Orkhan Arabov, Advisor to the President of the Improtex Group of Companies, Ulviyya Rustamova, Head of the Human Resources Department, and Anar Mustafayev, Deputy Director of the Improtex Trucks and Buses Company, visited the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU). The guests met with the rector of AzTU, Vilayat Valiyev, and representatives of the university. The meeting exchanged views on the development of university-industry cooperation. Issues such as AzTU students' internships at the company, the organization of master classes by the company's specialists at the university, and joint scientific research were discussed. After the meeting, the guests got acquainted with the laboratories of AzTU.

The next important stage in the transition to the “ISO 21001:2018 – Management System for Educational Institutions” standard was held at the Faculty of Special Engineering and Technology of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU). Yesim Dincher, Quality Manager and ISO 21001 Chief Auditor of the international certification company “STAREGISTER International Inc.”, and Shamo Muradov, Director of the INCERT certification company, carried out an external audit process at the faculty. Nurali Yusifbeyli, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of AzTU, who participated in the opening session of the audit, welcomed the guests and emphasized the importance of the transition to the ISO 21001 standard at the university. He noted that this process is an important step in terms of improving the quality of educational services, and that the application of other international standards is also envisaged in the next stages. During the day, the faculty’s management system, educational process, documentation standards and internal operating mechanisms were evaluated by the auditors.      At the closing session held at the end of the day, the auditors highly appreciated the work done. Chief Auditor Yesim Dincher noted that the management processes applied at the faculty comply with the requirements of the ISO 21001 standard and stated that the initial results of the audit were positive. AzTU Rector Vilayat Valiyev, who participated in the closing event, emphasized the importance of selecting the Faculty of Special Engineering and Technology as a pilot in this process. The Rector said that the successful implementation of the standards makes a significant contribution to the management culture and quality of education of the faculty. He drew attention to the possibility of gradually implementing the ISO 21001 standard in other structures of the university at the next stage. The meeting concluded in an atmosphere of mutual exchange of views and fruitful discussion.

In accordance with the memorandum of cooperation signed between the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SCIS) and Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), master classes are organized for AzTU students every semester. Within the framework of the memorandum, the next master class was dedicated to the topic of “Governance and Compliance Approach in Information Security”. Important points such as establishing information security management systems, risk management, formulation of security policies, international compliance requirements and development of security culture in organizations were presented to the participants. Students and faculty of the Cybersecurity Department of AzTU participated in the master class. The audience showed great interest in the topic, and numerous questions asked by the students led to interactive discussions. At the end of the event, information was provided about the next master classes planned to continue mutual cooperation, increase the practical knowledge of students and strengthen the training of professional personnel in the field of cybersecurity.

A new Incubation Program has been launched at the Incubation Center of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU). Practical trainings have been started with the participation of startup teams selected for the program and these trainings will be continued regularly. During the program, team members will gain knowledge and skills in project management, business model building, product development, and preparation for the investment environment. Within the framework of the trainings, real work will be done based on the tasks given to the students, the teams will practically develop their projects and further improve their ideas with the guidance of mentors. This process will strengthen the students' teamwork, analytical thinking, and application skills. Here, young people are also given the opportunity to present their projects to investors, mentors, and ecosystem representatives. With this initiative, the AzTU Incubation Center aims to promote the development of innovative thinking within the university, support the integration of young people into the startup ecosystem, and contribute to the growth of a new generation of entrepreneurs.

The III international scientific and practical conference “Mechanical Engineering and Energy: New Concepts and Technologies” dedicated to the 75th anniversary of AzTU, organized by Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU GS) (Germany), Gazi University (Turkey) and NESEFF International Network for Energy Supply and Energy Efficiency (Germany), has begun its work. The purpose of the conference is to highlight the importance of environmental safety in the scientific, educational and research environment in order to ensure the sustainable development of the mechanical engineering and energy sectors, to increase the economic efficiency of infrastructure and to formulate new approaches that promote scientific and technological innovations in this direction. Welcoming the participants of the event, AzTU Rector Vilayat Valiyev said that a total of 100 articles were submitted to the international scientific conference. The rector expressed his belief that the event, which was attended by 268 scientists and researchers from 41 educational institutions in 13 countries, would become a reliable cooperation platform for scientists and industry representatives, and that the conference would contribute to further strengthening ties between countries in the field of science and technology. Professor Silvio Simon, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Energy Systems of BTU GS, Germany, and Chairman of NESEFF, who joined the international conference online, also wished success to the conference participants. Professor Muhammad Ishtiaq Ali, Head of the Research, Innovation and Commercialization Office of Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan, made a presentation on the topic “Transition from Education to Action: Educating and Training the Next Generation of Climate-Responsible Leaders to Protect the Environment”. Later, the presentation jointly prepared by BTU GS and AzTU scientists was brought to the attention of the conference participants online, and proposals were made regarding real problems and solutions. The conference, which will last two days with section meetings, will discuss issues such as analyzing the development prospects of the mechanical engineering and energy sectors, discussing innovative scientific and production approaches, exploring the possibilities of applying modern technologies, as well as identifying economically efficient production models in the current conditions, forming and developing small and medium-sized businesses in the manufacturing sector, strengthening cooperation between higher education institutions and industrial structures, and establishing mutual relations between influential scientists and enterprise leaders.

The official opening ceremony of the “QS Reimagine Education 2025” conference was held in London, United Kingdom, organized by the global rating agency Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The event was attended by Subhan Namazov, Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), Mehman Hasanov, Head of the Department of Radio Engineering and Telecommunications, and Bakhtiyar Badalov, Director of the Research and Development Department. The three-day international conference covers topical topics such as innovations in education, application of artificial intelligence, inclusion and graduate employment. The event, which brings together leading universities and education experts from around the world, is important in terms of exchanging experiences and creating new cooperation opportunities. AzTU is represented at the conference with a project called “Li-Fi Technology for Education and Innovation: Advanced Architectures and Transmission Methods”. The project in question was selected for the “Shortlist” stage of the “QS Reimagine Education” competition and presented to an international audience. This achievement is considered a successful result of AzTU's development strategy in the field of implementing innovative solutions in education, engineering, and digital technologies.

An educational event dedicated to World AIDS Day was held at Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU). At the event, jointly organized by the AzTU Communication Department and the Student Youth Organization (TGT), infectious disease specialist Emilia Shahbazova of the Republican AIDS Center spoke about Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Providing information about the ways of infection with the virus, methods of prevention and treatment, the doctor called on students to stay away from harmful habits and, most importantly, to assimilate the existing knowledge in this field in a timely manner. Emilia Shahbazova also explained the methods of prevention, examination and treatment of the disease. After the event, the students underwent examination at the AzTU Student Polyclinic.

Assyl-Dastan Bazarbek, Associate Professor of the Department of Space Engineering and Technologies of the Eurasian National University named after L.N. Gumilyov of Kazakhstan, was a guest of the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU). Professor Ugurlu Nadirov, Head of the Department of Defense Systems and Technological Integration of AzTU, provided detailed information about the work done and innovations implemented at the university. Assyl-Dastan Bazarbek, in turn, made a presentation about the university he represented. Then, the guest held a seminar for AzTU teachers and students on modern development trends and innovative approaches in the field of aerospace engineering. The guest also got acquainted with the research centers and laboratories of AzTU.

An informative session was held by the Student Scientific Society (SSS) of the Faculty of Energy of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU). Chairman of the SSS of the Faculty of Energy, lecturer of the Department of Electrical Engineering Shamkhal Aliyev provided information about the structure, membership rules, mission and vision of the SSS. He also brought to the attention of the goals of the faculty SSS. He noted that the main directions of activity are to systematically involve students in scientific and research activities, support startup and innovation-oriented projects, and form a strong student scientific ecosystem at the faculty. At the event, 6 teams of students from the faculty presented their startup projects. During the presentation, students proposed engineering solutions that can be used to solve real problems. In conclusion, Dean of the Faculty of Energy, Professor Huseyngulu Guliyev, made a speech and emphasized the role of the SSS in the life of the faculty. He noted that such format of infosessions and startup presentations will significantly contribute to the development of students' scientific research, innovation and teamwork skills and will be continuously supported by the faculty administration.             The infosession continued in a question-and-answer format.

Within the framework of the cooperation between Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) and “Dithari Technologies” company, the DISC (Digital Innovation, Sustainability & Circularity) Innovation and Sustainability Laboratory has started its operation at the university. The goal is to develop digital innovation, circular economy and sustainable IT fields, as well as to form an accessible and open practical environment in these areas for students, faculty and the general public. The new laboratory creates teaching and research opportunities on e-waste reduction, recovery and reuse of IT equipment, green technologies and sustainable production models. The DISC laboratory will play the role of an open platform that can be used not only by AzTU students and employees, but also by specialists working in this direction and people interested in the mentioned field. At the opening ceremony of the laboratory, it was noted that the commissioning of the laboratory strengthens the sustainable development and digital transformation strategy at the university, improves the practical skills of students and expands cooperation between industry and academia. It was emphasized that this initiative will contribute to the development of environmentally responsible innovations in the country. The laboratory will provide practical training in e-waste recycling and equipment recovery, educational and research projects on circular IT and sustainable technologies, innovation and incubation support for student and startup teams, pilot projects and workshops with industry partners, thematic meetings and trainings for experts in the field and the public. It should be noted that the activities of the DISC laboratory are in line with a number of points of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 4 – Quality Education: Innovative teaching and practical exercises for students. SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Development and application of new technological solutions. SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: Reduction of e-waste and circular IT models. SDG 13 – Combating Climate Change: Promotion of green approaches and environmental responsibility.