UNEC Hosts the 3rd Foreign Language Teachers’ Forum
The 3rd Foreign Language Teachers’ Forum, dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), was successfully held on the university campus.
Organized by the UNEC Department of Foreign Languages, this year’s forum was centered around the theme “Language Skills and Economic Opportunities: Preparing Students for the Global Market.” The event brought together a distinguished group of local and international participants, including representatives from the British Council, Beijing Foreign Studies University, the Confucius Institute, as well as language experts and instructors from leading higher education institutions in Azerbaijan.
In his opening address, Associate Professor Garay Musayev, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at UNEC, highlighted the ongoing reforms in foreign language instruction at the university. He emphasized the strategic efforts undertaken by the Foreign Languages Department and underlined the significance of language competencies in facilitating students’ integration into the global labor market. He also noted UNEC’s commitment to aligning its language education practices with international standards.
The forum featured keynote speeches by His Excellency Fergus Auld, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Azerbaijan, and Ms. Nargiz Hajiyeva, Director of the British Council in Azerbaijan. Both speakers commended UNEC’s progressive initiatives in the field of language education, stressing the wide-ranging opportunities afforded by linguistic competence. They also expressed appreciation for the forum’s role in promoting modern teaching methodologies, encouraging experience sharing, and strengthening cooperation between local and international professionals.
Moderated by Associate Professor Aysel Khalilova, Director of the UNEC Department of Foreign Languages, and Mr. Francesco Banchini, Director General of the European Azerbaijan School, the forum included presentations from notable scholars. Among them were Professor Hua Yang of Beijing Foreign Studies University and Dr. Akshin Aliyev, Head of the Department of Azerbaijani Language at the university’s Faculty of Asian Studies. Speakers shared insights on new initiatives in foreign language education and discussed innovative strategies for developing language teaching practices.
The second day of the forum will feature practical workshops conducted by British Council-accredited trainers and UNEC’s professional faculty members. Topics include the integration of artificial intelligence in education, interactive teaching methodologies, and innovations in language instruction.