Establishment of UFAZ
The initiative to establish the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ) was put forward by the Presidents of Azerbaijan and France in 2014. On May 12, 2014, within the framework of French President François Hollande's visit to Baku, a "Letter of Intent on cooperation in the field of university collaboration between the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research of the Republic of France" was signed by Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov and the French Minister of State for Higher Education and Research, Geneviève Fioraso.
On April 25, 2015, in Baku, with the participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of France François Hollande, a "Letter of Intent regarding the Azerbaijani-French University between the Minister of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research of the Republic of France" was signed.
The document was signed by the Minister of Education of Azerbaijan, Mikayil Jabbarov, and the Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan, Pascal Meunier. On May 22, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the approval of the Letter of Intent.
On June 9, 2016, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed a decree on the implementation of the "Joint French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ)" project.
Articles of the document:
Higher education institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan involved in the UFAZ project shall be granted the right to independently conduct student selection based on the results of entrance examinations held by the State Examination Center of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a public legal entity.
It shall be determined that higher education institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan involved in the UFAZ project:
2.1. Have the right to jointly manage the educational programs of the relevant higher education institutions of the Republic of France that they implement.
2.2. In cases where the material and technical base permits, may also conduct student admission on a tuition-based basis in excess of the number of students receiving education at the state expense determined for the UFAZ project.
The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall:
3.1. Determine annually the number of students receiving education at the state expense within the framework of the UFAZ project;
3.2. Resolve issues regarding the organization of the material and technical base and the financing of operational expenses of the higher education institutions to be involved in the UFAZ project;
3.3. Resolve other matters arising from this Decree.
Launch of Operations
On September 15, 2016, the opening ceremony of the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ) was held. The event was attended by the Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov, the Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan Aurélia Bouchez, the Head of the Delegation for European and International Relations and Cooperation of the French Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research Marianne de Brunhoff, the Vice-President for International Relations of the University of Strasbourg Francis Kern, as well as the faculty, students, and parents of UFAZ.
Congratulating the teachers and students on the occasion of the opening of UFAZ, Mikayil Jabbarov stated that the ongoing reforms have led to qualitative changes at all stages and levels of education.
The French representatives expressed their hope for the successful operation of UFAZ. The participants of the ceremony familiarized themselves closely with UFAZ. The guests were provided with detailed information regarding the educational environment and facilities of the higher education institution.
Report on UFAZ
On October 7, 2016, at a meetingof the Cabinet of Ministers chaired by President Ilham Aliyev and dedicated to the results of the socio-economic development of the first nine months of the year and the tasks ahead, Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov delivered a report. He brought to the attention of the participants that the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ) had admitted its first students. The Minister noted that 143 students were admitted, including 23 on a tuition-paying basis, and that they had begun their education in English across four specializations: Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Geophysical Engineering, and Oil and Gas Engineering. At the same time, Mikayil Jabbarov emphasized that cooperation had been established with the University of Strasbourg and the University of Rennes 1 for these specializations, and it was decided that graduates would be awarded dual diplomas (both Azerbaijani and French).
Azerbaijani and French Officials at UFAZ
On February 8, 2017, President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Jean-Vincent Placé, the Minister of State for State Reform and Simplification attached to the Prime Minister of the French Republic, member of the government, and Chairman of the Ecologist Party. On February 9, the delegation visited the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ) together with the Deputy Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov, the Rector of ASOIU Professor Mustafa Babanli, vice-rectors of the university, students, and media representatives.
During the meeting, the Director of UFAZ, Vazeh Asgarov, provided detailed information about the activities of this higher education institution and the educational process at the university. The French State Secretary Jean-Vincent Placé stated that UFAZ is the most successful project between France and Azerbaijan in the field of higher education. Deputy Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that UFAZ represents a new stage in the educational relations between the two countries. The Rector of ASOIU, Professor Mustafa Babanli, expressed his satisfaction with the teaching at UFAZ and the performance of the students.
Opening of the New Academic Building
On September 15, 2017, the inauguration ceremony of the new educational building of the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ) was held. The event was attended by the Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov, the Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, the Director General for Research and Innovation of the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation Alain Beretz, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to our country Ms. Aurélia Bouchez, the Rector of ASOIU Professor Mustafa Babanli, the Vice-President of the University of Strasbourg Irène Jacoberger, and the President of the Foundation for Chemistry Research of France Bernard Meunier.
Mikayil Jabbarov noted that the opening of UFAZ's new educational building is one of the landmark events for the cooperation between Azerbaijan and France.
In his speech, the Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, expressed great satisfaction in collaborating with Azerbaijan in the establishment of UFAZ.
The Director General for Research and Innovation of the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Alain Beretz, noted that the UFAZ project is the result of successful joint efforts between Azerbaijan and France, emphasizing that the French-Azerbaijani University achieved excellent results in its first academic year of operation.
Within the framework of the inauguration ceremony, an agreement on the establishment of the UFAZ Foundation was signed with the joint participation of ASOIU, the University of Strasbourg, and the Foundation for Chemistry Research of France.
Exhibition at UFAZ
On May 27, 2018, the official opening ceremony of an archive exhibition from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, was held at the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ).
The event was attended by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Minister of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, the Rector of ASOIU, Professor Mustafa Babanli, the Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan, Aurélia Bouchez, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of our country to France, Rahman Mustafayev, the presidents of the Universities of Strasbourg and Rennes 1, the President of the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), Jean-Yves Le Gall, the President of Airbus DS France, Nicolas Chamussy, the President of "Azercosmos," Rashad Nabiyev, as well as students and media representatives.
Subsequently, the ministers attended a signing ceremony for a memorandum of cooperation between UFAZ and the French company "Thales," the "Baku Metro" Closed Joint-Stock Company, and the German company "Schneider Electric."
Opening of the Laboratory Building
In 2018, educational laboratories were commissioned for students of the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ) studying in the fields of chemistry, physics, and computer science, located within a 2,500 square meter area in the second academic building of the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU). The laboratories were installed based on the standards of the University of Strasbourg.
Opening of the Career Center
On June 25, 2022, the inauguration of the Baku Francophone Career Center took place at the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ).
The Rector of ASOIU, Professor Mustafa Babanli, expressed his hope that the newly established career center would provide broader career opportunities and cooperation prospects for UFAZ students.
The Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), Dr. Mohamed Ketata, spoke about the strategic importance of opening the first such career center in Azerbaijan and noted that the center would create new opportunities for UFAZ students and graduates.
Support from the Governments of Azerbaijan and France
On March 14, 2017, following the signing ceremony of documents in Paris, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of France François Hollande made statementsto the press. The leaders highly appreciated the process of cooperation in higher education between the two states, particularly the activities of the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ).
During a dinner hosted in honor of the President of Azerbaijan in Paris, French President François Hollande expressed his pride in the success of this university and thanked President Ilham Aliyev for his support in the realization of the project.
On November 2, 2017, the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, met with membersof the France-Azerbaijan Friendship Group of the French National Assembly in Baku. While discussing the projects implemented between the two countries, the First Vice-President noted that the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ) contributes to the development of our country's education system and bilateral relations.
In a letteraddressed to President Ilham Aliyev on March 7, 2022, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and France, President Emmanuel Macron described the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ) as the cornerstone of friendship between the two countries.