Baku Engineering University (BEU) and Inha University of South Korea have held an online signing ceremony of an agreement on an international dual degree program.

The signing ceremony moderated by  Head of the Public Relations Sector of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jasarat Valehov was attended by Deputy Minister of Education Idris Isayev, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Education, Head of the Department of Science, Higher and Secondary Special Education Yagub Piriyev, Head of the International Cooperation Department Nijat Mammadli, Acting Head of Management Group of State Program, Head of Unit Mujdat Hasanov, Rector of BEU, Professor Havar Mammadov, BEU Vice-Rector for International Relations Manafaddin Namazov, Rector of Inha University, Professor Myung Woo Cho and university staff, as well as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Korea to Azerbaijan Tong Op Kim. 

Deputy Minister of Education Idris Isayev stressed the importance of signing an agreement on the dual degree program. He noted that meetings were held with the delegation of Inha University at the beginning of this year, and a memorandum of understanding was signed between the two universities. Idris Isayev thanked the staff of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Inha University and BEU for their hard work. The Deputy Minister expressed his confidence that the program would develop the content of education in the field of engineering in Azerbaijan.

I.Isayev noted the additional opportunities created for universities by the "State Program on increasing international competitiveness of the higher education system in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2019-2023". He added that the dual degree program in the field of engineering would improve the quality of local programs and prepare highly qualified specialists.

Rector of Inha University, Professor Myung Woo Cho gave information about the history of the University. Inha University, which started operating as an Engineering College in 1954, is one of the innovative universities in Korea today. He spoke about the works to be done by Inha University in the framework of mutually beneficial cooperation with BEU, and emphasized the importance of international cooperation platforms. Noting the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Korea, the rector praised the opportunities of joint cooperation of professors and young researchers at the level of dual programs.

Rector of BEU, Professor Havar Mammadov has said that the dual degree program between the prestigious universities of the two countries will open up great opportunities for providing Azerbaijan with young engineers. He stressed the achievements of BEU, and noted that under the agreement, specialists in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering and Information Technology (Bachelor's degree) will be trained by experienced professors and lecturers. The rector expressed his confidence that alumni would contribute to the economic development of our country by working in various industrial enterprises of Azerbaijan.

Havar Mammadov brought into attention that the agreement would have a positive impact on the development of relations between South Korea and Azerbaijan in the field of education and culture. Adding that the Khirdalan Sejong Institute was established under BEU in 2020 together with the Sejong Institute and Inha University of the Republic of Korea, the rector said that from September this year, students, teachers and those who wanted to learn Korean would be taught the language by professional Korean and Azerbaijani teachers. The program is based on the 3 + 1 model. Thus, according to the dual degree program, students will study for 3 academic years at BEU and 1 academic year at Inha University in South Korea. After preparing and defending the thesis in English, students will receive two diplomas. The current program is fully funded by the state.

The rector said that despite some restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, BEU would use all opportunities to organize the qualitative education, and the University's modern material and technical base, library, Technopark, various laboratories would be at the disposal of students and teachers.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Azerbaijan Tong Op Kim congratulated on the signing of an agreement on the international dual degree program and expressed his satisfaction with the participation in this event. He praised the high level of online organization of the ceremony due to the pandemic as a result of the special attention and efforts of the Ministry of Education, BEU and Inha University.

Ambassador reminded that diplomatic relations between Korea and Azerbaijan date back to 1992, since then mutual visits have been organized with different state officials especially state heads between two states until now. He also noted that constantly extending exchange and cooperation between our countries in various fields enables the future of existing relations to be brighter.  In terms of developing relations, the signing of an agreement between Inha and BEU on a dual degree program is of particular importance.

Later, the two universities signed an agreement on an international double degree program.

After the signing ceremony, a press conference was held on the program. Nijat Mammadli, Head of the International Cooperation Department, Mujdat Hasanov, Head of Study Abroad and International  Students Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Education, and Manafaddin Namazov, Vice-Rector for International Relations of BEU, gave detailed information about the dual degree program and answered questions.

Public Relations Department