In May 2024, Professor Marian Preda, PhD, Rector of the University of Bucharest and President of the Black Sea Universities Network (BSUN), paid an official visit to Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS), where he attended a meeting of the representatives from 20 Azerbaijani universities members of BSUN.
The event aimed, among others, to facilitate the involvement of teaching staff, researchers and students of the University of Bucharest in the international academic activity, next to representatives of all universities members of BSUN.
In the opening of the event, the Rector of BHOS, professor Elmar Gasimov, PhD, expressed his gratitude for organizing the event at the Baku Higher Oil School, stating that “this conference offers a unique opportunity for Azerbaijan to present its values”. At the same time, he underlined the importance of conducting activities according to the norms discussed during 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (CCONUSC).
Among speakers who joined the discussions next to professor Marian Preda, we can name BSUN General Secretary, professor Eden Mamut, the Director of International Cooperation Department of the State Agency for Science and Higher Education, Mujdat Hasanov, the Ambassador of Romania in Azerbaijan, Vasile Soare, and the Rector of Azerbaijan State Agricultural University, Zafar Gurbanov. The debates were followed by presentations of the BSUN activities and the results of the Climate Resilience Programme.
At the same time, the organizers also hosted an online scientific communication event with representative of the University in Istanbul, Türkiye. The meeting discussed the BSUN offer to organize an event within COP29 and detailed information were presented about the 16th Conference of the Rectors in the Black Sea Region.
In the closing of the event, professor Marian Preda received the Guest of Honor plaque on behalf of the Rector of Baku Higher Oil School, professor Elmar Gasimov.
Black Sea Universities Network – BSUN represents the cooperation frame for Academic Institutions in the Black Sea region. BSUN intends to facilitate a inter-university cooperation and the creation of synergies between education, scientific research, innovation and cultural cooperation. At present, the network includes 120 universities from 12 countries members of Black Sea Organization for Economic Cooperation, including Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, the Russian Federation, Türkiye and Ukraine.