The role of an educated, knowledgeable, and intellectual youth in further strengthening statehood in the country, establishing democratic views in society, and ensuring reliable development and progress in all areas is undeniable. According to the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 22.1% of the population comprises youth (aged 14- 29). According to Azerbaijan’s Youth – 2022: Statistical Compilation (p. 3), the successful implementation of youth policy by the state in our country has significantly contributed to the comprehensive development of Azerbaijan’s Youth. It plays a crucial role in actively involving educated young people in state-building and economic development and in helping them establish themselves in society. Youth policy has become one of the priority issues of national policy, and the problems of young people are at the forefront of the country's leadership's attention.
The foundation of youth policy in Azerbaijan was laid by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev. Every Azerbaijan Youth should think above all else, more than anything, about the present and future of independent Azerbaijan, stated the Great Leader, who regarded the development of a well-rounded young generation as a crucial responsibility of the state and society. To accomplish this task, on July 26, 1994, the Ministry of Youth and Sports was established as a key state institution in the implementation of youth policy in independent Azerbaijan. The Ministry has played a crucial role in the moral upbringing and physical development of the younger generation, their education and vocational orientation, and their management development. It has also ensured active participation in state-building, coordinated the activities of youth organizations, and undertaken necessary measures, including the preparation and successful implementation of various state programs.
On February 2, 1996, the holding of the First Forum of Youth of the Republic of Azerbaijan was an event of exceptional significance in the country. The Forum, attended by the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, revealed the youth's readiness to actively engage in tackling the challenges facing our country and triggered a substantial rejuvenation of efforts in youth work. The holding of the first nationwide Forum of Independent Azerbaijan’s Youth, the declaration of February 2 as Youth Day of Azerbaijan in 1997 on the initiative of the Great Leader, the adoption of relevant state programs, the issuance of the decree on "State Youth Policy," and the approval of a comprehensive action plan were manifestations of the exceptional care and attention that the distinguished personality and wise statesman Heydar Aliyev devoted to the youth.
Thanks to the Great Leader's foresight and will, the necessary legislative framework for the successful implementation of youth policy has been established. In 2002, the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on "Youth Policy" was adopted. Laws, decrees, orders, and state programs aimed at addressing the social, economic, and other issues of young people, as well as helping them develop their abilities, have had an extremely positive impact on the formation of the younger generation as an organized force. They have contributed significantly to their moral and ideological maturity, the resolution of their social problems, and the provision of beneficial employment opportunities.
Today, under the attention and care of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the youth policy being successfully implemented in our country has entered a new level in terms of substance and quality. This policy covers a broad range of issues related to the upbringing, health, education, intellectual and moral development of the younger generation, the effective organization of their leisure time, and their active participation in all areas of societal life. As a result of establishing a proper strategy for working with youth and the precise implementation of the tasks arising from this strategy, today’s Azerbaijan Youth achieve significant accomplishments in fields such as science, education, culture, arts, and sports. They consistently uphold the traditions of statehood and actively participate in the implementation of multifaceted state reforms. To ensure the full and proper utilization of the youth's potential for the benefit of the country and to enhance state care for young people, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, approved the following programs: the "State Program on Azerbaijan’s Youth (2005-2009)" on August 30, 2005; the "State Program on Azerbaijan’s Youth 2011-2015" on July 7, 2011; the "Strategy for the Development of Azerbaijan Youth 2015- 2025" on January 26, 2015; and the "State Program on Azerbaijan’s Youth 2017-2021" on September 15, 2017. The main purpose of these official state documents is to ensure the more effective implementation of youth policy in our country and to identify new challenges and prospects in this area.
Today, our flourishing state, which persistently increases its power across all sectors, presents goals that are apparent to every citizen. In recent years, the personnel reforms carried out in the country and the appointment of young people to responsible positions within state structures have played a crucial role in the formation of a highly knowledgeable and skilled young workforce. This process is significant for attracting young individuals with high educational qualifications, learning from international management practices, and ensuring innovation within the administrative system. The youth renewal policy implemented in the country’s human resources is now yielding results, not only in various fields but also in the education sector. The high level of trust placed in young people with higher education is particularly significant in terms of motivating students who acquire scientific knowledge in various fields of specialization.
By the relevant Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the year 2020 was declared the "Year of Volunteers" in Azerbaijan. This initiative took into account our people’s long-standing noble traditions of kindness, self-sacrifice, and voluntary, altruistic assistance, and it created an environment for instilling these traditions in the younger generation and for further promoting volunteer activities among youth. Today, government support directed towards the development of the volunteer movement among students and young people, enhancing their activity in public life, and providing comprehensive stimulation is consistently increasing their interest in this field.
The “State Program for Enhancing the International Competitiveness of the Higher Education System of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2019-2023”, approved by Presidential Decree No. 711 on November 16, 2018, along with the “Yuksalish” competition established by Decree No. 1354 on July 26, 2019, is creating new opportunities for the youth.
Today, hundreds of young people are receiving education at prestigious universities around the world at the state's expense, and opportunities for obtaining high-quality education according to the standards of leading countries are being expanded. In Azerbaijan’s higher education institutions, the training of highly qualified personnel in line with the country’s development priorities has commenced at modern standards. A highly qualified workforce is being developed to meet the demand for specific professions and specializations in the employment market. Young individuals with high intellectual abilities and management qualities are identified and engaged in production, and they are assigned responsible positions.
The state’s youth policy in Azerbaijan is also being supported by Baku State University, the country's first and largest higher education institution. The main goal of the faculty is to shape young individuals into educated, deeply knowledgeable, and highly skilled citizens with a broad perspective, patriotism, and dedication to state traditions. They aim to enrich the country’s intellectual capital by producing highly qualified professionals who can secure Azerbaijan’s bright future.
Today, the University provides an environment for the comprehensive development of students, ensuring that they receive higher education that meets modern standards, prepares them as competitive professionals who meet employment market demands, supports their public initiatives, engages them in management and research activities, fosters and strengthens their active citizenship, stimulates their public initiatives, and offers opportunities for effective leisure time organization.
At the University, continuous and systematic efforts are made to support the innovative potential and initiative of young people, to engage them more extensively in intellectual activities, to enhance their interest in education, science, culture, the arts, and new technologies, and to increase their opportunities for achieving success. There is a focus on strengthening their respect for and commitment to independent statehood traditions, creating a healthy competitive and scholarly environment among students, promoting innovative thinking through information technologies, and addressing their social and daily-life issues through targeted measures and initiatives.
Baku State University, with its rich history and deep traditions, takes great pride in its students and graduates. Among those who liberated our ancestral lands from enemy occupation, brought the joy of victory to our people, and reached the sacred peak of martyrdom during the homeland war, were many university students who fought bravely and shed blood on the battlefield. Today, our student youth actively participates in domestic and international projects, competes in Olympiads, and wins awards in various competitions.
In the present day, the students at the University, who possess great enthusiasm for scientific knowledge and education, exhibit active social engagement, and uphold national and spiritual values with a strong commitment to the idea of Azerbaijan identity, inspire pride in everyone. These young individuals will meet the expectations of our state and people, and through their future efforts, will ensure a bright future for independent Azerbaijan.
