“If I had to characterize Azerbaijan in one sentence, I would say that Azerbaijan is a nice country of nice people who always want the best of everything,” says Abubakari Yushawu, a first-year master student who currently pursues his degree in Educational Management at Khazar University.

“I was lucky enough to see the announcement for Khazar University scholarships on Facebook and I couldn’t miss the chance to apply.” Abubakari’s academic achievements and experience qualified him for a full tuition fee waiver.

Abubakari says that he enjoys learning environment at Khazar University: “Most of the professors in my course are very supportive. I can consult them about my studies and research by visiting their offices, and they are very helpful in this regard. Class discussions are also very useful for developing our insight on specific topics. Studying at Khazar can be challenging from time to time, but it is worth it if the outcome is high quality education like we get here.”

Abubakari has recently completed a research paper on “Impact of Social Media on Graduate Students’ Learning Outcomes” as part of his coursework at Khazar University. “I like to do quantitative research addressing educational issues and plan to do a larger scale research on influence of Internet fraud on education in Ghana, my home country.”

Like many international students, Abubakari went through cultural shock while adjusting to his new life in Azerbaijan. He admits that his first weeks in Azerbaijan have been quite challenging: “I experienced some culture shock when I first arrived here. I had to change my greeting style and gestures as they were misunderstood here sometimes. I also learned to offer my seat to ladies in public transport.” Abubakari recalls laughing: “One more important thing I learned here was that you should not just approach people in the street whom you do not know and talk to them. I tried it once and reaction was not what I expected.”

“After graduating from Khazar University I am planning to pursue PhD studies and continue my career in academia. Research and teaching are my biggest passions and I’d love to participate in improving higher education curriculum in Ghana to develop it to be more in compliance with local labor market demands. Education in Ghana is based on a curriculum which does not reflect real market need and demands in the country and many graduates find it hard to find jobs corresponding to their skills. This problem should be addressed, and I see myself as part of solution” says Abubakari.

Interview with Abubakari Yushawu was conducted within the project carried out by the International Affairs Office entitled “World and Khazar.” The project includes a series of interviews with members of international community of Khazar University.