On December 12-13, 2024, an international scientific conference dedicated to the study of the legacy of the great Eastern philosopher Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi was held at Khazar University. The scientific symposium, traditionally organized annually by the Rumi Research Center of Near East University of Northern Cyprus on topics of Mevlana, Mevlevi order, Sufism, and wisdom, was held this year at the university in joint organization with Khazar University's Mevlana Literary-Philosophical Research Institute. It should be noted that the "Rumi Scientific Symposium" is a prestigious scientific event where valuable scholars and researchers from many countries present competent research on Sufi literature, philosophy, scientific perspectives on the Mevlevi order, mysticism, and wisdom.

The symposium was conducted in-person on December 12 and online on December 13. At the symposium, 36 speakers in person and 31 speakers online from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, India, USA, Iran, Canada, Northern Cyprus, and Algeria presented their scientific innovations.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Khazar University's founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors and Trustees, Prof. Acad. Hamlet Isakhanli highlighted Mevlana Jalaluddin's position in world culture, emphasized the importance of the symposium, and expressed his gratitude to the organizers, noting that cooperation with Near East University would continue.

Professor of Near East University and Director of Rumi Research Center, Qadir Golkarian conveyed greetings from the university's founder Prof. Irfan Suat Günsel and rector Prof. Tamer Şanlıdağ. He expressed that the international symposium, organized for 9 years now, is recognized in many countries worldwide, is an event eagerly anticipated by Rumi scholars each year, and new ideas about this genius thinker are voiced at each symposium.

Then, speaking Director of the Mevlana Literary-Philosophical Research Institute, Prof. Nazakat Mammadli expressed that the symposium serves a very important mission - studying new aspects of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi's legacy, who built bridges of thought among representatives of eastern culture, left behind a huge army of successors, and transcended ages with his humanist ideas directed towards our time and the future.

At the end of the opening ceremony held in Khazar University's Marble Hall, Hamlet Isakhanli and rector Assoc. Prof. Irada Khalilova presented their gifts to the founder and rector of Near East University. Qadir Golkarian received the gifts on their behalf and expressed gratitude. In turn, Golkarian conveyed gifts from Irfan Suat Günsel and Tamer Şanlıdağ and expressed his wish for this cooperation to be permanent.

Finally, performances by the university's Chamber orchestra and student choir and dance group under the direction of Zulfiyya Sadigova, head of Khazar University's Music and Fine Arts Department, were watched.

After the opening, presentations were heard in the official panel and three additional panels. Speakers examining Mevlana's work from literary, linguistic, sociological, pedagogical, artistic, and Sufi aspects presented their scientific research.

The conference concluded with a closing session where it was highly evaluated, targets were set, publication of symposium presentations was discussed, and goals for the next symposium were determined.