Khazar University English Language and Literature Department hosted its third poetry recitation contest on May 5, 2023, in celebration of Khazar University founder, scholar and poet professor, academician Hamlet Isakhanli's 75th birthday anniversary.

Following Dr. Milana Abbasova’s opening remarks, the founder of Khazar University, the chairman of the board of directors and trustees, professor, academician Hamlet Isakhanli, the rector of the university, associate professor Irade Khalilova, and the head teacher of the department Firangiz Nasirova spoke about the importance of the successive events in the development of students. Joining via Zoom video conference, Dr. Mira Pinar Dolapkaya from Manisa Calal Bayar University, Türkiye, extended her good wishes to the contestants and expressed her hopes for next year’s participation opportunities for the students of Manisa Calal Bayar University.

The contestants' performances were judged for accuracy, dramatic appropriateness, evidence of understanding, voice and articulation, and overall impression at the decision of the panel of judges to include the department’s instructors Firangiz Nasirova, Lidia Gamidova, Ilham Tagiyev, Kamala Askerova, and Naila Qasimova, headed by Dr. Milana Abbasova and joined by Saulet Alpisbaeva from Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages and a Fulbright scholar Dr. Elnur Hajiyev from Hawaii University.

The winners of the contest are:

1st place: Bahar Hamidli

2nd place: Gulay Alakbarova and Nurjan Gazizadeh

3rd place: Shayeste Malekan, Afag Mustafazadeh and Khadija Ahmadzadeh

The winners were awarded certificates.