Academy in the service of diplomacy

A delegation of senior HIT-Holon Institute of Technology officials concluded a unique and exciting visit to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

Members of the HIT delegation together with representatives of the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan | Photo: PR

The convocation ceremony for the first class of B.Sc. graduates in Computer Science was held at Baku State University (BSU) in collaboration with HIT-Holon Institute of Technology.

”It is exciting to see the fruits of the joint labors between HIT, an Israeli academic institution, and BSU, an academic institution from a Muslim country," said Prof. Eduard Yakubov, HIT President.

"We welcome the unique partnership that was created 3 years ago." BSU Rector, Dr. Bavayev, continued by offering heartfelt congratulations to the Jewish community on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel. He emphasized the strategic cooperation, friendship and brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Israel and wished for continued prosperity and lasting peace.

"Just like personal friendships, institutional partnerships are built on shared values, and it is clear that Baku State University and the Holon Institute of Technology share a deep commitment to such values," said Dr. Babayev. The Rector emphasized that the strategic cooperation between the two institutions includes diverse fields such as security, culture, and education. Dr. Nijat Mammadli, Advisor to the Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, congratulated the fresh graduates and emphasized the vital role played by the program in the development of further cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel.

The program to complete a degree in computer science at HIT aims to produce trained experts in comprehensive mathematical knowledge, algorithmic thinking, modern methods, and technologies for building and analyzing effective algorithms, ultimately equipping these students with the ability to apply this expertise to real problems.

The collaboration between BSU and HIT also extends to other areas, including the development of the Azerbaijani SABAH judges’ program. The program allows students from this program to study at HIT, and experience Israel's hi-tech and IT fields while engaging and interacting with industry officials.

"The program for completing the B.Sc degree at HIT further strengthens the ties between Azerbaijan and Israel and is a bridge between the two countries," noted Prof. Yakubov. HIT collaborates with more than 150 universities from 45 countries around the world, and this is one of the most prominent programs among them. The President also spoke of future possibilities for student exchanges in chemistry, physics, and mathematics.

Israel and Azerbaijan enjoy important strategic relations, but to date, this has focused primarily on energy and security. The Embassy of Israel in Baku stated that in recent years, efforts have been made to diversify relations in the fields of economics, education, and culture. "The academic cooperation between HIT and its partners in Azerbaijan contributes significantly to this effort and strengthens Israel's position as an academic, research and innovative center in the eyes of Azerbaijan’s academy, government and citizenry. As a result, Israeli diplomacy has gained important additional tools in its efforts to promote strong relations with Azerbaijan" said Ambassador of Israel in Baku, George Dick.

"The Holon Institute of Technology is one of the most active and important Israeli academic institutions with regard to international cooperation. The arrival of such a prestigious and high-ranking delegation to Baku testifies to the Institute's understanding of the inherent potential in academic, research and innovative cooperation with leading institutions in Azerbaijan. HIT can make a huge contribution to the development of both the Azerbaijani academy and industry, and it is much appreciated on their end," adds Dick.

During their time in Baku, the HIT delegation also met with the Minister of Health, Timor Musaev. During the meeting it was agreed that HIT will take part in a special initiative and participate in the digitization process that the Azerbaijani health system is undergoing. "This is an important and very significant initiative for strengthening the ties between the countries" says HIT’s CEO Samuel Goldberg.

Several other options for opening additional channels of cooperation were discussed, including more joint programs. "Through various courses taught at HIT, including today’s most relevant topics such as artificial intelligence, data science and machine learning, we will be able to help train the next generation of experts who will need to address current and future challenges" says HIT's Vice-President for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Internationalization, Dr. Refael Barkan.

Azerbaijan and Israel have enjoyed full reciprocal diplomatic relations since 1992. Israel has had an embassy in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, since 1993 and Azerbaijan an embassy in Tel Aviv-Jaffa since 2023. Israel is an important trading partner of Azerbaijan since the 1990s, mostly in the fields of energy, agriculture, and security. The Israeli company "Algadcom" which set up the first cellular network in a Euro-Asian country, provides just one example.

Today, according to various estimates, there are approximately 16,000-30,000 Jews in Azerbaijan, most of them in Baku. The HIT delegation also toured the "Red Village" (Kırmızı Kasaba/ Krasnaya Sloboda), where the most significant Jewish community outside of Baku resides. It is near the city of Quba, where approximately 4,500 Jews live. In the past, 18,000 Jews lived in the “Red Village” and there were 17 synagogues.

The HIT delegation was headed by Prof. Eduard Yakubov, President, with Prof. Adir Pridor, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Dr. Refael Barkan, Vice President for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Internationalization, and Mr. Samuel Goldberg, CEO.

The Hosts of the delegation on behalf of Baku State University were Dr. Elchin Babayev, Rector of BSU, Prof. Aypov Shavkat, Director of the Institute of Mathematics – Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences “Romanovsky“, Mr. Ali Naghiyev, Head of the Center of Excellence in Research, Development, and Innovation at BSU and Mr. Ilkin Krimli, a graduate of the "Double Degree” program. Also present were a number of government officials, including Dr. Nijat Mammadli, Advisor to the Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Posted: 28/05/2023