The success of international cooperation is measured not merely by the number of agreements signed, but by the tangible opportunities it creates for students, faculty members, and researchers. This principle guided the working meetings held by the delegation of the International Engineering and Technological University (METU) in the capital of Azerbaijan.

On 23 October 2026, a METU delegation led by Karlygash N. Shokhayeva, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, paid a working visit to leading higher education institutions in Baku. The visit aimed to strengthen existing partnerships, expand academic engagement, and identify new areas of joint activity between universities in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

A key highlight of the visit was a meeting with the leadership of Baku State University, one of METU`s strategic partners, with which cooperation has developed into an increasingly active and results-oriented partnership.

Since the previous academic year, METU and Baku State University have been systematically strengthening their academic cooperation, with particular emphasis on student mobility. For the second consecutive semester, METU has sent its students to Baku State University under the academic mobility programme. This demonstrates the transition from initial agreements to the systematic implementation of joint educational initiatives, providing students with valuable opportunities to gain international academic experience.

During the meeting, both parties reviewed the progress of their cooperation and discussed opportunities for further development. The discussions focused on expanding student academic mobility, promoting faculty exchanges through the Visiting Professor Programme, and developing joint initiatives aimed at strengthening the universities` international academic reputation and improving their positions in the QS World University Rankings.

Particular attention was also given to enhancing existing cooperation mechanisms, increasing student participation in international educational programmes, engaging international faculty members in teaching activities, and strengthening academic links between relevant departments.

Another important part of the working visit was a meeting at Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU).

Notably, the foundation for cooperation between the two universities was established in 2025 during an international QS Forum held in Tashkent. It was there that METU representatives first met Rufat Eyvaz oglu Azizov, Rector of Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University. This initial dialogue marked the starting point for establishing institutional contacts and identifying promising areas of future collaboration.

One year later, these initial connections evolved into substantive discussions held directly at the university`s campus in Baku. Consistent efforts to maintain professional relationships, sustain dialogue, and identify shared interests have made it possible to take another important step towards establishing a sustainable academic partnership.

During the visit, the METU delegation held a working meeting with Sabina Aliyeva, Head of the International Students Department. The discussions explored opportunities to strengthen bilateral academic cooperation, expand international educational opportunities, facilitate academic exchanges, and develop joint initiatives.

The meeting in Baku therefore represented a natural continuation of the dialogue initiated at the QS international forum in Tashkent, illustrating how sustained international engagement can gradually develop into concrete areas of inter-university cooperation.

Yet international partnerships are ultimately about people, and their most meaningful achievements are reflected in the experiences of students who are already pursuing their education beyond Kazakhstan.

As part of the working visit, the METU delegation also met with students currently studying at partner universities in Azerbaijan under the academic mobility programme during the autumn semester of the 2026–2027 academic year.

The meeting provided an opportunity for open and constructive dialogue. Students shared their experiences of studying abroad, discussed the characteristics of their academic programmes, their adaptation to a new educational environment, and their academic and personal achievements. University representatives, in turn, took an interest in the students` learning conditions, the challenges they faced, and opportunities to further improve academic mobility programmes.

Such meetings are particularly valuable as they not only help maintain direct communication with students studying overseas but also provide essential feedback for enhancing the quality of international educational programmes.

Today, academic mobility at METU means much more than spending a semester at a foreign university. It provides opportunities to experience different educational approaches, develop professional and intercultural competencies, broaden perspectives, and prepare a new generation of specialists capable of working confidently in an international environment.

The working visit to Baku demonstrated the consistency and effectiveness of METU`s international strategy: existing partnerships are producing practical results, while previously established contacts are becoming the foundation for new academic initiatives.

While cooperation with Baku State University is already delivering tangible outcomes through regular student mobility, the developing relationship with Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University highlights another important aspect of international engagement: the gradual development of partnerships, from initial official meetings to direct discussions on potential joint projects.

For the International Engineering and Technological University, international cooperation remains one of its key strategic priorities. Every new meeting, every collaborative initiative, and every student given the opportunity to study abroad contributes to strengthening METU`s position within the global higher education community.

From initial encounters at international forums to strategic negotiations, and from agreements to tangible achievements — this is how METU continues to build international cooperation, transforming academic connections into meaningful opportunities for students, faculty members, and future generations of professionals.