The 17th Steering Committee Meeting Held at UFAZ

On March 17, the 17th meeting of the Steering Committee was held at the Azerbaijan French University (UFAZ). During the meeting, participants discussed the university’s strategic development, the current state of its academic and research activities, as well as plans for the coming years.

The meeting was co-chaired by Rufat Azizov, Rector of the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU), and Frédérique Berrod, President of the University of Strasbourg (UNISTRA).

Among the participants were Hasan Hasanli, Deputy Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan (joining online), Ulkar Sattarova, Director of the State Agency for Science and Higher Education, Sophie Lagoutte, Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan, Vazeh Asgarov, Executive Director of UFAZ, Martin Godon, Secretary General of the university, Jean-Marc Planeix, UFAZ Coordinator, Charles Denier, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs at the French Embassy, Dunya Babanly, Co-Chair of the UFAZ Research Council, Nigar Adilova, Co-Chair of the Academic Council, Naila Omerova, representative of the Ministry of Science and Education, and Samra Shiriyeva, Head of the Education Department at UFAZ.

The meeting began with welcoming remarks by Rufat Azizov, Rector of ASOIU. This was followed by a speech from Frédérique Berrod, President of UNISTRA, who highlighted the role of UFAZ in strengthening academic cooperation between Azerbaijan and France.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the recent progress and achievements of UFAZ. Particular attention was given to the university’s upcoming 10th anniversary, the results achieved over the past decade, and the establishment of a comprehensive education system covering bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs. The main events planned for the anniversary, including the presentation of a new logo and strategic communication initiatives, were also introduced.

The meeting also addressed the development of the French universities consortium and the expansion of the cooperation platform. In this context, participants discussed prospects for strengthening collaboration between the University of Strasbourg and other French higher education institutions.

Academic and research development was one of the central topics of the agenda. Participants were presented with overall statistics on UFAZ students at the bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD levels, and the current status of the admission process was reviewed.

A presentation was also delivered on the current state of the PhD programs, their achievements, and upcoming dissertation defenses. In particular, discussions focused on potential initiatives within the Cotutelle program for the 2026-2027 academic year.

The meeting also covered ongoing efforts to expand UFAZ’s educational and infrastructure capacities. These included the development of new teaching spaces, maintenance of laboratories and practical classrooms, and information about a new project planned in the fourth building of ASOIU.

Progress in organizing research activities was also presented. This includes the launch of new research projects, the establishment of analytical laboratories, and the development of the university’s research through international partnerships. It was emphasized that this strategy contributes to strengthening master’s programs and doctoral research.

Participants also discussed the strategic outlook for the next stage of UFAZ’s development. In this regard, the renewed composition of the Academic Committee and the Research Council was presented.

In addition, issues such as strengthening master’s and PhD programs, developing a new generation of teacher-researchers, supporting doctoral students, launching postdoctoral programs, and introducing a tenure-track model were discussed.

Later in the meeting, a voting procedure was conducted on several of the proposed agenda items.

The meeting concluded with closing remarks from the co-chairs, who emphasized the importance of continuing academic cooperation between Azerbaijan and France for the future development of UFAZ.