An event was held at the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) on May 26 to mark the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Science and Education (MES) and the Ministry of Defense Industry (MODI). The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Science and Education Idris Isayev, Deputy Minister of Defense Industry Hidayat Azimov, Rector of AzTU Vilayat Valiyev, General Director of “Azersilah” Defense Industry Holding” Closed Joint-Stock Company subordinate to the Ministry of Defense Emil Ibrahimov, other senior employees of the Ministry of Defense, teaching and professorial staff of the university, as well as a group of students with high academic performance. First, the participants laid flowers in front of the monument to the great leader Heydar Aliyev and paid tribute to his dear memory. During the signing ceremony, which was underway at the Heydar Aliyev Center of the university, Deputy Minister of Science and Education Idris Isayev gave detailed information about the modern education system, reforms carried out in this area, and admission programs for bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees of higher education institutions. The Deputy Minister noted that the cooperation between the Ministry of Defense will enter a new stage with the memorandum to be signed. Idris Isayev reviewed the document, which includes multi-directional cooperation, prepared taking into account the requirements of modern education. He emphasized that it will play a special role in ensuring the demand for personnel training in the defense industry, including the training of highly qualified engineers with modern knowledge and skills in the field of new technologies. Deputy Minister of Defense Industry Hidayat Azimov, in turn, noted the effective cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and its scientific and research institutes, as well as higher and vocational education institutions, in order to train qualified personnel in the defense industry, improve sectoral specialists and further develop innovative engineering, and the importance of expanding relations in this area. Hidayat Azimov noted that the memorandum creates broad opportunities for ensuring the demand for personnel in priority development areas of our country, including the training of highly qualified engineers in the field of new technologies, and that this document is of great importance in terms of the development of industry-university relations in the modern era. AzTU rector Vilayat Valiyev, in his speech, noted that effective cooperation relations have been established between the higher education institution which he heads and the Ministry of Defense. He noted that based on the relevant decision of the Cabinet of Ministers and the initiative of the Ministry of Defense, he emphasized that the Faculty of Special Techniques and Technology has been successfully operating at AzTU since 2012, and most of the graduates who have achieved high achievements during their studies have successfully worked at the institutions of the Ministry of Defense. The rector brought to attention that a new strategy has been developed in accordance with the requirements of the modern era regarding personnel training in the defense industry. Then a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed. At the end of the event, the guests got acquainted with the technological capabilities and perspective projects created by AzTU on the basis of the material and technical base of the higher education institution in order to implement modern educational programs.

An educational event on the topic of “Joint struggle against drugs” was held jointly organized by Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) and the “Youth Anti-Drug” Public Union. Representatives of the State Commission for Combating Drug Addiction and Illicit Trafficking of Narcotics, the Main Drug Control Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Baku City Narcological Dispensary and the “Youth Anti-Drug” Public Union participated in the event. Safa Bagirov, Head of the Communication Department of AzTU, spoke about the danger of drug use to human life. He invited students to stay away from bad habits, engage in sports and show interest in useful activities such as education, science and personal development. Vasif Guliyev, representative of the State Commission for Combating Drug Addiction and Illicit Trafficking of Narcotics, noted that the fight against drug addiction is one of the state’s priority areas and the importance of continuous education of young people in this regard. He especially emphasized that AzTU is one of the higher education institutions that educates students about the fight against drug addiction. Chief of the Investigation Bureau of the Main Drug Control Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Police Captain Najaf Aydınoğlu brought the latest statistical information on the fight against drugs to the attention of students. He said that drug lords, by penetrating the social networks where young people are active using all kinds of technical means, not only turn their lives into hell, but also keep them in a state of dependence by threatening to spread their personal information everywhere through blackmail. He advised young people not to fall into such traps and to be vigilant. Gunay Aliyeva, a doctor-narcologist of the Baku City Narcological Dispensary, explained in detail to students the consequences of using narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The chairman of the “Youth Anti-Drug” Public Union, Bullur Mammadova, said that continuous awareness-raising events are held in the field of combating drug addiction, and that the organization has 20 years of experience in this field, and often visits victims of drug addiction. She called on young people to carefully choose their circle and friends, and to actively participate in such awareness-raising events. At the end of the event, a video clip on the topic of “Fighting Drug Addiction” was shown.

A delegation led by the rector of Sivas Cumhuriyet University of Turkey, Professor Ahmed Sengonul, visited Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU). The guests met with AzTU Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Professor Nurali Yusifbeyli, and representatives of the university. Mehmet Shimshir, Vice-Rector of Turkey-Azerbaijan University (TAU), also attended the meeting. Vice-Rector Nurali Yusifbeyli welcomed the guests and expressed his satisfaction with seeing them at AzTU. The vice-rector provided detailed information on the work done at the university in the field of science and research, the implemented dual diploma programs and projects, as well as the innovations brought by AzTU to the education sector of Azerbaijan. Representatives of Sivas Cumhuriyet University, in turn, made a presentation on the university's areas of activity. During the meeting, an exchange of views was held on establishing cooperation between AzTU and Sivas Cumhuriyet University. Proposals were made on the establishment of joint research centers that would be beneficial for both universities, joint cooperation at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels of education, and the preparation of joint research projects. Issues related to faculty and student exchange and organizing joint events initiated by universities were also discussed.

The Trade Union Committee (TUC) and the Student Trade Union Committee (STUC) of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) are implementing various projects for the effective organization of the leisure time of employees and students. Within the framework of the next project, employees and students watched the play “A Lamp Burning in Yerevan” staged by the Jafar Jabbarly Yerevan State Azerbaijan Drama Theater based on the one-act mystical historical play “A Lamp Burning in Yerevan” by the prominent poet-playwright, public figure Hidayat Orujov. The work, which is based on the history of the lamp entrusted to Ravangulu Khan, the governor of the Yerevan Fortress, by the founder and first ruler of the Azerbaijani Safavid state, Shah Ismail Khatai, as a symbol of eternity, deeply penetrates the anatomy of the genocide and deportations committed by Armenian nationalists against our people. The historical work “The Lamp Lit in Yerevan” written by the Azerbaijani writer Sultan Oguz, who lived and worked in Yerevan towards the end of the Soviet era (perceived as the author’s prototype), on this subject, infuriates the rabid Armenian nationalists who are obsessed with the national existence of our people in Western Azerbaijan to such an extent that they set a tempting trap for him. The enemies resort to a trick to discredit and eliminate the writer who portrayed the truth in a historical novel because they have taken the lamp lit by Shah Ismail in Yerevan as their own, and present the work for the highest award of the former Soviet state. The militant artist opposes this plan in order to thwart the intentions of the enemies and save the historical truth, and refuses to accept the award. Throughout the play, the spirit of Shah Ismail appears repeatedly and calls on our people to be vigilant and militant against the treachery of the enemies. The devilish role of Armenian women in the open and secret aggressions against our national existence is reflected in the play with subtle touches. At the end of the performance, the lamp extinguished in Yerevan is solemnly lit on stage as a symbol of the defeat of Armenia's treacherous policy. It should be noted that about 200 employees and about 300 students participated in the performance, which was presented on the stage of the Azerbaijan State Academic Russian Drama Theater. AzTU HIK and THIK will continue to organize such events in the future.

A delegation led by Professor Recep Bentley, Rector of Malatya Turgut Ozal University of Turkey, who visited Azerbaijan, visited Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU). The guests met with AzTU Vice-Rector Nurali Yusifbeyli and representatives of the university. Vice-Rector Nurali Yusifbeyli welcomed the guests and expressed his satisfaction with seeing them at AzTU. The Vice-Rector informed the guests about the work done at the university, the educational programs implemented, the projects implemented, as well as the future goals of AzTU in the field of science and research. During the meeting, the representatives of AzTU and Malatya Turgut Ozal University discussed the mutual exchange of students and academic staff, joint scientific research, and opportunities for dual scientific supervision at the master's and doctoral levels. Finally, a cooperation agreement was signed between the universities.

The German Engineering School operating under the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics of AzTU organized a student creativity day. Students studying in the German-language groups of AzTU presented machine technologies and their working principles in German. Technologies were presented to the audience with multimedia technology-based videos and presentations. The event was also memorable with the students' performances in the form of songs and dialogues in German. The event also demonstrated technology-related handicrafts of students of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics. Student groups also demonstrated the decorated tables they prepared in the university lobby. At the end of the event, teachers and students were awarded. It should be noted that the event was organized with the support of Claudio Kasperl, a German language teacher at the Department of Foreign Languages ​​of AzTU.

The next support for the plastic waste recycling and filament production initiative for 3D printers implemented by the MGP Group operating under the Lifelong Learning School of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) came from the 8th grade students of the Sattar Bahlulzadeh Foreign Languages-Focused Gymnasium. As part of the visit, the students brought the plastic bottles they collected to AzTU and handed them over to the MGP Workshop. The students were accompanied by their class teachers Laman Babayeva and Ofelia Hazarkhanova, who also teaches biology and steam. During the meeting, the schoolchildren watched the process of sorting, processing, and converting plastic waste into filament for 3D printers. MGP engineers provided the students with detailed information about modern technologies, software, and production stages used in this field, answering their numerous questions. The students were introduced not only to the ecological project, but also to UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technologies. They were shown engineering projects, aerodynamic design principles and control systems implemented in this area. This initiative serves to increase interest in engineering and technology among schoolchildren, as well as to form a conscious approach to environmental protection. The participation of the Sattar Bahlulzadeh Foreign Languages ​​​​Oriented Gymnasium in the project is an important step in terms of developing the ecological thinking and technological skills of the younger generation from an early age. As a result of the projects, students realize that protecting the environment is not only a duty, but also a creative process combined with innovation and technology. Plastic waste recycling is not just a technical process - it also becomes an important step towards the formation of a new perspective in the minds of young people, becoming responsible and future-oriented citizens.

Employees of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) - Director of the Institute of Logistics and Transport Fuad Dashdemirov, Head of the Department of Transport Engineering and Management Technologies Gasim Manafov and Associate Professor Nijat Zohrabov participated in the scientific and practical conference dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Professor Akmal Anvarovich Mukhitdinov of the Department of Transport Engineering, held at the Tashkent State Transport University of Uzbekistan. At the event, Akmal Anvarovich Mukhitdinov was presented with a gift on behalf of the AzTU management and staff. Within the framework of the conference, AzTU employees held discussions on the development of mobility plans in cities, exchange of experience with the departments and research centers of the Tashkent State Transport University on the design of electric and hybrid vehicles, and the participation of students studying in transport specialties in joint research. They also got acquainted with the construction of electric vehicles, railway equipment and facilities, and the laboratories of the Primary Engineering School.

A cybersecurity competition in the “Capture The Flag” (CTF) format was held at Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) by the Cybersecurity Department and the “CyberDEV” cyber club. Students studying in the information security specialty participated in the event. The goal was to develop practical skills among students interested in the field of cybersecurity, strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and increase the ability to work in a team. In the CTF competition, participants completed tasks in various areas such as open source intelligence, reverse engineering, digital forensics, and practical application of cryptanalysis tools. Such competitions will play an important role in identifying young people with special potential in the field of cybersecurity at AzTU and in forming teams that will adequately represent the university in internal and external CTF competitions.

Eyvaz Mahammadli, Special Representative for Work with Applicants of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), and Amin Mamedov, Academic Advisor of the Faculty of Special Techniques and Technology, held a series of meetings with applicants and heads of regional education sectors in Sheki city, Ismayilli, Gabala, Oghuz, Zagatala, Gakh and Balakan regions. During the meetings, applicants were informed about AzTU's specialties, practical knowledge-based education model, production practices implemented within the framework of cooperation with industrial enterprises, startup-oriented activities and students' successes in this field. They also discussed the conditions and opportunities created for students to participate in new projects. The university's international relations, dual diploma programs and academic exchange opportunities were also met with interest by applicants. Applicants were also provided with detailed information about special scholarships for students admitted to AzTU with high performance, as well as incentive mechanisms that support their personal development and academic achievements. As part of the visit, cooperation meetings were also held with the heads of regional education sectors. The main areas of cooperation between AzTU and secondary schools were discussed at the meetings, including technology-oriented initiatives, promotion of engineering specialties, joint projects that will support the development of students' digital skills, startup-oriented activities, and provision of mentor support in this area. AzTU will continue such meetings in the future in order to shape applicants interested in technology and engineering fields as professionals and specialists who meet modern requirements.