The cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan in the sphere of education dates centuries back. The same applies to our good neighborly relations, friendship and strategic partnership between the two nations. Azerbaijani Minister of Education, Mikayil Jabbarov, said as much during his visit to Moscow to attend the opening of the Moscow International Salon of education at VDNKh.
The Minister visited the Russian State Humanitarian University, where he met with the staff, talked with the management, and held a joint press conference with the President of Russian State University for the Humanities, Yefim Pivovar. Mikayil Jabbarov reminded that today the two countries are actively cooperating in the field of education. "In October 2015 I visited the International Open Innovations Forum in Moscow, and in November we had the honor to receive my counterpart Dmitry Livanov in Baku. This time the main purpose of my visit is to take part in the educational forum," – he said.
The Minister drew attention to how closely connected the Russian and Azerbaijani educational systems are. "At the undergraduate level there are branches of two Russian universities in Azerbaijan today: Lomonosov Moscow State University and Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. In turn, there is the Derbent branch of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics in Russia. We also have very close and long relations with RSUH. This is the first time I have a chance to visit the university campus and meet the rector, but it's not the first time I see the President of the university," – said Mikayil Jabbarov.
"We discussed the possibility of cooperation during our previous meetings, and I think that today's meeting will give us an impetus to continue implementing a number of specific projects aimed at raising awareness among the students and academia, as well as further develop the academic program," – said the Azerbaijani Minister of Education.
President of the RSUH Yefim Pivovar reminded about an active cooperation between the university and Azerbaijani educational institutions. "We are pleased that the Azerbaijani Minister of Education visited our university. The Russian State Humanitarian University is training the staff in Azerbaijan studies, we teach the language, culture and history of Azerbaijan and Caucasus in general. It is important for us to continue this work: it's about the significance of the Caspian region, our bilateral relations and cooperation with the Islamic world, with neighbors of Azerbaijan, including Turkey and Iran. Of course, we are counting on the cooperation of the Eurasian integration processes with Azerbaijan's multidimensional policy," – noted the president of the university.
According to Yefim Pivovar, the development of relations between the two countries is heading in the right direction. "I am referring, first of all, to our cultural exchange: regular visits of our art and design specialists, art historians and specialists in museum management to Azerbaijan, and our invitations to our colleagues to visit us. We will continue our work, because Azerbaijan's rich cultural heritage is unique and very valuable for us. Thanks to the wise policies implemented by Heydar Aliyev and Ilham Aliyev, the Russian sector in the Azerbaijani education was not reduced, but on the contrary, has been steadily developing. We can communicate without any difficulties, while at the same time we are studying the Azerbaijani language and culture. These contacts are very valuable for us," – he concluded.
