The Visiting Scholar Program, organized by the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), took place in Sejong City, South Korea, from April 1 to 30, 2025. Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) was represented in the program by Ms. Aynura Ismayilova, Director of the School of Lifelong Learning and Associate Professor at the Department of Economics and Statistics. Among 20 applicants from Azerbaijan, Ms. Ismayilova was selected to conduct research on the topic “Analysis of the Factors Affecting the Role of Vocational Training in the International Labor Market”. The primary focus of the Visiting Scholar Program is to promote research in the field of international economic policy. Globally, Visiting Scholar Programs are widely recognized for their academic, professional, and international networking benefits. These programs facilitate academic and inter-institutional knowledge exchange, provide access to new methodologies and approaches, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, support high-impact scientific publication opportunities, and contribute to strengthening institutional reputation. The research conducted under the program underscores the significance of analyzing successful global models in vocational training and integration into the international labor market. These include South Korea’s TVET model combining vocational education with work experience, Germany’s dual education system, and the vocational training systems of Canada and Australia for skilled migrants. The topic presented to the KIEP program was chosen with a clear purpose. The research aims to develop targeted curricula aligned with international labor market demands in certification programs, assess cooperation opportunities between AzTU’s School of Lifelong Learning and both local and international market partners, and explore pathways for joint projects with vocational institutions.

A meeting was held at Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) with the leadership of the Caspian Energy Club to discuss the enhancement of university-industry collaboration. The meeting was attended by AzTU Rector Professor Vilayat Valiyev, CEO of Caspian Energy Club Mr. Telman Aliyev, and representatives from both sides. Rector Vilayat Valiyev provided a detailed overview of the university’s ongoing projects in the fields of information technology, artificial intelligence, and innovation, as well as its startup activities. He emphasized that university-industry cooperation plays a vital role in enabling students to develop their knowledge and skills within a practical environment. CEO of Caspian Energy Club, Telman Aliyev, highlighted the importance of strengthening the bridge between universities and the business community, expressing the organization’s openness to cooperation. The sides also discussed the possibility of organizing masterclasses and training sessions by Caspian Energy Club specialists for students, as well as opportunities for students to undertake internships within the companies affiliated with the Club. At the end of the meeting, the guests were introduced to AzTU’s material and technical infrastructure.

Professor Thomas Gries, Head of the Textile Technologies Department at RWTH Aachen University—one of Germany’s leading technical institutions—and Esra Yuksel Yilmaz, Regional Representative for Türkiye of the ITA Academy under RWTH Aachen, visited the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU). The meeting was also attended by Rana Afandiyeva, Executive Director of “Synergia Academy,” and Aytan Jabrailova, the company’s Senior Training Consultant. The guests held discussions with AzTU Rector, Professor Vilayat Valiyev, and university representatives. Rector Vilayat Valiyev highlighted the long-standing academic relations between AzTU and German universities. Professor Gries provided an overview of RWTH Aachen’s activities in the fields of textile and material technologies, industrial process automation, and robotics. He emphasized the growing global demand for innovative materials and automated processes across all sectors of industry. During the meeting, the parties discussed opportunities for academic and student exchange between RWTH Aachen and AzTU, prospects for joint research in mechatronics, materials science, and green energy technologies, as well as the potential for launching dual-degree master’s programs in relevant specialties.

The semi-final stage of the Fibonacci International Robotics Olympiad—the world’s largest robotics competition—was held in Antalya, Türkiye, as part of the Eurasia Championship. The event brought together more than 580 teams and over 3,000 participants from 24 countries, competing in 21 different categories. Under the mentorship of Ms. Turkana Gahramanli, a lecturer at the Department of Engineering Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence at the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), students participated in the competition with the “Scantekh” project in the Entrepreneurship category and achieved first place. As a result, the team has earned the right to participate in the final stage of the Fibonacci International Robotics Olympiad, which will be held in Italy. It is worth noting that the Fibonacci International Robotics Olympiad, founded in Italy, is recognized as the largest robotics olympiad in the world.

An online statistics quiz titled “Victory in Numbers and Facts” was organized by the Interstate Statistical Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. Students from six higher education institutions in Azerbaijan took part in the competition. Out of 100 participating Azerbaijani students, 28 achieved a score of over 100 points. Among the top performers was Kenan Niftaliyev, a student of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics at the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU). Kenan Niftaliyev was awarded a certificate of participation for his successful performance in the quiz.

A basketball tournament dedicated to the 102nd anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s birth has concluded in the Yasamal district. The closing ceremony was attended by Deputy Head of Yasamal District Executive Authority, Ms. Taravət Muradova; Head of the Youth and Sports Sector for Yasamal District under the Baku City Department of Youth and Sports, Mr. Ilham Safarov; Advisor of the New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) Yasamal District Organization, Mr. Fuad Habibzada; Vice-Rector of the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), Mr. Rashad Aliyev; as well as sports club officials and tournament participants. The tournament featured four teams representing leading higher education institutions of the country. In a tense and competitive final match, the team of the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) triumphed over the team from the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction (AUAC), securing first place in the tournament.

The Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) will host the international Falling Walls Lab competition for the first time in Azerbaijan. The event is organized with the support of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and coordinated by DAAD German language lecturer at AzTU, Claudio Kasperlin. For the first time, the Falling Walls Lab competition has been opened to individual researchers and students applying from Azerbaijan. The main goal of the project is to promote exceptional and creative ideas and to unite promising young scientists and students from all scientific fields on a globally recognized platform. Participants in the international competition will have the opportunity to present their research, business models, or initiatives to peers, a high-level jury, and the broader public. Approved candidates will receive online training in presentation skills (pitching). The projects of the participants will be evaluated by a jury panel composed of representatives from Azerbaijan’s higher education institutions, research centers, and industrial organizations. The final event of the competition will be held on June 17 at AzTU. The winner representing Azerbaijan will present their project at the global finale to be held in Berlin in November 2025.

A meeting was held at the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) with the participation of Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of the State Employment Agency, Mr. Hasil Abbasov, and representatives of the agency, within the framework of the pilot project titled the “Labour Market Readiness Index”. The primary objective of the meeting was to discuss ways to enhance students’ preparedness for the labour market and equip them with essential competencies and skills. Rector Vilayat Valiyev emphasized that the pilot project, aimed at facilitating students’ employment and integration into the labour market, would also contribute significantly to their personal development. Deputy Chairman Hasil Abbasov provided an overview of the Labour Market Readiness Index project, which is being implemented to foster students’ personal growth and expand their future employment opportunities. During the meeting, project implementation opportunities and sample assessments were presented, and expectations regarding the project were discussed.

The academic activity of guest professor Woojik Chun from South Korea, currently working at the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), is ongoing. Professor Chun has delivered lectures on the subjects of Object-Oriented Programming, Network Fundamentals, and Computer Networks for students of the Faculty of Information Technology and Telecommunications. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he shares his international experience related to the instruction of these subjects with AzTU faculty members. Alongside his academic contributions, Professor Chun also provides consultations aimed at enhancing the faculty’s international relations. It should be noted that the guest professor is at AzTU within the framework of the “World Friends Korea (WFK) Advisors Program,” supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and implemented by the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea.

The Republican scientific conference on “Advanced technologies and innovations” dedicated to the 102nd anniversary of the birth of national leader Heydar Aliyev has begun at Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU). AzTU Rector Vilayat Valiyev, welcoming the participants, noted that interest in the conference, which is traditionally held every year, has increased this year. Noting the importance of transforming the final results of research into industry, the Rector brought to the attention of the conference participants that the defense industry, security issues and various technology topics are of strategic importance for the country and that the academic staff of AzTU is continuously working in this area. In addition, the AzTU Rector emphasized the importance of publishing the best 50 articles in research works and scientific articles in prestigious international scientific databases such as “Scopus”, “Web of Science” and attracting foreign partners to the conference in the future. Rizvan Nabiyev, a deputy of the Milli Majlis, said that today the development of digital technologies significantly increases the economic power of countries. He said that personnel training should actually be considered a matter of national security of the country. At present, a powerful defense industry is one of the main priorities for our country. Aykhan Huseynli, chief specialist of the Electronic Security Service, in his scientific report on “Cybersecurity - the fundamental pillar of the digital era”, spoke about various cyber attacks on state institutions in the world and in the country. According to the researcher, the cyber threat incidents that occur not only damage the reputation of states, but also create real economic and social threats. As a strategic issue for the country, highly professional personnel training should be continuous and the number of research works in this area should be increased. Rasul Gojayev, a student of the Faculty of Information Technologies and Telecommunications, made a presentation on the topic “Li-Fi Technology: Architectures and Data Transmission Mechanisms”. Rasul Gojayev made an analogy between the technology of the future, “Li-Fi”, and the currently relevant “Wi-Fi”, and informed the conference participants about the advantages and disadvantages of each. This year, in addition to AzTU, more than 550 scientific articles were sent to the conference from higher education institutions such as Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU), Azerbaijan University of Economics (UNEC), Sumgayit State University (SDU), Nakhchivan State University (NDU), Odlar Yurdu University (OYU), and Western Caspian University. The conference, which continues with section meetings, will conclude its work on May 2.