On April 3, 2012, the Ministers/Deputy Ministers of Education of the ECO Member States formally inaugurated the ECO Educational Institute (ECOEI) as the specialized agency of ECO with its headquarters in Ankara. The ECO Educational Institute which has been rendered operational after a lapse of 14 years would endeavour to promote common welfare of the peoples of Region through ensuring better education and training in the region. The Institute is mandated to promote development of educational institutions at all levels of education, promote contemporary educational technologies among the Member States, encourage and coordinate educational and training exchanges programmes of scholars, academicians, teachers and students, organize in-service training programmes for the teachers, stimulate interest and public awareness among the peoples of the region for effective solution of the existing educational problems of the region, and provide scholarships to the academicians, students and teachers etc.