Azernews.Az

BAKU – Oil giant BP on Tuesday opened laboratories in a Baku-based university to further support education in Azerbaijan, BP Azerbaijan said.

The five facilities at the Qafqaz University are part of BP’s educational initiative launched in 2009 in collaboration with the university. The overall project aims to train specialists in chemical, petroleum and mechanical engineering courses through newly established departments.

The joint project is valued at a total of $2.24 million. BP’s contribution is $1.15 million, while the remaining cost is covered by the university.

The newly opened facilities are fully equipped laboratories specializing in such areas as general chemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, chemical engineering and physical chemistry. They are designed to help Qafqaz University students receive international standard education in their home country.

BP Azerbaijan’s Vice-President Seymour Khalilov told the opening that one of the company’s main goals is to contribute to Azerbaijan’s sustainable development, which requires more effort in strengthening links between education and industry.

BP Azerbaijan signed a memorandum of understanding with the Qafqaz University in 2009 committing support for broadening the university’s scope to cover undergraduate education in chemical, petroleum and mechanical engineering disciplines. Under the MoU, a chemical engineering department was opened at the university that year. 29 students have been admitted to the department so far, including three who received top scores in admission exams and have been honored with presidential scholarships.