Ulviyya Abbasova, Advisor to the Rector on Rankings at Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, spoke at a panel session held within the framework of “QS Africa Forum 2026”, which took place on 9–10 July 2026 in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
The panel session, titled “Sustainable Higher Education: Aligning Growth with Climate and Social Impact”, focused on key issues such as climate challenges in the development of higher education institutions, social responsibility, sustainable development, international cooperation, and the impact of universities on society.
Leigh Kamolins, Vice President, Evaluation and Insights at QS Quacquarelli Symonds, moderated the panel. The speakers included Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Nigeria; Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria; and Ulviyya Abbasova, Advisor to the Rector on Rankings at Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University.
In her speech, Ulviyya Abbasova emphasized the important role of higher education institutions in promoting sustainable development. She noted that universities are not only academic institutions that train future professionals, but also key institutions that contribute to addressing global challenges such as climate change, energy transition, social responsibility, innovation, and sustainable development.
Speaking about ASOIU’s activities in this area, Ulviyya Abbasova stated that sustainability at the university is supported through education, research, international cooperation, industry partnerships, and public initiatives. She highlighted that ASOIU contributes to the sustainable development agenda through initiatives aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, environmental awareness activities, “GreenTech” competitions, innovation programs, and industry cooperation projects.
ASOIU’s international partnerships were also highlighted in the speech. Ulviyya Abbasova presented the joint master’s program in Renewable Energy Sources implemented between Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University and the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, as well as the UFAZ project implemented jointly with the University of Strasbourg, as successful examples of international cooperation in the fields of sustainable development, energy, engineering, research, and innovation.
