Baku State University (BSU) continues to honorably fulfill its main mission today: to train highly qualified specialists and ensure the worthy place of our motherland in the global space of science and culture. At present, the University is taking fundamental steps in five areas: education, research, innovation, and commercialization of scientific knowledge, further expansion of its social activities, and international relations. Taking part in the development of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the university implements various measures for the formation of human potential in demanded specialties as well as serving technological development. Modernized by the challenges of the modern era, the university trains personnel at the level of international standards. As a result of the continuation of this process, the university's integration into the unified European space of science and education is accelerated, its international rating and prestige are increased, and its competitiveness and development are ensured.
Educational programs for all levels of education (bachelor's, master's, doctoral) are developed and updated jointly with specialists from industry and business enterprises. Specialists from production enterprises are involved in teaching and research activities, and master classes and scientific seminars are organized with their participation. Within the framework of such cooperation, the needs and requirements of the labor market are studied. New specialties (specializations) are defined, and personnel training in these specialties is carried out taking into account the scientific and pedagogical potential. Within the framework of partnership with “Code Academy” and “DevEducation” under the project “Code for the Future" with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education, BSU students are provided with conditions to improve their knowledge of programming, system administration, and network administration in classrooms equipped with modern computers.
Currently, BSU graduates show the highest results in teacher recruitment exams, and at the same time, our students and our lyceum students take the leading positions in international, regional, and local Olympiads and knowledge contests.
The electronic learning management system “Blackboard” introduced at the University has proven itself in a short time. At present, the process of assessing students' knowledge through the system, video recordings of lessons, as well as more convenient access to information through a mobile application, and continuous analysis of the activity of students and teachers are being successfully implemented.
Due to the established strategic line for the effective organization of scientific activity at the University, in recent years the content of the conducted scientific research works has been updated, their level has been raised, and more positive results have been achieved in comparison with previous years in the direction of direct application of scientific research results. The results obtained by BSU scientists in research institutes, laboratories, and departments are included in important reports and are highly appreciated as works of practical importance. Considering the growing demand for specialists with higher education who possess convergent-innovative knowledge and practical skills in our country, BSU has expanded its existing links with industrial enterprises. The research directions of BSU faculties, research institutes, centers, and laboratories are adapted to the Strategic Development Plan of BSU for 2021–2030; priority is given to fundamental and applied directions.
The Center of Excellence for Research, Development, and Innovation, first established in 2021, has expanded links with industry and production based on the principles of applying the relationship between education, science, and production and the commercialization of scientific results. The establishment of new industry-oriented research laboratories in industrial chemistry, bioengineering, microbiology and virology, astrocosmic and atmospheric research, and digital research within the Center of Excellence further strengthened the institution's activities. Several contracts have been signed for commercial projects in the oil and gas industry.
The activities of student scientific societies, student organizations, and student clubs are being expanded to involve students more widely in scientific research, promote their scientific activities, increase their social activity, and support their social projects. The foundations of scientific initiatives and scientific research are laid in the Student Scientific and Technical Creativity Center established in 2021. As a result, the teams composed of students, graduate students, and young researchers working in the Center achieved high success at the “Technofest-2023” festival of aviation, space, and technology held in Istanbul. “BSU Creativity Works” team took first place at the festival with the “Driver's Eye” project (an electronic system of driver warning by pre-detection of car accidents), and “Humantek” team took third place with the “Smart drip irrigation system” project (small solar-powered stations placed at different locations on farmland to collect and wirelessly transmit data such as soil mineral composition, moisture level, temperature, and air pressure to a central station).
To form creativity in students, work is carried out in the direction of solving non-standard problems in the form of cooperation and teamwork, as well as work is carried out in the direction of instilling in students the ability to share their knowledge. Trainings are held, and events are organized aimed at students' realization of their scientific ideas, their patenting, promotion, and application, as well as students' expansion of their social initiatives. The involvement of industry specialists in teaching at the university is organized. In addition, master classes and lectures by specialists working in research institutes and universities around the world (Turkiye, USA, UK, Italy, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Japan, Romania, Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, etc.) are held at the university.
The University's international relations are expanding and developing on various platforms. In recent years, cooperation agreements have been signed between BSU and Bilkent, Ankara, Istanbul, Kavkaz universities and other universities in Turkiye, Izmir Institute of High Technologies, French University of .0Lyon-2, the German University of Halle-Wittenberg named after Martin Luther, Berlin Technical University, Anhui University of China, University of South Bohemia in the Czech Republic, Tashkent State Law University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, South Korean Gyeongju University, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Kazakhstan, the Atyrau State University, Lahore University in Pakistan, Holon Institute of Technology in Israel, Lincoln University in the United States, Tomar Polytechnic University in Portugal, Swiss University of Business and International Studies and other universities. Furthermore, agreements on double degree programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels have been signed.
BSU, by the “State Program on Increasing the International Competitiveness of the Higher Education System in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2019-2023,” uses advanced scientific and educational achievements of world science. In the field of training specialists by the requirements of the labor market, BSU implements 11 international double degree programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels with leading universities and institutes in such countries as the USA, Germany, France, Israel, Sweden, and Kazakhstan. BSU strengthens its position in international rankings. BSU, as the only University in Azerbaijan, is represented in the Times Higher Education global ranking.
Along with international relations, BSU pays special attention to domestic cooperation with public institutions and private companies. Domestic cooperation is directly aimed at the effective organization of the educational process and research activities, as well as the employment of graduates. Relevant memoranda of understanding and agreements were signed with Karabakh Revival Fund, General Prosecutor's Office, Intellectual Property Agency, Bar Association, State Property Service, Small and Medium Business Development Agency, “DOST” Agency, AzerGold, PASHA Bank, PASHA Insurance, PASHA Life Insurance, Mediation Council, International Fund for Turkish Culture and Heritage, “Khazar TV” LLC, “ARB 24” TV channel, and other institutions. It is no coincidence that, as a result of the development of BSU ties, about 30 projects have been realized based on national and international grants and contracts over the last 2 years. More than 80 students, doctoral students, and young researchers are represented in the projects.
BSU, jointly with governmental and non-governmental organizations and public associations of the country, implements large-scale social projects. Being one of the main partners of social projects, BSU creates an opportunity to present humanitarian-social programs and social initiatives to the general public, becoming a platform where ideas and initiatives of state enterprises, scientific, cultural, economic, and other institutions, and creative associations are presented and discussed. BSU scientists actively participate in the public life of the country. The teaching staff and authoritative scientists of BSU conduct social research and implement social projects on a national scale.
BSU has successfully implemented several academic projects started after the brilliant victory achieved by our brave army under the leadership of our victorious commander, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Mr. Ilham Aliyev. “A comprehensive international report on the violated rights of Azerbaijani IDPs” was published in Azerbaijani and English languages and presented to the general public. Within the framework of the “Analysis of Activity of Local and Foreign Mass Media During the Patriotic War” project, “Interview of The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, with foreign mass media during the Patriotic War," “Patriotic War in local and foreign Mass Media," “Speeches of Professor-Academic Teaching Staff and Students of Baku State University during the Patriotic War in national mass media," and the 2-volume book “History of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1991-2021)” were published.
The reforms carried out, the recent commissioning of a modern dormitory—a 5-story, 220-seat “Student house," "House of Books," and Foreign Languages Center—the provision of modern textbooks and teaching aids, the opening of several new specialties and specializations at the bachelor's and master's level of education taking into account the requirements of the labor market, the implementation of double degree programs with prestigious universities of the world, etc.—all this serves to improve the quality of teaching and research, increase the social activity of students, and the formation of real citizens from them, connected with the idea of Azerbaijanism and national and moral values.
