Qafqaz University hosts youth festival devoted to national leader
By Aynur Jafarova
Qafqaz University, a private university based in Azerbaijan's capital Baku, hosted a youth festival dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Azerbaijani National Leader Heydar Aliyev on May 7.
Addressing the event, Qafqaz University principal, Prof. Ahmet Sanich said it was named the 5th Youth Festival following the example of Heydar Aliyev, who said "I see the future of the Turkic world in the young generation".
Sanich said love for the Motherland, love for Azerbaijan, for the people and nation, the national language and culture, holds a special place in Heydar Aliyev's heritage. He praised Heydar Aliyev's role in the development of education and its integration into the world education system.
He noted that President Ilham Aliyev is a successful follower of the National Leader.
Speaking about the successes of Qafqaz University students, the principal mentioned Zerrin Mahmudzade, who won the second student song contest "Univision", organized by the Azerbaijani Youth and Sports Ministry and the Azerbaijan Student Youth Organizations' Union.
Later, the 'Person of the Year' awards were presented to the nominees in different categories, selected by voting of the university's 3,000 students.
Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, editor-in chief of the international Baku magazine, chair of the Azerbaijan Youth Organization of Russia (AYOR), Leyla Aliyeva, was awarded in the nomination of the person with a special role in the representation and promotion of Azerbaijan in the world.
The Teacher of the Year award was presented to a teacher of the Mathematics and Information Science Department of the Qafqaz University, Bahman Mammadov; the local Company of the Year award was won by the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR; DIA Holding won the foreign Company of the Year award. Teymur Hajiyev was named the successful person in the business world, while Akbar Aghamaliyev was awarded for successful social activity. The Producer of the Year award went to Vahid Mustafayev, while the Man of Science award - to Abel Maharramov, and the Actor of the Year award was won by Elmaddin Jafarov.
The event also featured a concert and an exhibition of students' works.
Qafqaz University was founded in 1993. The education system and programs of Turkish and Western universities are taken as a model in preparing its curriculums. The main goal of the university is to provide students with higher education that meets international standards and play an active role in fostering excellence, cooperation and interaction with international academic milieu.