Dear colleagues,

Welcome to the April-June issue of the ADA University Quarterly Newsletter. In this issue we will share with you summaries of University organized events, new collaborations, highlights of student and social life at ADA, as well as faculty and student achievements. You will also learn about the upcoming major conference to be organized by ADA jointly with its partners.

Best regards,

Department for Marketing and Communications Team

ADA University

On June 20,  ADA University graduated 29 more Masters of Arts in Diplomacy and International Affairs (MADIA) during its Commencement Ceremony. This was the 4th graduation in ADA’s history and the first to be marked under the name of ADA University.

Professor Samad Seyidov, Chair the Azerbaijani delegation to Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Rector of Azerbaijan University of Languages joined the ceremony as a keynote speaker to congratulate and wish success to MADIA-ns.

Rector of ADA University, Ambassador Hafiz Pashayev, congratulated the class. “Students, whether they are current or alumni, are what a university is about. Read more...

International student body of ADA University now represents almost all regions of the world, including Central and Eastern Europe, North and Latin America, Africa, Central, South and South-East Asia. ADA University finalised admission process of the international students for 2014-2015 academic year. Admission process has undergone for both undergraduate and graduate levels and totally around fifty students from 27 countries has been admitted to the University. These students represent U.S., Cameroon, Serbia, Lithuania, Vietnam, Norway, Kuwait, Russia, Cambodia, Georgia, Montenegro, Gambia, Palestine, Ukraine, South Africa, Argentina, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bahamas, Ecuador, Kenya, Slovakia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sudan, and Zambia.

It is worth to mention that this year we have 12 new countries added to the international student body of the University. These countries are as follows: Bangladesh, Bahamas, Cambodia, Ecuador, Kuwait, Montenegro, Norway, Palestine, Serbia, South Africa, Sudan and Zambia.

To learn more about the admission process for local students please check the link out.

On May 21 Professor S. Frederick Starr, the founding chairman of the Central Asia -Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program, a joint transatlantic research and policy center affiliated with Johns Hopkins University-SAIS in Washington, received ADA University's honorary doctorate degree. The degree diploma was conferred by ADA Rector, Ambassador Hafiz Pashayev on the recommendation of the Faculty Senate for Professor Star's achievements in historical research, contribution to development of universities around the world and promotion of the US-Azerbaijan bilateral relations. The ceremony also featured a presentation of Professor Star's latest book titled "Lost Enlightenment: Central Asia's Golden Age from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane".

On June 28th , Alumni Relations office hold the second ADA University Annual Alumni Day. Some 50 Alumni representing all Alumni classes- MADIA 2011, MADIA 2012 , MADIA 2013 and MADIA 2014 participated in the event. Vice-rector Fariz Ismailzade welcomed all the participants and talked to Alumni about how valuable they are for our University. The welcoming speech was followed by a presentation about Alumni activities, projects and upcoming events. Read more...

On May 1st, the entire ADA Community celebrated its very own tradition - The Day of Active Citizenship and Social Responsibility Day.

The Gala Reception, that brought together ADA students, faculty and staff, featured speeches on the importance of this award to the University and the whole society, performances by students and other beneficiaries of the projects, videos about this year's projects implemented by students throughout the academic year, as well as on the history of the HZT Award. International students and faculty of ADA University also joined the celebration of ADA Citizenship which is not only limited to local Azerbaijanis, but proudly holds a global character, with more than 30 countries being represented by our international students, staff and faculty. Read more...

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso has given a lecture at ADA University in Baku. Called “EU-Azerbaijan – new opportunities and challenges”, the lecture was attended by state officials, members of the parliament, university rectors and diplomats.

Speaking to the event, deputy Foreign Minister, Rector of ADA University Hafiz Pashayev said Azerbaijan was cooperating with the European Union in a variety of fields. Mr. Pashayev hailed bilateral projects between the country and the EU in the educational, trade, and energy spheres. Read more...

An international conference marking the 150th anniversary of Alimardan bay Topchubashov, one of the founders of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR), Speaker of the Parliament and Foreign Minister of the ADR, was held at ADA University. Opening the conference, Rector of the ADA University, Deputy Foreign Minister Hafiz Pashayev noted it was co-organized by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

Mr. Pashayev said that President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed an order on celebration of the 150th jubilee of Alimardan bay Topchubashov, describing it as a sign of the President’s commending the services of Alimardan bay Topchubashov. Read more...

A group of students of ADA University traveled to Perugia, Italy between 24 May -28 June 2014.

The students attended 2 courses: one in Italian Language, one in Italian Culture. They studied at UMBRA INSTITUTE-in the heart of Perugia-Italy. Umbra Institute is a well-established American Study Abroad School and therefore our students will be taking classes with American students in order to improve their English skills. Read more...

On June 11, 2014, Professor Wang Jisi, Dean of the School of International Studies, Pekin University and director of the Center for International and Strategic Studies gave a lecture at ADA University as the first event of “Baku Dialogues” project. “Baku Dialogues” is the new project launched by ADA University. The main topics of the lecture were the strategic and geopolitical position of China in the region and the Chinese-Azerbaijani relationship.

"Baku Dialogues" is a series of events featuring leading world personalities who will address subjects of current international interest by presenting their views and participating in discussion of these subjects with interested Azerbaijani and international figures. These presentations and discussions will be recorded in the forthcoming "Baku Dialogues" quarterly, ADA’s new journal of record for academic research conducted under the auspices of the university.

29 students of the EMBA Class of 2015, ADA University, travelled from Baku to Maastricht for module exams and courses at the Maastricht School of Management (MsM). The trip was in fulfillment of the requirement for the EMBA program under the agreement between MsM and ADA University. Based on the curriculum, students are required to have their 3rd Module at the MsM campus, in Maastricht, Netherlands.

The group arrived on MsM campus and immediately participated in the working-visit meeting with H.E. Mrs. Lilianne Ploumen. The meeting was used as an opportunity for MsM to introduce to the Minister the international world of MSM that has recently been nominated as a finalist for the Nuffic Orange Carpet Award for its contribution to the internationalization of higher education in the Netherlands. Joining the students from Azerbaijan were MsM students from all over the world. Read more...

ADA University Executive Education Department continued offering its broad range of training programs for its clients.

The three month long “Management Development Program” for Central Bank managers has been concluded in the end of May. 22 mid level professionals received certificates on successful participation in four module program covering Management and Leadership Skills.   During the same period, another tailored program has been successfully implemented for managers of Embawood. The three-month program offered four modules including the topics of Self Management Skills, General Management and Leadership Skills.

On April 22, Executive Education started Advanced Foreign Services Program for 24 Junior Diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The first part of the program consisted of Teamwork and Motivation, Diplomatic Protocol, Effective Communication Skills, Intercultural Communication, and Presentation and Public Speaking Skills courses.

Apart from customized programs, during the months of March and May, Executive Education offered two Open Enrollment courses on “Strategic Management and Adaptive Leadership” by Mr. Emin Huseynov, Vice Rector for Strategy and Development of ADA University and “Effective Communication Skills” by Ms. Aygun Hajiyeva, Director of ADA University Executive Education. The participants represented organizations such as Pasha Bank, Azercell, Metak, State Treasury Agency and North West Construction.

Gunay Badalova is the winner of the 3rd Univision Song Contest organzied by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Union of Azerbaijani Student Youth Organizations. The final stage took place on April 21 at Heydar Aliyev Palace where all Azerbaijani Universities were represented.

The winner represented Azerbaijan at II International Univision Song Contest. II International Univision Song Contest was held in Baku on May 21. At the contest about 40 countries were presented. Gunay took second place at the II International Univision song contest.

On 19 June 2014 students of the Masters program in International Affairs who paid a visit to Mongolia, Vietnam and Japan in order to explore the business environment of the Asian continent on March, held a presentation of the “Go to Asia” project. The goal of the project was to enhance the business interests of Azerbaijan and to research investment opportunities in these countries. The project was dedicated to 3 countries (Mongolia, Vietnam, Japan) of the Asian continent that are relatively stable and economically promising. The political, economic, social and cultural environment of those countries was researched and Azerbaijan's business opportunities were assessed accordingly. Read more...

We are proud of our students, Rugiya Gahramanli (BA'16), Emil Aghjayev (BA'18) and Gulnar Dadashova (BA'18) for their enormous success at Asian Youth Debates organised by Asian Development Bank during the Annual Meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan. Azerbaijani team "ADA University" was announced the strongest team among all participating countries according to the rounds played. Rugiya Gahramanli was chosen as the best speaker (debater) among debaters from all countries.

ADA university launches new EU co-funded project on supporting civil service training capacities with a focus on EU affairs. Since 1 January 2014, the two-year project “Support to Civil Service EU Trainings and Establishment of Centre of Excellence in EU studies at ADA University” has commenced its activities. The project is implemented in consortium with the College of Europe and financed by European Union.

The overall goal is to provide support to the ADA in the implementation of the Institution Reform Plan (IRP3) within the Comprehensive Institutional Building (CIB) programme. Read more...

A delegation from Netherlands visited ADA University within the framework of cooperation with the Maastricht School of Management. On April 23, guests met with the rector of ADA University, Ambassador Hafiz Pashayev. During the meeting, the delegation learned about the economy and ways of doing business in the country.

On the same day, the English - Dutch Business Forum was held. During the visit, the delegation held a number of meetings. On April 24, the ADA University held an event for an occasion of the Royal Netherlands Embassy.

In addition, the delegation metwith MSM graduates and current participants of ADA-MsM MBA program. ADA University jointly with Holland Maastricht School of Management conducts the Executive MBA program.

On April 4 The Second French-Azerbaijan Educational Forum was held at ADA University jointly with Campus France and the Embassy of France in Azerbaijan.

The forum was attended by Rector of ADA University, Ambassador Hafiz Pashayev, Deputy Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov, French Ambassador in Baku Pascal Meunier, Director General of Campus France Antoine Grassin, as well as representatives of 14 Universities of France. Read more...