Beyond Borders: Mingachevir State University Students Begin Studies at Foreign Universities
Students of Mingachevir State University participating in international academic mobility programmes have begun studies at prominent higher education institutions in Türkiye, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The university reports 56 students planned for foreign study during the 2026/2027 academic year.
Gurban Gurbanzadeh3 min read
Students of Mingachevir State University taking part in the university's international academic mobility programmes have begun studies at prominent higher education institutions in Türkiye, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the autumn semester of the 2026/2027 academic year. The initiative reflects the expansion of the university's international partnerships and the integration of its students into the global higher education environment, creating conditions for them to develop knowledge and skills in different academic systems, gain international experience and broaden opportunities for intercultural communication.
Within the "Orhun Exchange Programme", implemented under the Organization of Turkic States' Turkic Universities Union, students of the university who were selected for a one-semester academic exchange have joined the teaching process at their host universities and begun attending lectures and practical seminars.
Under the programme, Gülzar Niftaliyeva is studying at Fırat University in the city of Elazığ, Türkiye; Aygün Alizadə at Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University in the city of Adana; Polad Süleymanlı at Istanbul Commerce University; and Umar Asimov, a master's student, at Anadolu University in the city of Eskişehir. Among the other participants, Fatima Alizadə has started her academic work at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, and Turqut Hazıyev at Kokand University in Uzbekistan.
Students participating in the international exchange programme, in addition to integrating into the academic environment of their host universities, meet young people from different countries, become acquainted with new teaching methods and gain opportunities to take part in international academic networks. The experience contributes to the formation of competencies necessary for independent decision-making, adaptation, communication and future professional activity, alongside their academic development.
It is noted that a total of 56 students of Mingachevir State University are planned to study at foreign universities under the "Orhun Exchange Programme" during the 2026/2027 academic year. Some of the students will join the exchange in the autumn semester, and the others in the spring semester. For comparison, during the 2025/2026 academic year, 10 students of the university took part in the programme. The number of participants planned for the current academic year is therefore 5.6 times higher than the previous year. This indicator shows that the scope of international academic mobility at the university has expanded considerably.
Mingachevir State University regards expanding students' access to international education, promoting diversity in the academic environment, creating equal development opportunities and integrating international experience into the university's education environment as priority directions. Sharing knowledge and experience gained at foreign universities enriches the academic environment, supports the development of student-centred education approaches and creates new opportunities for strengthening inter-university cooperation.
It is noted that the expansion of participation in international exchange programmes reflects the strengthening of Mingachevir State University's position as an active participant not only in the region but also in the international higher education space, and the students' better preparedness for the global job market and modern academic challenges.
