On April 21, 2022, the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU) and the University of Strasbourg (UNISTRA) signed a cooperation agreement in science and education in the Presidium of ANAS.
The ANAS Acting President, Academician Arif Hashimov, Vice-Presidents, Academicians Dilgam Tagiyev, Rasim Alguliyev, Irada Huseynova, Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, Head of the Scientific-Organizational Department of the ANAS Presidium, PhD in Physics, Associate Professor Rustam Rustamov, Head of the International Scientific Cooperation Department, PhD in Biology, Associate Professor Esmira Alirzayeva, Head of the Information Department, PhD in Philology Agahuseyn Shukurov and Scientific Secretary of the Presidium of ANAS, PhD in Philology Sarkhan Khavari attended the event.
Rector of the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Professor Mustafa Babanli, President of the University of Strasbourg Michel Deneken, Vice-President of the University of Strasbourg Jean-Marc Planeix, Executive Director of Azerbaijani- French University (UFAZ) Vazeh Asgarov, Secretary-General Elizabeth Bydanova, Head of Research Department Philippe Turek, as well as French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zacharie Gross, attended the signing ceremony.
Acting President of ANAS, Academician Arif Hashimov, welcomed the guests and informed them about the history of the Academy and its achievements.
ANAS Acting President highlighted that the agreement would give impetus to the expansion of relations between the parties, the implementation of joint scientific projects and research, and the training of young professionals.
UFAZ Executive Director Vazeh Asgarov thanked the leadership of ANAS for the event's organisation and introduced the French guests.
ASOIU Rector, Professor Mustafa Babanli, provided comprehensive information about UFAZ. He informed that the university announced its first admission in 2016 and had its first and second graduates in 2019 and 2020. In 2020 UFAZ announced admission to its first master's degree program. He added that UFAZ would train students for doctoral degrees and mentioned that agreement has already been signed between ASOIU and the University of Strasbourg.
Professor Mustafa Babanli underlined the need for the expertise of ANAS and Azerbaijani scientists as UFAZ has recently started UFAZ to implement scientific research, as well as the significance of joint research regarding the interests of our country and modern challenges, which will, in its turn, give impetus to the development of our republic and science in general. At the same time, he noted that the tripartite agreement would create a bridge between the Azerbaijani and French scientific centres.
President of the University of Strasbourg Michel Deneken noted that Unistra is one of the most established universities in Europe. Michel Deneken mentioned 5 Nobel laureates and about 30 French academics who work at the University of Strasbourg and that success of UFAZ in recent years had attracted the interest of these specialists, and they are ready to contribute to this process.
Recalling that he attended a meeting with the First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva in 2017, Michel Deneken noted that he was inspired by the meeting on the creation and development of a new education system in Azerbaijan, as well as establishing scientific laboratories that meet the standards of the modern world and conducting future research.
M.Deneken noted that the agreement is important for France and will open great opportunities for Azerbaijani youth, and he also invited the leadership of ANAS to the University of Strasbourg.
In turn, academician Arif Hashimov thanked for the invitation and mentioned the General Meeting of ANAS to be held on April 27, where an exhibition of scientific achievements of the Academy will be organised as part of the event, and he invited guests to visit the exhibition.
The French Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Zacharie Gross, stressed the importance of the agreement and underlined that the embassy was also interested in it. He noted that the document would play an essential role in conducting joint scientific work, holding interactive intellectual meetings and creating a research environment. He also said that the UFAZ fund had been established recently, and collaborative projects can be implemented with the financial support of this fund.
Vice-presidents of ANAS, academicians Dilgam Tagiyev, Rasim Alguliyev, Irada Huseynova and Govhar Bakhshaliyeva also spoke at the event and added that the agreement will be an intellectual bridge between the two countries and will play an important role in the integration between science and education, as well as training.
Later, an agreement on cooperation in science and education was signed between ANAS, ASOIU and the University of Strasbourg. The agreement was signed by academician Arif Hashimov from ANAS, professor Mustafa Babanli from ASOIU and President Michel Deneken from Strasbourg University.
The parties agreed to support education, scientific and technical development, research and exploration in the fields of earth and environmental sciences, oil, gas and other energy sources, chemistry and chemical engineering, materials science, computer science, information technology and artificial intelligence, organise seminars, joint symposiums, and conferences, support the participation of bachelors, masters, doctoral students and young researchers in collaborative scientific projects and activities, create common programs for the training of scientific staff and students of ANAS, ASOIU and UFAZ, and to create conditions for bachelor, master and doctoral students to use scientific equipment, laboratories for joint research, etc.
