In recent years, Azerbaijan’s relations with African countries have become noticeably closer and more active. We see this not only in official meetings or agreements, but also in interpersonal relations, academic cooperation, and especially in the increasing number of African students studying at Azerbaijani universities.
elchi reports that Deputy Minister of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, Kanan Karimzada, said this in his speech at the conference dedicated to “Africa Day”.
“Today, more than 360 African students from 40 African countries are studying at Azerbaijani universities. When we meet with these students, talk to them, and listen to their experiences, we realize that this cooperation is not only institutional but also personal and human in nature.
At the same time, I would like to note that our higher education institutions are becoming increasingly international. In addition to Azerbaijani-language programs, we also offer academic opportunities in English, French, and Arabic. This helps students from different cultures feel more connected, more confident, and more active in academic life in Azerbaijan,” the deputy minister noted.
He stated that many African students studying in Azerbaijan came to our country through scholarship opportunities and that these students benefit from the Azerbaijani government’s support programs, including the Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant program.
“Africa is one of the youngest, most dynamic, and most promising regions in the world today. The future of global development, innovation, and even demographic changes will be largely shaped by African youth. That is why cooperation in the fields of education, science, technology, vocational training, and innovation is becoming increasingly important. We believe that Azerbaijan and African countries can achieve significant results together in these areas. At the same time, Azerbaijan understands very well the importance of investing in human capital. Our country has gone through a great path of transformation and development in recent years, and education has always been one of the main pillars of our progress,” Kanan Karimzada said.