On May 4, an event was held in Sumgait State University which was devoted to the honorary doctorate entitling ceremony to the first oberburgomaster of Germany, Chairman of the Association of German municipalities Dr.Eva Louse. The head of Executive Power of Sumgait city Mr. Zakir Farajov and public members of the  city and Germany participated in the event.
The rector of the university, professor Elkhan Huseynov opening the event welcomed the guests and called their attendance to the meeting a significant event. The rector noted that there is successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Federal Republic of Germany in political, economic, cultural, scientific and other fields and emphasized that the foregoing event will contribute to the development of bilateral relations.
The rector provided detailed information about the university and said that Sumgait State University tries hard to contribute to the development of the scientific and intellectual potential of society. Also, he noted that SSU is on the eve of celebration of its 55-year anniversary. Prof. Elkhan Huseynov said that Azerbaijan restructured the education system as the other fields and Heydar Aliyev’s decrees and orders provided successful development of the education in order to achieve the goals. For example, Sumgait State University was established on base of Azerbaijan Industrial Institute by the order №349 dated 13.06.2000. The wise politician always took care of Sumgait and as a result he visited the city 16 times. After his speech in Organic Synthesis Plant on April 7, 1971 revival and reconstruction work quickened. During the Soviet period Sumgait was one of the youngest and powerful industrial centers. In 1960-1961 SSU began to function as a teaching center of Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute, in 1962-1975 was a branch of Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute. In 1975-1992 it became Higher Technical Education Center and in 1992-2000 worked as Azerbaijan Industrial Institute. Today, there are 7 faculties, 29 departments and 6 research laboratories at the university. More than 5500 bachelors, 223 graduate students, 106 doctoral students/candidates and 7 doctors of sciences are studying in Azerbaijani sector as well as in Russian.
Talking about international relations of the university the rector also said that we have contracts with Technical University of Cologne (Germany), Graz Technical University (Austria), Warsaw Technology University (Poland), Ufa State Oil University (Russia) and Samara State Technical University (Russia) etc. Within the framework of TEMPUS project our university was a participant of 4 successful projects. Modern teaching laboratories were established in the university and it is provided with high equipment. This kind of project called “Matching the teaching process of engineering for Azerbaijan with the bologna process” has already finished. Within the framework of the project our workers have already been to Graz Technical University in Austria and Cologne University of Applied Sciences in Germany and took part in discussion of project’s progress and work to be done. According to the working plan of the project, quality seals were given to bachelor degrees of “Process automation engineering”, “Electro energy engineering” and master’s program of “Energy management” by independent accreditation agency ASIIN which is in Dusseldorf in Germany. As the result, for the first time in Azerbaijan 5 years’ quality seals – certificate were introduced to Sumgait State University. Moreover, ERASMUS+LPEB, UNIVIA, ESPFIDIP TEMPUS projects, “Mevlana Exchange Program” etc. are successfully realized.
With the leadership of the President Ilham Aliyev significant works are fulfilled in order to improve the education system and to coordinate its quality indicator with the European standards. Therefore, our university expands the international relations, strengthens the cadre potential and invites professionals from foreign countries. Sumgait State University’s relations are expanded with Eastern, European and Slavic universities which have special positions in the world ranking.
In the end of his speech the rector declared SSU Scientific Council’s decision dated 03.05.2017 about introducing the title of Honorary Doctorate to Eva Louse. He informed that the guest is honored for her activities in improvement of fraternal relations between Sumgait and Ludwigshafen and support of science and education. Then the rector introduced Diploma of Honorary Doctor, medal and honorary mantle to the guest.
The assistant professor Eva Louse expressed her gratitude for being honored and satisfaction of current situation of Azerbaijan-Germany relations. She also said that she is interested in future development of relations in the field of education.
The chief executive of Sumgait City Zakir Farajov welcomed the guests and congratulated Eva Louse on becoming honorary doctor of the university. Talking about friendly relations between two cities Zakir Farajov noted that the students will play special role in future development of the relations. He also said that Sumgait have fraternized with cities of several countries since the Soviet period. As Azerbaijan restored its independence the number of such cities increased and friendly relations expanded. One of these relations was built with Ludwigshafen in Germany in 1977. Ludwigshafen park which is known as German park was laid out on 20-year anniversary of the friendship in 1997 and in Ludwigshafen one of the streets is named Sumgait. The mayor also noted that Sumgait has built friendly relations not only with Ludwigshafen, but also with 13 cities of 11 countries. Today it is the 40th year of the partnership. He congratulated the representatives of both cities.

Press Service