The first session of the "Professional Reflective Workshop in Preschool Education" project was held on July 4, 2026, at Khazar University, jointly organized by the State Agency for Pre-School and General Education (SAPGE), the Ag Yelken Youth kindergarten network, and Khazar University. The event, dedicated to the topic "Development and Education of Young Children," brought together 140 specialists working in preschool education institutions from various regions of the country.

At the opening of the event, Dr. Razia Isaeva, Rector of Khazar University, welcomed the participants and spoke about the importance of professional development in preschool education, a culture of reflective thinking, and university-practice collaboration.

Within the program, discussions were held on the contemporary challenges of preschool education, the characteristics of learning in early childhood, the creation of inclusive and developmental educational environments, and methods of working with children of diverse developmental profiles.

At the session, Yuliya Karimova, founder of the "Ag Yelken" brand and curriculum specialist, spoke about preschool education and early learning approaches in the post-innovative era. Aygun Bayramaliyeva, Leading Specialist at the Child Development and Welfare Department of SAPGE, delivered a presentation on the developmental characteristics of early childhood.

Kamala Aliyeva, lecturer at the Department of Psychology of Khazar University and Director of the Ugur Development Centre, shared her theoretical and practical knowledge with participants on the concept of "different children," the role of kindergartens in their development, the organization of developmental environments, and the application of the ToM and SCAMPER methods.

In the next segment of the workshop, Yazgul Abbasova and Zarifa Amanova, educator-teachers at Ag Yelken Youth kindergarten, presented practical examples on the organization of inclusive and safe educational environments, play-based learning, and the planning of interactive activities.

At the close of the event, Nigar Ismayilzade, a parent at Ag Yelken Youth kindergarten, shared her experience with participants regarding the developmental progress and outcomes she had observed in her child's educational process.

Enriched with discussions, practical tasks, and reflection sessions, the workshop is highly beneficial for the development of participants' professional knowledge and skills, the broadening of experience-sharing, and the strengthening of cooperation between the university and practical educational institutions.

This project, implemented by Khazar University in partnership with collaborating institutions, is a further successful example of its efforts to strengthen ties between education, science, and society, to integrate scientific knowledge into practice, and to support professional development in the field of preschool education.