At the same time, the study revealed that the academic community across Turkic countries sees significant potential in developing a shared scientific and educational space. Respondents expressed strong support for joint educational programs, faculty and student exchanges, and collaborative research projects. Several thematic priorities were identified:
In Azerbaijan, emphasis was placed on cooperation in pedagogy and medicine, as well as joint studies in Turkic languages, literature, culture and history;
In Kazakhstan, the focus was on developing tourism education;
In Kyrgyzstan, priority was given to joint historical and cultural research as a means to strengthen cultural unity.
Survey participants also highlighted the importance of simplifying procedures for mutual recognition of academic degrees and qualifications among Turkic states. According to them, such steps would serve as vital instruments for deepening integration in the scientific and educational spheres.
The conference gathered a broad spectrum of representatives from the scientific and expert communities of the Turkic world — scholars, educators, researchers and analysts. Among the participants were members of parliament, professors, associate professors, doctors of science, heads of leading academic and educational institutions, as well as ambassadors from Turkic states.
“The Turkic Barometer 2024 is a vital analytical tool that provides an objective assessment of current integration processes. It lays a solid foundation for shaping coordinated strategies in science and education across the Turkic world,” — stated the President of the Turkic Academy, Prof. Dr. Shahin Mustafayev.
