On February 21, 2024, the Scientific Affairs Committee convened for its next session as part of the "Establishment of Rectors' Conference in Azerbaijan (ECAR) Project", funded by the European Union and coordinated by Baku Business University.

Gunel Bahaddinova, deputy dean for scientific affairs of the Graduate School of Science, Art, and Technology, Khazar University's, attended the meeting as a member of the Scientific Affairs Committee.

Professor Ibad Abbasov, the rector of Baku Business University, delivered the inaugural address during the meeting, providing comprehensive insights into the project's impact on higher education in Azerbaijan. He emphasized the crucial role of the Scientific Affairs Committee in assessing research gaps and fostering collaborative efforts among universities in pertinent areas, underscoring its significance for advancing scientific endeavors.

During the meeting, Gulshan Bayramova, the head of the University-Industry Cooperation Department at Baku Business University and the project coordinator, delivered a concise overview of the project's progress. She highlighted that 15 partner universities, including Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Education and Sports, Baku State University, and the Republic of Azerbaijan, had joined the initiative by 2023. Additionally, 8 universities, such as the Academy of Public Administration, had become associate members, bringing the total membership to 23. Bayramova emphasized the establishment of a robust cooperation network among Azerbaijani universities, forged through collaborative efforts across various domains throughout the project's implementation.

Doc. Elchin Suleymanov, the chairman of the pilot Committee on Scientific Affairs established within the project, presented a comprehensive report detailing the committee's activities throughout 2023. During this period, the Committee on Scientific Affairs, operating under the Council of Rectors of Azerbaijan, conducted vital initiatives aimed at fostering the advancement of scientific research activities within higher education institutions. Notably, the committee organized a total of 10 online and offline meetings, administered surveys to gauge universities' scientific research endeavors, and hosted 5 training sessions focusing on scientific metrics and publication practices. Additionally, the committee drafted proposals for evaluating the existing regulatory framework concerning the organization of educational and scientific activities (TEC) within Azerbaijani higher educational institutions, with the aim of enhancing it. Discussions on various topics, including university scientific journals, the adoption of DOI indexing, and the integration of scientific publications into the Open Journal System (OJS), were also prominent on the agenda.

Throughout September and October 2023, significant topics were addressed within the Committee on Scientific Affairs, including the examination of reports from institutionally accredited higher education institutions regarding scientific endeavors, the delineation of plagiarism and strategies to combat it, and the formulation of guidelines for crafting master's theses aligned with international standards. In November, discussions centered on strategies to increase universities' publication rates and h-index scores, with particular emphasis placed on generating proposals to facilitate this endeavor.

The 2023 activity report of the Committee on Scientific Affairs highlighted proposals aimed at bolstering scientific research activities within higher education institutions. These proposals encompassed the implementation of incentivizing measures to enhance research endeavors, ensuring the availability of resources, selecting research directions judiciously, increasing scientific research hours, and promoting the popularity of scientific pursuits. Collectively, these proposals align with the overarching objectives of fortifying universities' research infrastructure, nurturing and retaining researchers, funding scientific projects, and fostering stronger international relations.

At the conclusion, a transparent vote was conducted resulting in the election of a new chairman for the Committee on Scientific Affairs. Based on the voting outcome, Gulzar Ibrahimova, the vice-rector for scientific affairs at Baku Eurasia University, was elected as the chairperson. Additionally, Sadagat Aliyeva, the vice-rector for scientific affairs at Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, and Ilkin Akhundov, the head of the research and innovation department at Baku Higher Oil School, were elected as vice-chairpersons.

The activities carried out within the framework of the committee reflect the important steps taken in the direction of improving the scientific research and science management system in Azerbaijan's higher education. These endeavors possess the capacity to foster scientific research and innovation growth through the reinforcement of inter-university collaboration.