EHEA Twinning arranged an open seminar on “Networking universities and cooperation with stakeholders" at the Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry on 14 July 2016. It was really a hot day in Baku, with the thermometer hitting above 35 degrees and the seminar being the main event of the week. We entered the University in good time, way before the start in order to see that all arrangements were in place. I shall say the temperature inside the room was not that different from the outside.
It was the second last mission of the summer. In previous meetings we had learned that the vacation time had started in Baku, too. About 30 people from the Azerbaijan higher education institutions had registered for the seminar. We were excited to see how many would actually arrive. I had my doubts – it was holiday season and the weather was really hot.
The meeting room could accommodate about 30+ participants. About 15 minutes before the start, the room was already full, more people kept on coming and the University staff started to carry in more chairs for newcomers. In the end, we were almost 60 and the room became warmer because the air conditioner could not respond to the needs of the extended audience.
Also the seminar was very intensive in content and discussions warmed up, too. But everybody was very enthusiastic. Mr. Sülhaddin Gozalov, a senior official of the Ministry, was the moderator and tried to convince the university people on the needs for better cooperation and networking to be embedded in the Azerbaijan higher education culture and tradition. Finnish and Estonian experts, professor Kauko Hämäläinen from Finland and the director of Archimedes Foundation Rait Toompere from Estonia did a great job setting the scene in their opening presentations. My partner Tarlan made all the practical arrangements for the seminar. In addition, he also interpreted some part of the seminar.
In the end, the seminar proved successful. Discussions were heated both in small groups and in the plenary: Should we compete or cooperate? Should we network thematically, regionally or nationally? Who should take initiative? Questions and arguments flew in the air. Hardly anyone had left the room before the end although it was holiday season and meeting room was stuffy. Even after the closure, many of the participants stayed in the meeting room and kept on discussing about the best way of networking. How can it be that our expectations were surpassed in such a way? I do not know, but I am so happy. How nice to start a holiday after this experience.
We promised to arrange a follow-up meeting in the autumn. And we will, perhaps already in September or most likely in November. Our experts will return to Baku to continue the seminar on cooperation and networking. Maybe we are then ready to make a proposal on why, how and by whom a new platform or platforms shall be established to support and promote cooperation and networking in Azerbaijani higher education, among the universities, with the ministry and the stakeholders.
