Organisation
- Form regional groups and appoint members and leaders for each group.
- Define WAAS's governance and operational structure.
- Prepare and implement a short-, medium- and long-term strategic roadmap.
- Hold WAAS's first forum in Baku or Aghdam.
Concept
The rationale for establishing WAAS and channelling diaspora scientific potential into a single platform.
Timeline
The organisational path from the Shusha Congress to the Istanbul founding meeting.
Meeting
Participants, objectives, discussions, photo gallery and video.
Why a founding was needed
🏛️ Foundations for establishing WAAS
The World Association of Azerbaijani Scientists was born from the need to organise scholars in the Azerbaijani diaspora, unite them on one platform, and contribute more systematically to Azerbaijan's strategic development.
On 22 April 2022, the Fifth World Congress of Azerbaijanis was held in Shusha, the pearl of Karabakh. Nearly 400 compatriots from 65 countries took part in this congress, regarded as a major event in the history of Azerbaijan's independence.
At the congress — one of the largest events held on our liberated lands — President Ilham Aliyev, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, delivered a comprehensive address that set major tasks and responsibilities for the ever-growing Azerbaijani diaspora.
On the basis of President Ilham Aliyev's instructions, purposeful work is under way today to develop the diaspora in a more structured way.
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The place of scientists and scholars in the Azerbaijani diaspora — distinguished by its diversity and potential — promises major prospects for further diaspora development.
During the congress and in the period that followed, we had the opportunity to meet many Azerbaijani scientists and to exchange views on future cooperation.
With the support of the State Committee on Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SCDA), a group of Azerbaijani intellectuals concluded that scientists represented in our diaspora should be organised, and we set ourselves the goal of creating one platform that would unite us all.
To put this intention into practice, we met in Türkiye and laid the foundations of the World Association of Azerbaijani Scientists (WAAS).
Istanbul founding meeting
🗺️ 9 December 2022 — Istanbul
Istanbul founding meeting
The meeting took place in Istanbul on 9 December 2022, with representatives of the SCDA and Azerbaijani scholars who had come from various countries.
Video prepared by the State Committee on Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Alongside Azerbaijani scholars living in countries around the world, the meeting was attended by representatives of the State Committee on Diaspora Affairs (SCDA), the Education Quality Assurance Agency (EQAA), the Federation of Turkish Azerbaijani Associations (TADF), and the Turkish Academy of Sciences:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Ahmet Cevat Acar | Member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences; Rector, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University |
| Jahid Kazimov | Adviser to the Chair, SCDA |
| Emin Rustamov | Director, Youth Sector, Department of International Relations and Youth Affairs |
| Fuad Muradov | Chair, State Committee on Diaspora Affairs |
| Parviz Mammadzade | Vice-Chair, Federation of Turkish Azerbaijani Associations |
| Rufat Sarabin | Senior Adviser, SCDA |
| Ulker Sattarova | Chair, Education Quality Assurance Agency |
| Vasila Zeynalova | Director, Promotion, Information and Analytical Review Department |
| Khidir Kazimov | Director, Department of International Relations and Youth Affairs |
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Azerbaijani scholars who attended the meeting
| Name & country of residence | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Akif Alaferdov
Kyrgyzstan |
Aghshin Aliyev
China |
Arzu Qurbanova
Kazakhstan |
Bakhtiyar Sirajov
Austria |
|
Ali Asgarov
USA |
Amirullah Mehmetov
Türkiye |
Asgar Alekberov
Oman |
Feridun Hamdullahpur
Canada |
|
Heydar Imanov
Russia |
Mahmud Hajikhalilov
Georgia |
Mehdi Ismayilov
Türkiye |
Messoud Efendiyev
Germany |
|
Mubariz Garayev
Saudi Arabia |
Niyazi Niyazov
Russia |
Ramin Sadig
Türkiye |
Rovsen Ibrahimov
South Korea |
|
Saadat Karimi
Sweden |
Seymur Nasirov
Egypt |
Teymur Rzayev
Türkiye |
Togrul Ismayil
Türkiye |
|
Vugar Imanbeyli
Türkiye |
Xaqani Qayibli
Estonia |
Khalil Kalantar
Japan |
Zaur Sadigbeyli
France |
Main objectives
- Establish a unified database of Azerbaijani scholars working abroad
- Strengthen networking among scholars and researchers and unite them on one platform
- Contribute to diaspora activity and increase its role in global scientific cooperation
- Strengthen ties with the homeland and promote close cooperation with Azerbaijani scientific institutions
- Support Azerbaijan's development through diverse scientific and educational programmes
- Contribute to the restoration and reconstruction of liberated territories
- Support the young generation engaged in scientific work
- Develop educational projects and provide ongoing support for scientific work
Participants held discussions in groups
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Proposed strategic steps
Digital platform
- Build a unified scientific platform and network for global cooperation among scholars.
- Create WAAS's official website and mobile application.
- Open official social media accounts and implement digital security measures.
Scientific activity
- Establish a scientific information base covering members' articles, books and research.
- Publish an international scientific journal four times a year.
- Encourage scholars to conduct research and archival studies suited to their countries of residence.
Young scholars
- Create a mentoring programme for young scholars with scientific mentors from Azerbaijan and abroad.
- Implement programmes focused on the development of young researchers.
- Establish special scholarships named "Karabakh" and "Shusha".
International visibility and cooperation
- Promote recognition of Azerbaijani scholars working abroad in scientific and public life.
- Review membership of Azerbaijani scholars in the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).
- Support environmental initiatives, "smart city" and other innovative projects.
- Engage business leaders in financing scientific projects and cooperation.
- Support training specialists so scholars can learn the languages of their countries of residence.
Decisions adopted
- Form groups for Europe, Türkiye, Arab countries, Africa, Russia, Central Asia, the Far East, the Americas and Australia
- The organisation to be created as an outcome of the meeting shall be named World Association of Azerbaijani Scientists
- Prepare the organisation's charter
- Hold the first forum of Azerbaijani scholars living abroad in Baku
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The board of directors shall be confirmed in the following composition:
Feridun Hamdullahpur Chair Messoud Efendiyev Co-Chair Bakhtiyar Sirajov Member Saadat Karimi Member Seymur Nasirov Member Togrul Ismayil Member Zaur Sadigbeyli Member