Üsküdar University and Azerbaijan Institute of Theology signed a mutual cooperation protocol in the fields of academic, education, and scientific research. The cooperation aims to develop common areas of interest and friendly relations.
Initial contacts were made last year in November 2019, during Ganire Paşayeva's invitation of Üsküdar University's Institute of Sufi Studies and Kerim Foundation to Baku. On behalf of the Üsküdar University Delegation, Rector's Advisor Cemalnur Sargut gave various conferences at the Azerbaijan Institute and conducted discussions with the delegation. The final process was concretized on Thursday, December 10, with the establishment of an official protocol to structure academic cooperation between the two universities. The protocol signing ceremony was held under the direction of Üsküdar University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk and Dr. Ehmed Niyazov, representing the Rectorate of the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology.
The meeting, held in the Üsküdar University Senate Meeting Hall, was attended by Konuk and Niyazov, as well as Prof. Dr. Elif Erhan, Director of the Institute of Sufi Studies; Dr. Lect. F. Cangüzel Güner Zülfikar, Deputy Director of the Institute of Sufi Studies; Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören, Faculty Member of the Institute of Sufi Studies; and Kerim Güç, representing the Kerim Foundation. During the protocol signing ceremony, ideas were exchanged regarding the planned cooperation processes between the two institutions.
In his speech, Prof. Konuk emphasized that the two countries are brothers and expressed his belief that this cooperation would yield long-awaited and desired results for both nations. The unifying language of Sufi culture from the perspective of different disciplines and views was highlighted; the opinion was shared that Azerbaijan, as a common language and culture geography for Turkey, would be a source for many research studies. At the ceremony, Dr. Niyazov, on behalf of Dr. Akil Şirinov, Rector of the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology, conveyed his wishes for the signed joint protocol to yield beneficial outcomes and requested that his heartfelt thanks be extended to Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar University. The importance of the cooperation protocol coinciding with the historical process Azerbaijan is currently undergoing was emphasized, and various aspects of the protocol planned to be realized in the short, medium, and long term were evaluated. The initial collaborations between the universities will begin in the 2020-2021 Spring Semester with reciprocal courses.
The protocol signing ceremony concluded after a group photo session.