Effective from September 3, 2025, Razia Isayeva has been appointed as the Rector of Khazar University.

Razia Isayeva, PhD, has over 20 years of academic and professional experience in education, management, and project leadership. She has overseen strategic management, academic program quality, staff development, and donor relations.

Dr. Isayeva received her PhD in Education from the University of Lapland in Finland. She also completed part of her doctoral studies at Middlesex University in the United Kingdom and Tallinn University in Estonia. As a researcher, she has authored articles indexed in SCOPUS and Web of Science on student engagement, quality assurance, and success in higher education.

Since 2003, she has been teaching MBA and master’s level courses at Khazar University (Management, Human Resource Management, Organizational Behavior, etc.). She has served as Dean of the School of Economics and Management, as well as long-term Director of Development. She earned her bachelor’s degree in International Economic Relations from Khazar University and her MBA in Management. In addition, she obtained a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University (USA) and has undertaken specialized training at universities in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Dr. Isayeva has extensive experience in the development and management of projects funded by the European Union and other international organizations. She was the author and implementer of the PETRA ERASMUS+ project (573630-EPP-1-2016-1-ES-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP) during 2016–2019. She has also initiated and led various international and national projects.

She has gained long-term experience in management and human resources at a number of companies and organizations in Azerbaijan