From Baku to Ganja and Back: New Partners and Prospective Students in Azerbaijan

The partnership negotiations were led by Dr. Bálint Heil, Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, and Dr. Márton Beke, Development Advisor, on behalf of the Rector. At the fair, prospective students were welcomed by Dóra Kulcsár and Zsófia Szála from the International Relations Office.

The first stop on October 8th was Ganja. Having already established a cooperation agreement with the Azerbaijan State Agricultural University, the visit focused on specific collaborative efforts. The Sopron delegation presented the university and the research activities of the Faculty of Forestry to the faculty of the Department of Ecology and Forestry, with discussions also covering soil science, sustainability, and business-related fields.

On October 9th, the program continued in Baku. At the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction, the delegation was received by the Vice-Rector for International Affairs, the Dean of the Faculty of Water Management, and the International Director. As a cooperation agreement and a Pannónia mobility contract are already in place, exchanges are set to begin rapidly; as a first step, Azerbaijani faculty members are expected to arrive in Sopron later this academic year. Joint work will commence in environmental engineering, water management, the timber industry, and creative industries, with preparations already underway for a joint degree program in environmental engineering.

Khazar University, a private institution founded in 1991, operates with twenty research centers, with all programs conducted in English. Water management emerged as a primary topic during professional consultations. Given that three-quarters of Azerbaijan's water resources originate from abroad, coupled with low precipitation and high evaporation rates, water management, soil erosion, and environmental science provide a natural foundation for joint research. The university’s broad educational portfolio also allowed for discussions regarding pedagogy and economics. Furthermore, the agenda included biotechnology, Erasmus cooperation, guest lectureships, and the possibility of a joint summer university.

The weekend was dedicated to student recruitment. The European Union Delegation to Azerbaijan hosted the "Study in Europe" fair in Baku on October 10–11, featuring 60 universities and educational agencies from 16 countries. Hungary was represented by seven universities, including the University of Sopron. Over the two days, nearly 1,500 young people attended the fair, with approximately 500 visitors stopping by the Sopron booth—most expressing interest in the International Economy and Business and Educational Science master's programs.

The trip served two core objectives for the University of Sopron simultaneously: the university is actively seeking strong research partners in the region and aims to double its number of international students by 2030. Following these successful negotiations, the next phase will focus on developing these specific collaborations.