Phil Bati, head of global affairs of ‘Times Higher Education’ (THE) International Rating Agency, which published the international rating of higher education institutions on January 25, Lachin Italmazova, commercial director for Great Britain and Europe, and international project management of the State Agency for Science and Higher Education. A meeting was held with Zulfiyya Shafiyeva, the head of the sector, at Sumgayit State University (SSU).

During the meeting held at the Heydar Aliyev Center of SSU, firstly, extensive information was given about the city of Sumgayit and the existing local industrial potential, as well as the history, educational directions, research indicators, material and technical base and university-industry cooperation of SSU. Rector Rufat Azizov discussed in detail with the delegation the university"s achievements, current situation and future outlook compared to international experience. In addition, the issues of the university"s strategic development and the use of international rating systems as a necessary tool for this development were discussed, and guests" opinions and recommendation  were heard in this direction. At the meeting, which was also attended by the heads of the management structure of SSU, a wide range of opinions were exchanged on these and other issues.

Phil Bati emphasized the connection of the goals provided in the strategic development plan of SSU with the international ratings of higher education institutions, expressed his opinion on topics such as branding using the advantages of the university, increasing its reputation in the direction of academic, research and teaching. Lachin Italmazova, in her turn, gave recommendations about tools related to international rankings, methods that SSU can apply to be included in the mentioned rankings.

Taking into account that the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan, the organization of possible measures to support the Sustainable Development Goals were discussed with the representatives of THE, and the preliminary agreement to organize a joint international conference in this direction was discussed.

After that, the delegation got to know the university in a visual way, visited the open-air educational museum of Electric power, ‘Code Academy’, separate auditoriums, laboratories and teaching cabins, created for educational purposes under the SSU.