Opening ceremony of Azerbaijan-French University held in Baku

By Azernews

By Gunay Hasanova

The opening Ceremony of UFAZ University was held in Baku on September 15, the Day of Knowledge and start of a new academic year.

The opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov, French ambassador to Azerbaijan Aurelia Boucher, representatives of the university leadership and public members, reported Day.Az.

Project UFAZ is the result of a unique collaboration in the field of education, and demonstrates the level of French-Azerbaijani relations, said French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Aurelia Bouchez at the opening ceremony of the French-Azerbaijan University (UFAZ).

 She noted that the project UFAZ, implemented at the joint initiative of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and French President Francois Hollande, is a new stage in the development of comprehensive relations between the two countries.

“With the creation of this university both countries are embarking on a remarkable project,” said Bouchez, adding that the opening of the University UFAZ will contribute to the economic development and attraction of foreign investments in Azerbaijan.

Moreover, the ambassador stressed that professors from France will also share their knowledge with the students in UFAZ.

In addition, the ambassador said that UFAZ starting from the next academic year, the studies will take place in the new building.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov congratulated the students of the university and stressed that the establishment of the university is a successful project of the higher education systems of the two countries.

"I am convinced that in the near future UFAZ will become one of the most prestigious schools in the region. We believe that it is possible to expand the project UFAZ and creating new specialties,” the minister said.

He mentioned that according to the results of entrance exams conducted by the National Examination Center, 143 people got admitted to UFAZ, 120 of which will be studying on the state basis, and 23 people will pay tuition fees.

Jabbarov told that UFAZ project started its functioning under the Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry (AGUNP).

In the 2016-2017 academic year UFAZ held admission of students for four specialties - chemical engineering (AGUNP and the University of Strasbourg), computer science (AGUNP and the University of Strasbourg), Geophysical Engineering (AGUNP and the University of Strasbourg) and the development and exploitation of oil fields (AGUNP and Renn1 University).

The project UFAZ is implemented jointly by the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU) and the French Universities of Strasbourg and Rennes on the initiative of the Azerbaijani and French presidents.

The duration of the education is four years (one year of training + three years of basic study), which will be conducted in English. Training is planned to be fully conducted in the ASOIU in Baku.

An international academic staff of high qualified French and Azerbaijani professors will deliver lectures mainly in the English language, while the French language will be gradually integrated.

The opening of the UFAZ in Baku will be beneficial primarily to students, as they will be provided with a double diploma.

University graduates will be issued a double diploma -- University of Strasbourg and ASOIU (the first three specialties) and the University of Renn1 and ASOIU (the last specialty).

Classes for students will be first in English, and then in French, which means that University graduates can be provided with jobs in Azerbaijani, English and French companies.