The seminar called "Expanding the Internationalization of Higher Education in Azerbaijan through Professional Associations and Knowledge Exchange" was organized on January 25 in the conference hall of the Emerald Hotel in partnership Azerbaijan International Education Managers Association (AIEMA), Middlebury International Research Institute (Monterey, California, USA) and the Embassy of the United States of America in Azerbaijan with the International Association of Education Managers (AIEMA). The seminar was attended by leading represantatives from the US Embassy in Azerbaijan, the International Relations Department of the Ministry of Education, the National Erasmus + Office in Azerbaijan, the British Council Azerbaijan, the Middlebury Institute for International Studies, and international relations departments of 25 universities.

The purpose of the event was to acquaint the representatives of Azerbaijani higher education institutions with the new methods for expanding international education in Azerbaijan and to hold discussions with the leadership of the experts from international organizations to identify new aspects.

The meeting was opened by Ramina Murshudova, Education Specialist of the US Embassy in Azerbaijan, and Arif Najimov, Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan International Association of Education Managers. Afterwards, speeches of the participants were listened Geofrey Anisman, Public Affairs Officer of the US Embassy, Tural Ahmadov, Head of the International Relations Department of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Konul Pirverdiyeva, Vice Rector for Strategic Planning of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, Fariz Ismayilzade Vice Rector of ADA Universitety for International Relations. At the seminar involved both local and international experts demonstrated extensive presentations David Wickin, Associate Professor of International Education Management at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies in California USA, on the role of foreign countries in supporting international education in Azerbaijan, Parviz Bagirov- Executive Director of the European Union"s Erasmus National Office, on “Opportunities to Contact Government Agencies for International Education.

After the lunch break, the meeting was held in the format of sessions, exchange of views on current realities and future directions of international education, dual education programs, the Azerbaijani model of international education, the implementation of teacher-student mobility through government agencies.

During the meeting, university representatives got acquainted with new methods for expanding international education in Azerbaijan and held discussions with the representatives of various local and international universities, educational institutions and the Ministry of Education.

It should be noted that the Azerbaijan International Association of Education Managers was established on November 2019 as an initiative group and started operating on a voluntary basis by employees of several local universities. The mission of Azerbaijan International Association of Education Managers is to contribute to the effective internationalization of higher and vocational education in Azerbaijan by supporting individuals and institutions through advocacy, networking and professional resource exchange.

Sumgayit State University was represented at the event by Sadagat Fatullayeva, Head of the International Cooperation and Foreign Students Department.