The founding meeting of the Alumni Association was held at Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), organized by the university’s Career and Employment Center.
The event was attended by AzTU’s honorary alumni, including Members of Parliament Zahid Oruj and Anar Mammadov, veteran alumnus and advisor-professor Rahim Shukyurov, as well as over 300 AzTU graduates currently working in various institutions, organizations, and enterprises. Members of the university’s academic staff who are also graduates were present as well.
The event began with a moment of silence to honor the memory of AzTU’s fallen alumni who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The National Anthem of Azerbaijan was then played.
In his opening speech, AzTU Rector Vilayat Valiyev welcomed all alumni, honorary guests, academic staff, and students. He emphasized that the founding meeting of the AzTU Alumni Association is a significant and memorable milestone in the university’s history. The Rector noted that the Association aims to build a strong bridge between graduates and the university, transforming these ties into more productive cooperation in work, science, and education. It also seeks to contribute to the preparation of highly qualified specialists for the country’s industry and to enhance AzTU’s international reputation.
Honorary alumnus and Member of Parliament Zahid Oruj recalled his student years and compared the university’s past and present opportunities, remarking that today’s students are more fortunate. He expressed hope that AzTU graduates would remain active across the regions, including in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, and contribute to the development of new engineering schools. He voiced confidence in the future successes of AzTU alumni.
Another honorary alumnus, Member of Parliament Anar Mammadov, wished success to the Alumni Association and thanked AzTU’s leadership for their trust and invitation. He pledged to support the activities of the Association to the best of his ability.
Advisor-professor Rahim Shukyurov, one of AzTU’s first graduates—who graduated 72 years ago and worked for many years in the university’s academic staff—gave a speech reflecting on the university’s historical development. He spoke about the specialists, scientists, state, and public figures the university has trained over the years, and its role in the development of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He emphasized that since the Soviet era, AzTU graduates have been among the leading figures in the country’s industry and highlighted the university’s important role in meeting the nation’s engineering needs.
AzTU’s Vice-Rector for Social Affairs and Public Relations, Narmin Rzayeva, presented the Alumni Association’s action plan. She stated that the main goal is to strengthen ties between the university and its alumni, develop career and mentorship programs, involve alumni in continuing education and training programs, and create a dynamic platform to ensure alumni support for the university. She provided detailed information on the Association’s values, goals, alumni surveys, identified gaps, suggestions, and successful models of alumni associations at global universities.
Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation Subhan Namazov shared his thoughts on AzTU’s distinct role as a technical university and its potential contributions to national development. He discussed the efforts of the initiative group behind the establishment of the Association and expressed confidence in its success. Namazov stated that the AzTU Alumni Association will have a Board of Directors, a Chairperson, a Coordinating Committee, and members. He emphasized the importance of aligning alumni with the labor market and creating a modern platform to meet the demands of the current era.
During the founding meeting, AzTU alumni unanimously supported the election of MP and honorary alumnus Anar Mammadov as Chairperson of the AzTU Alumni Association.
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