An international conference titled "Architectural Heritage of the Turkic World" was held at Khazar University on September 25-26, 2025 with the initiative of the university's Department of Architecture and Design, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, Khazar University's Department of History and Archaeology, Selçuk University, Baku Engineering University, and the Institute of Economic Development and Social Research.
The conference was attended by faculty members from 12 universities in Türkiye, 5 universities in Azerbaijan, as well as 11 universities from Ukraine, Pakistan, Romania, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Georgia, and Slovakia. Sessions were held both in-person and online.
In her opening speech, Associate Professor Shahla Abbasova, Director of Khazar University's Department of Architecture and Design, expressed the purpose of the conference as follows: "Today we have gathered here not only to study our rich architectural heritage, but also to preserve and maintain it, to evaluate it in accordance with the requirements of the modern era, and to develop it in harmony with the architecture of the future. I believe that the conference will serve as a favorable platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences."
At the opening of the conference, Professor Academician Hamlet Isakhanli, founder of Khazar University and Chairman of the Board of Directors and Trustees, and Dr. Raziya Isayeva, rector of the university, delivered speeches emphasizing the significance of the event. They stated that architectural heritage consists not only of buildings and monuments, but is also a cultural wealth that reflects the memory, identity, and worldview of a people. Such events make a significant contribution to promoting the common Turkic identity and passing it on to future generations.
Presentations at the conference were also delivered by Kürşat Özdemir, Deputy Coordinator of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye; Associate Professor Telman Nusratoglu, Director of Khazar University's Department of History and Archaeology; Professor Sabir Orujov, Head of the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at Baku Engineering University; Professor Dr. Ilham Enveroglu from Selçuk University; Professor Dr. Ahmet Çaycı from Necmettin Erbakan University; Associate Professor Mehdi Genceli from Marmara University; and Professor Dr. Bilgehan Yılmaz from Konya Technical University.
Within the event, discussions were held on various aspects of architecture and urban planning, new opportunities for expanding cooperation among participating universities were considered.
In conclusion, the architectural heritage of the Turkic world is not merely a legacy of the past, but also a roadmap for the future. This heritage lives not only in structures made of stone and brick, but also in our common cultural memory, identity, and worldview. Researching, preserving, and developing it in accordance with the requirements of the modern era is both our scientific and cultural duty. One of the greatest treasures to be passed on to future generations is precisely this rich architectural heritage, and its continuity will further strengthen the unity, power, and cultural depth of the Turkic world.
Copyright © Khazar University, 2025
