Vice-rectors and other authorized representatives of 20 higher education institutions, which are members of the project consortium of Azerbaijan, made next business visit to Poland as part of the the “Erasmus+” project titled “Establishment of the Rectors' Conference in Azerbaijan” (ECAR), of which Azerbaijan University is a partner. The purpose of visit, organized by the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP), was to study the issues of strategic development of Polish higher education institutions. Bakhtiyar Badalov, Head of International Relations Department, represented Azerbaijan University on the visit.

Members of the project consortium visited Kozminski University in the first two days of the visit. The University's experiences on local and European projects related to overall development, sustainable development, digital transformation strategies, as well as staff improvement were studied here. 

In the following days of the visit, Michał Zasada, rector of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences and vice-president of the Conference of Rectors of Polish Universities, provided detailed information to the participants of the event about the management of human resources in strategic planning, the main criteria of financial management, including the activities of CRASP. Staff of the host university conducted trainings and seminars on such important topics as interrelationship of strategic development and quality issues, monitoring and evaluation processes in Polish higher education institutions, and accreditation criteria for strategic management. CRASP Secretary General Agata Kulesza exchanged views with participants on the national and international experiences of the conference. 

As part of the training program, Shahla Kazimova, staff member of Warsaw University of Life Sciences, made a presentation for delegation about teaching of Azerbaijani language, promotion of Azerbaijani culture, as well as about scientific conferences and other events in this higher educational institution. 

During the visit, representatives of Azerbaijani higher education institutions met with Nargiz Gurbanova, Azerbaijani ambassador to Poland. Giving information about socio-cultural events and projects implemented in Poland, especially in higher institutions, the ambassador invited universities to strengthen cooperation with Polish higher education institutions and said that appropriate support could be provided in this direction.

At the end of the training program, moderated by project coordinator Gulshan Bayramova and together with Araz Aslanli, Chairman of the Strategic Development Committee, created as a pilot body within the framework of the ECAR project, discussions were held on the implementation of activities within the framework of the project and the important tasks ahead, as well as the future action plan of the Strategic Development Committee.

It should be noted that the coordinator of the project, which is being implemented with financial support of the European Commission, is Baku Business University. The main goal of the project is to develop a national network and cooperation between universities and other stakeholders through the creation of a conference of rectors in accordance with national development strategies. 20 higher education institutions and organizations from Azerbaijan and 5 from Europe participate in the project.

Public Relations Department