The 1st International Forum of Universities and Employers Held at UNEC
The 1st International Forum of Universities and Employers was organized by the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) and the State Employment Agency.
The forum was attended by leaders from public and private sectors, employers, local and international experts, academics, and other invited guests.
Delivering the opening speech, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Associate Professor Garay Musayev, stated that the forum, held within the framework of UNEC’s 95th anniversary, aimed to strengthen cooperation between universities and employers and to enhance the readiness of young people for the labor market. The Vice-Rector outlined UNEC’s objective in this direction as follows: “The main goal of modern higher education is to prepare students not only with theoretical knowledge but also with practical skills and agile thinking for professional life. UNEC, through its ‘From classroom to career’ approach, aligns students’ education with real work environments.”
Deputy Chairman of the Board of the State Employment Agency, Ramal Guluzade, emphasized the significance of the forum and highlighted the importance of collaboration between universities and the business sector for graduate employability and the alignment of education with labor market demands. He pointed out that UNEC graduates have a high employment rate, noting that this figure exceeded 63 percent based on data from 2018 to 2022.
Advisor to the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency (AFSA), Elkhan Mikayilov, stressed that global developments necessitate new approaches in higher education. He noted that UNEC trains highly qualified professionals in food safety and mentioned that the majority of specialists in this field are UNEC graduates.
Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan-Turkey Businessmen’s Association (ATIB), Mursal Rustamov, spoke about the cooperation between UNEC and ATIB. He stated that under the memorandum signed between the two organizations, successful collaboration has been carried out, and expressed confidence that the forum would serve as an important platform for establishing new partnerships.
Chairman of the Board of MUSIAD Azerbaijan, Rashad Jabirli, stated that the forum strengthens the relationship between universities and employers. Highlighting the collaborative work between MUSIAD and UNEC, Mr. Jabirli emphasized that UNEC plays a leading role in preparing personnel that meet labor market demands.
Chairman of the Azerbaijan Society of Appraisers, Vugar Oruj, spoke about the organization’s cooperation with universities. He mentioned that around 100 UNEC students intern at the society each year, and that the majority of them go on to begin their professional careers within those companies.
Deputy Chairman of the State Statistics Committee, Yusif Yusifov, presented information on the structure and recruitment procedures of the committee, as well as the employment of UNEC graduates within the organization: “Currently, 357 UNEC graduates work at the State Statistics Committee. Among them, 134 individuals (44.5 percent) hold various positions within the committee’s central office.” Mr. Yusifov also noted that all three deputy chairpersons of the committee are UNEC alumni.
Subsequently, Deputy Director and Chief Human Resources Officer of PASHA Holding, Ad Boon, presented on “The Future of Work,” Vice-Rector of Milton Friedman University in Hungary, Assoc. Prof. Péter Szatmári, presented on “Innovation in Economic Education: Opportunities for Collaboration between UNEC and Milton Friedman University,” Coordinator of the Directorate of Scientific Affairs and International Relations of the University of Miskolc in Hungary, Burak Akın, presented on “Education in Hungary: Scholarships and Opportunities.”
At the conclusion of the forum, Head of UNEC’s Internship Coordination Department, Leyla Nazirzada, shared information about the department’s operations and ongoing projects. She emphasized that the forum’s outcomes would contribute significantly to fostering new cooperation opportunities between universities and companies, expanding internship and job opportunities for students, and updating educational and internship programs in line with labor market requirements.
Following the speeches, the forum continued in a hybrid format with panel discussions. The main discussion topics included “Alignment of education and career – dialogue between universities and employers,” “Networking and knowledge exchange,” “Inclusion and accessibility in the labor market,” “Use of artificial intelligence tools in daily work processes,” “Human management and motivation strategies,” and “The role of career centers in preparing youth for the professional world.”