In order to expand cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in the field of science and higher education, the “Study in Azerbaijan” educational exhibition was organized in Tashkent on May 27-31 as part of the visit of the Ministry of Science and Education and the leadership of higher education institutions to Uzbekistan.          The exhibition is one of the important steps taken towards the implementation of the tasks in the protocol of the 13th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Commission.          The board of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) was displayed at the exhibition. Here, participants were provided with detailed information about educational opportunities in various specialties, scholarship programs and student life.          A delegation led by AzTU Rector Vilayat Valiyev participated in the exhibition.          The opening ceremony was addressed by the First Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovations of Uzbekistan, Shahrukh Daliyev, Deputy Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Idris Isayev, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Uzbekistan, Huseyn Guliyev. The speakers emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries in the context of the internationalization of science and higher education, and expressed their confidence that the exhibition will contribute to the development of educational and cultural relations.         It should be noted that the main goal of the exhibition is to strengthen intercultural relations, promote student exchange, and increase the number of foreign students studying in Azerbaijan.

            Representatives of the Faculty of Information Technologies and Telecommunications of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) – Deputy Dean Ayten Movsumova, Head of the Department of Computer Technologies Zafar Jafarov and Head of the Department of Engineering Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence Atif Namazov visited the Turkey-Azerbaijan University (TAU). The delegation also included Vahid Garousi, Professor of Queen's University Belfast, UK, Member of the World Association of Azerbaijani Scientists (DAAB), and Professor at AzTU.           The guests met with TAU Vice-Rector Mehmet Shimshir and program managers.           Discussions were held at the meeting on conducting joint research in the field of computer engineering and developing university-industry cooperation.

In order to implement the tasks set at the 13th meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan and to expand relations in the field of science and higher education, the First Rectors' Forum was held in Andijan on May 28-29 on the theme "Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan: Priority Directions in the Development of Cooperation in Higher Education". The event was organized within the framework of the visit of the delegation led by Deputy Minister of Science and Education Idris Isayev to Uzbekistan. The forum was attended by heads of higher education institutions of both countries. Speaking at the opening of the forum, First Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovations of Uzbekistan Shahrukh Daliyev and Deputy Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Idris Isayev emphasized the increasing development of cooperation in the field of science and higher education between the two countries, and stated that the forum would contribute to the expansion of inter-university partnerships and the promotion of joint projects. During the sessions, topics such as the establishment of dual diploma programs, student and faculty exchange, joint scientific research, and progress in international rankings were discussed. The forum was addressed by the rector of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), Vilayat Valiyev, with a wide-ranging presentation. Within the framework of the forum, cooperation documents were signed between AzTU and leading higher education institutions of Uzbekistan, and agreements were reached that laid the foundation for new projects.

Representatives of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) met with students and graduates of Higher Technical Vocational (HTP) education at the Baku State Vocational Education Center for Industry and Innovation. The goal was to support young people graduating with a sub-bachelor's degree in making the right choice of specialty and taking successful steps in their future education. During the meeting, students were provided with detailed information about AzTU's educational opportunities, available specialties, and the admission process.

Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov met with representatives of the Azerbaijan Union of Student Youth Organizations (ASUYO) and SYOs. The goal was to support students' initiatives, participate in the decision-making process, and create conditions for them to contribute to the state youth policy. The meeting, held in the city of Sumgayit, the "Youth Capital" of 2025, was attended by the Chairman of the SYO of Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) Ruslan Ganbarov and Deputy Chairman Nigar Hasanova. During the meeting, the activities carried out by the ASUYO for students with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the proposals and initiatives put forward by the SYOs, the projects and new plans of the ministry for youth, and a presentation on involving students in sports events were discussed.

Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) hosted the initial stage of the international start-up competition “Finding Innovative and Creative Solutions” supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The competition is jointly organised by Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) and the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) of Pakistan. The aim of the competition is to align university teachers and students in one platform for solving global problems with their compelling innovative ideas. A total of 60 teams from 21 higher education institutions of Azerbaijan and 2 teams from 1 university in Kazakhstan participated in the Azerbaijan Chapter of FICS. 9 student teams with their start-up projects represented AzTU in the competition this year. The official part of the event started with the National Anthems of Azerbaijan and Pakistan. Vilayat Valiyev, the rector of Azerbaijan Technical University highlighted the brotherly and partnership relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. He noted importance of continued efforts for building partnership in the fields of education, science, and innovation and emphasized the role of this platform in evaluating knowledge and practical skills and supporting students' ideas.  He mentioned that the number of applications has exceeded 60 this year compared to last year. He wished success to all university students participating in the competition, adding that the winners of the first stage of the competition will qualify for the final stage to be held in Islamabad, the capital of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Elmar Gasimov, the rector of Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS), expressed his gratitude to the rector of AzTU for the invitation. He noted that such an international competition is a great motivation to reveal the intellectual potential of both BHOS students and Azerbaijani youth in general. The rector thanked BHOS students and their scientific supervisors who mentored them for the international competition for their active participation and wished success to all young people. Shahin Bayramov, the rector of Karabakh University, expressed his satisfaction in participation in such an international event. He noted that as a strategic and young university, it is important for Karabakh University to participate in such projects. He noted that Karabakh University is ready to cooperate with AzTU and prestigious universities of Pakistan in all spheres in the future. Rizvan Riaz, the vice-rector for Research, Innovation and Commercialization of NUST, emphasized this excellent opportunity to reveal the potential of the youth of both countries provided within framework of “Finding Innovative and Creative Solutions” international start-up competition. In conclusion, the vice-rector wished success to the young start-ups participating in the competition. The event continued with an artistic performance of AzTU students, and a video presentation on the international competition. The teams participating in the competition presented their start-up projects before jury in three panels. The winners were evaluated by a jury consisting of representatives of industry and education. The winners were awarded at the end of the event. FICS (Finding Innovative & Creative Solutions) is the largest start-up competition held annually in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan since 2013. AzTU Chapter has been hosting the international event for the second time.

The final stage of the “PASHA Bank Cup VII” programming competition, organized by “Pasha Bank” and with the organizational support of the Institute of Information Technologies and Methodological Support in Education of the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), was held for the seventh time in order to support the development of the information technology (IT) sector in the country, to reveal the potential of young people studying in this direction, as well as professionals working in IT, and to improve their skills. Participants of various age groups, including schoolchildren, students and professional programmers, joined the competition, which has been held by “Pasha Bank” since 2019, and tested their programming and algorithmic knowledge. The first two stages of the competition, which consisted of three stages (stage I: data structures, search and sorting algorithms; stage II: dynamic programming, graph theory; topics) were held online. 60 participants who showed high results in the two stages qualified for the final. In the final round held at AzTU, participants were given the task of designing a program for 6 algorithmic problems within 4 hours and testing them on the “HackerRank” platform. According to the results of the competition, winners were determined in 3 categories (pupil, student, professional). The first three winners in each category were awarded valuable gifts by “PASHA Bank” (1st place “MacBook Pro M3”, 2nd place “iPad Pro 11 M4”, 3rd place “Apple watch”). Kenan Askerli, an employee of the Institute of Information Technologies and Methodological Support in Education of AzTU, was awarded 2nd place in the professionals category.

Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), in collaboration with the Türkiye-Azerbaijan University and Pakistan’s National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), successfully hosted the international event titled “Strategic Talks on Innovation & Commercialization for Knowledge Sharing” (STICKS International 2025). This year, for the first time, the event was hosted outside Pakistan – in Azerbaijan. The event aimed to foster university-industry collaboration, support the commercialization of scientific research, promote startup development, and strengthen international partnerships. At the opening session, Rector of AzTU Vilayat Valiyev and NUST Pro-Rector for Research, Innovation and Commercialization Rizwan Riaz addressed the participants, highlighting the importance and goals of the event. The forum featured two main panel discussions: The first panel, titled “Bridging Academia and Industry Across Borders – Perspectives from Pakistan, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan,” focused on cooperation opportunities between universities and industry, the establishment of joint research projects, and the development of innovation ecosystems. The second panel, “Turning Research into Global Impact – Strategies for Cross-Border Commercialization,” explored the commercial potential of scientific outcomes, technology transfer, investment environments, and regional collaboration prospects. STICKS International 2025 was highly appreciated by the participants, who expressed confidence that the event would pave the way for broader scientific collaboration in the future. At the conclusion of the event, AzTU Rector Vilayat Valiyev, TAU Vice-Rector Mehmet Şimşir, and NUST Pro-Rector Rizwan Riaz symbolically pressed a “start” button on stage, launching the “Pakistan–Azerbaijan–Türkiye Innovation Corridor” initiative.

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.

Vahid Garousi, a professor at Queen's University Belfast, UK, and a member of the World Association of Azerbaijani Scholars (DAAB), will work as a visiting professor at Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU). Vahid Garousi will teach at AzTU in the fields of science and research, as well as software engineering, as well as university-industry cooperation. AzTU Rector Vilayat Valiyev met with Vahid Garousi and wished him success in his activities.