A meeting was held at Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) with a delegation led by Deputy Minister of Defense Industry Hidayat Azimov.

The meeting was attended by the Rector of AzTU, Vilayat Valiyev, and representatives of the university.

Rector Vilayat Valiyev welcomed the guests and emphasized the importance of the long-standing and successfully developing cooperation between AzTU and the Ministry of Defense Industry. He provided detailed information about the recent innovations implemented at the university to improve the quality of education, particularly the reforms carried out at the Faculty of Special Equipment and Technology, where highly qualified engineering personnel are trained for the defense industry.

The Rector noted that consistent measures are being taken at the faculty to improve the management model and to align educational and scientific activities with the modern challenges of the defense industry. The main objective of these changes is to further strengthen university-industry cooperation and contribute to the development of innovative solutions for the defense industry.

Vilayat Valiyev stated that the activities arising from the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Science and Education and the Ministry of Defense Industry on May 26, 2025, are being implemented at AzTU in a phased manner. Within this framework, the first admission will be carried out for the dual degree master’s program in the specialization of energy and energy-intensive materials within the Materials Engineering specialty, to be implemented between AzTU and Gebze Technical University starting from the 2026–2027 academic year.

The Rector expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Defense Industry for its support in the implementation of the program and emphasized that this cooperation will make a significant contribution to the training of highly qualified specialists for the country’s defense industry.

Deputy Minister of Defense Industry Hidayat Azimov expressed his gratitude to the university leadership for the warm reception and hospitality. He noted that cooperation with AzTU is of strategic importance.

Hidayat Azimov highly appreciated the support of the university leadership in the implementation of the Specialized Academic Training Program, which will be organized for the second time through the joint initiative of the Ministry of Science and Education and the Ministry of Defense Industry. He stated that the program makes an important contribution to the training of engineering personnel in line with the needs of the defense industry.

The Deputy Minister also emphasized the special significance of the dual degree program to be implemented between AzTU and Gebze Technical University in terms of strengthening the country’s scientific and technological potential and ensuring the provision of highly qualified specialists for the defense industry.

During the meeting, views were exchanged on joint projects planned to be implemented in the field of defense industry, the expansion of scientific research activities, the development of innovative technologies, the strengthening of human capital, specialist training, students’ industrial internships, and new directions of university-industry cooperation.