Cooperation Opportunities Between BEU and AZAL Discussed

A meeting devoted to cooperation opportunities was held at Baku Engineering University (BEU) with a delegation from Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) CJSC.

BEU Rector Yagub Piriyev welcomed the event participants and stated that one of the main directions of the university's development strategy is the training of highly qualified, innovative specialists who meet the modern demands of the labor market. He noted that, against the backdrop of the challenges of the new industrial revolution, digital transformation processes, and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies, the field of information technology has been identified as one of the priority areas at BEU. In this direction, the improvement of academic programs in accordance with international standards, the creation of modern infrastructure, and the strengthening of industry integration are being consistently pursued. Highlighting the steps taken by the university to expand its international ties and improve the quality of education, Yaqub Piriyev stated that the dual degree programs successfully implemented with leading higher education institutions in China and South Korea provide students with the opportunity to acquire internationally competitive knowledge and skills and to assimilate advanced experience in modern engineering and technology fields.

The Rector also drew attention to the significant results achieved in recent years in improving the quality indicators of research activities at BEU. He stated that deepening cooperation among education, science, and industry is one of the important components of BEU's strategic development concept. Yagub Piriyev expressed his confidence that cooperation with AZAL — one of the country's strategically important leading institutions — will make a significant contribution to improving the quality of personnel training in the fields of engineering and IT, the professional development of students, and the expansion of future employment opportunities.

Subsequently, Nigar Orujova, Deputy Head of AZAL's Human Resources Department, and Azizbika Abdullayeva, Leading Specialist, presented the company's cooperation concept with universities and the projects planned in this direction. The presentation emphasized that the primary objective of the cooperation is the early identification of promising technical personnel for the aviation sector, the strengthening of ties between education and industry, and the creation of an effective career transition mechanism for students. The main directions of cooperation discussed included the organization of aviation-themed lectures, seminars, and workshops at BEU; the holding of Open Door days; the preparation of final-year projects on topics aligned with AZAL's areas of activity; the selection of student ambassadors at the university within the framework of AZAL's "SkyHub" talent platform; and the engagement of selected students in industrial placements at the company. It was noted that the "SkyHub" platform is intended to facilitate the early identification of university students, support their professional development, and contribute to building the company's future personnel reserve.

The meeting included an exchange of views on expanding joint activities, reinforcing students' theoretical knowledge with practical skills, and future cooperation prospects, and an agreement was reached to continue cooperation on the basis of a concrete action plan.