A seminar and training program was organized at Nakhchivan State University on June 8–9, 2026, within the framework of the "Development of Institutional Repository Network in Azerbaijan" (DIRNA) project, coordinated by Khazar University under the European Union's Erasmus+ program.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Rector of Nakhchivan State University Dr. Elbrus Isayev emphasized the project's significance in promoting open science principles, strengthening research activities, and advancing inter-university cooperation across the country. He noted that the DIRNA project makes an important contribution to expanding academic ties among higher education institutions and facilitating the exchange of international experience.

Delivering remarks thereafter, Rector of Khazar University and project coordinator Dr. Razia Isaeva spoke about the results achieved during the project's implementation. The rector stated that the DIRNA project has made a significant contribution to fostering an open science culture at Azerbaijani universities, advancing institutional repositories, and strengthening international cooperation. She highlighted that the partnership established among 8 Azerbaijani and 3 European universities participating in the project has created new opportunities for future collaboration.

On the first day of the seminar, held in a hybrid format, representatives of the Italian partners, Francesco Tarquini and Grazia Di Bartolomeo, delivered presentations. The presentations covered open science training modules and international practices in the formation and management of digital collections in digital libraries.

In the subsequent session, open access policies based on the experience of Finnish partners and open access practices in the day-to-day management of institutional repositories were discussed. The session featured an exchange of views on the application of open science principles, metadata management, increasing the visibility of research outputs, as well as the impact of artificial intelligence and innovative technologies on academic activities.

As part of the event, a panel discussion was also organized with the participation of the rectors of Khazar University and Nakhchivan State University. The panel addressed directions for the development of higher education, expansion of international partnerships, implementation of open science policy, and prospects for future collaboration.

The second day of the training program continued with presentations by representatives of the Izmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH) from Türkiye. Gültekin Gürdal, Head of the Library and Documentation Office at IZTECH, delivered a presentation on "Transformation in Academic Publishing: Open Access and Artificial Intelligence," discussing recent developments in contemporary scholarly publishing. A session on "Metadata Quality and International Standards" presented by him prompted discussions on improving data quality, applying metadata standards, and international practices.

At the conclusion of the day, an interactive session titled "Strengthening Research: From Open Access to Research Data Management" was held with the participation of Gültekin Gürdal, Begüm Yavuz, and Gönül Kafalı Can. The session extensively covered open access policies, research data management, the application of metadata standards, and the role of digital solutions in enhancing the effectiveness of academic activities.

The seminar and training program served as an important platform for facilitating the exchange of experience among participants, promoting open science principles, and sharing the outcomes achieved within the framework of the project.