On April 30, Sumgayit State University hosted the next meeting of the rector's office in the form of a video conference to discuss the state of the organization of distance learning in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, conducting exam sessions and state certification for the spring semester of the 2019/2020 academic year, the state of affairs at the university in connection with the state payment of tuition fees for socially vulnerable students, the situation with the coronavirus pandemic, holding the planned international and republican scientific conferences and discussion of current issues.

Welcoming the participants, SSU Rector, Professor Elkhan Huseynov said that due to the foresight of President Ilham Aliyev in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the situation in the country was under control and the number of infected people was decreasing day by day. He noted that the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers has been established, and in accordance with the Order of the Cabinet of Ministers, the teaching and training process has been suspended in all educational institutions since March 10, 2020 in order to prevent infections.

At a time when there is a severe shortage of medical supplies and protective equipment, including medical masks in all countries due to the coronavirus pandemic, on the instructions of the President, the relevant government agencies managed to bring medical mask production equipment and raw materials to Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva inaugurated the New Clinic. The new medical facility, built in a timely manner and equipped with the latest equipment and laboratories, is aimed at treating coronavirus patients.

Rector Professor Elkhan Huseynov, referring to the government's decision to cover the tuition fees of students from socially vulnerable families, said that the list of such students studying at SSU is being prepared.

Touching upon the teaching process, the rector said that the teaching process was organized online and offline at Sumgayit State University in accordance with the instructions and recommendations of the Ministry of Education, taking into account the suspension of classes due to the necessary measures to combat the coronavirus. The rector emphasized that the teaching process is organized using WhatsApp messaging system, Zoom online conference program and Microsoft Teams platform, Moodle system for distance learning. The rector also noted that one of the highlights of the April 24 video conference with the participation of the Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov, senior officials of the ministry and rectors of higher education institutions was the organization of post-quarantine training and examination sessions. Noting that the issue is being discussed with the Ministry of Education, the rector said that taking into account the organization of the spring semester of the 2019/2020 academic year online in connection with the exams, it is planned to apply a student-oriented approach to assessing students' knowledge.

Afterwards Natig Talibov, vice-rector for Teaching Organization and Training Technologies delivered report on the examination session and state certification of the spring semester of the 2019/2020 academic year, Director of the Teaching Methodican Center Faig Shirinov on the state of work done at the university in connection with the payment of tuition fees by socially vulnerable groups, vice-rector for Science and Innovations, Professor Ramazan Mammadov on the holding of international and national scientific conferences planned for 2020 in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

Vice-rector for International Relations Gafar Atayev, Head of the Doctorate and Master's Department Sabir Khalilov, Scientific Secretary Professor Mukhtar Samadov and deans of the faculties provided detailed information on the organization of the educational process at SSU, conducting internships and the implementation of foreign projects, online meetings and made a number of proposals in connection with the necessary measures related to coronavirus.

It was also noted that the university also works online to organize students' leisure time, holds intellectual competitions and contests.

The date of the XX Republican Scientific Conference of Masters, scheduled for May 14-15, was changed in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, and it was decided to determine the date of the event, depending on the quarantine regime.

At the end of the meeting, Rector Professor Elkhan Huseynov thanked the participants, as well as all teachers involved in online learning in the fight against the global coronavirus pandemic, and recommended that students follow the rules of the quarantine regime.