On April 5, 2016, a management meeting was held at Khazar University for partner universities in the “Restructuring and Development of Doctoral Studies in Azerbaijan in line with Requirements of Higher Education Area” NIZAMI ERASMUS + Capacity Building Project. Participants included representatives from the Khazar University administration, the Ministry of Education of the Azerbaijan Republic, 5 European universities, 1 Turkish university, 9 Azerbaijani universities, and the Director and staff of the Azerbaijan National ERASMUS+ office.

Professor Hamlet Isaxanli, the founder of Khazar University and Chairman of its Board of Directors and Trustees, opened the meeting by speaking about the establishment and development of doctoral programs in Azerbaijan, Europe, and Soviet countries during and after the Soviet era. Dr. Eldar Shahgaldiyev, Head of the Division for Graduate Students and Research, also made a speech analyzing the current state of doctoral studies in Azerbaijan. Dr. Amaro Cortes Lucas of Barcelona University made a presentation via Skype about “Doctoral Education: the Quantity/Quality Dilemma.” Representatives of the Ministry of Education and others actively participated in a discussion.

The conference will continue until April 6.