Western Caspian University (Azerbaijani: Q?rbi Kaspi Universiteti) is a private university in Baku, Azerbaijan. Founded in 1991 by Husein Baghirov, it has six schools, 25 majors, 180 faculty and approximately 1500 students. The university took its name because it is modeled after Western universities in style of instruction and values, the latter in response to some of the corrupt practices under the Soviet system. Much of the instruction is conducted in English.
In the late 1990s, the school partnered with American universities, such as Indiana University, to help set up its programs in business and law. Many of its partnerships were formed through the now defunct United States Information Agency. Currently, the school has ties with Indiana University, University of Kansas, Mississippi Valley State University, University of North Alabama and Delta State University.
Video Western Caspian University
History
Foundation
Founded in 1991, Western Caspian University is one of the first private higher education institutions established in Azerbaijan. The University became a member of several significant institutions, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - UNESCO (1992); the European Development Fund (EDF) (the European Centre for Development Policy Management - ECDPM) (1996); The Black Sea Universities Network (BSUN, 1999); The International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS, 2000), and The European Association for Tourism and Leisure Education (ATLAS). Western Caspian University maintains close co-operation with many authoritative international educational institutions.
According to various reviews, Western Caspian University takes the first place among the ten best universities established in this emerging area. Founding of this institution was influenced by the socio-political and economic processes passing in Eastern Europe and the CIS area after the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
University objectives are to create perfect educational atmosphere for internationally minded and globally recognized training, as well as to prepare students for achieving systematic success in their future career at global and international levels. To the present date, Western Caspian University has participated in several international programs and projects through which it has widened its academic activity, strengthened its position in the world of education and created a favourable atmosphere for its future development.
Targets
- Serve the community through ensuring higher education and scientific research at the highest international levels.
- Create the best educational environment for students.
- Strengthen its position and international authority as a leading University of Azerbaijan.
- Increase a number of agreements with international partners and to extend its educational activity.
- Continue to establish a universally recognized, perfect educational atmosphere at an international level, for global cooperation.
- Train graduates to develop perfect labour skills, to meet high standards in personal and professional aspects.
- Maintain its position as an encouraging and stimulating power for conducting scientific research.
- Seek to be progressive and not fall behind international educational trends.
- Contribute to the economic, social and political development of Azerbaijan by training students to become graduate specialists who will satisfy the needs of country.
Maps Western Caspian University
Organization and administration
Schools, faculties and departments
Western Caspian University offers broad programs at bachelor, master and PhD levels.
- The School of High Technologies and Innovative Engineering
The School of High Technologies and Innovative Engineering was founded in 1991, entitled "The School of Mathematics and Computer Technologies."
During its activity, the school trained specialists in Information Science and Computer Engineering, IT and Systems Engineering, as well as Computer Engineering and Information Technology specialists. In 2017, the department was renamed as The School of High Technologies and Innovative Engineering. Presently, the following specialisations are available at the school:
- Bachelor (Undergraduate) Programs
- Computer Engineering;
- Information Technologies;
- Mechanical Engineering;
- Ecological Engineering;
- Construction of Engineering Systems and Facilities Engineering;
- Instrumentation Engineering;
- Electronics, Telecommunications and Radio Engineering;
- Mechatronics & Robotics Engineering;
- Recycling and Restoration Technologies Engineering;
- Polygraph Engineering;
- System Engineering;
- Engineering of Forest Products and Wood Processing Technologies;
- Consumer Goods Expertise and Marketing;
- Forestry;
- Land, Soil and Urban Cadastre;
- Biology.
- Master (Postgraduate) Programs
- Management Information Systems;
- Agriculture and Environmental Protection.
- PhD Programs
- System Analysis, Management and Information processing.
- The School of Architecture and Design
The School of Architecture and Design was established in 2017 at Western University. This school was founded under the auspices of the Design Department that had functioned since 1996.
The aim of the newly established school is to prepare specialists with global thinking and necessary professional competence. Knowledge and skills achieved by a high quality of education, to meet the demands of modern society. Future specialists will be supportive in resolving issues in the field of the development of the arts.
For the implementation of planned programs, creative studios were equipped with new equipment and required materials: machines for metals and wood processing; 3D printers; necessary tools and other equipment, as well as relevant software and devices. Computer classes were provided with modern equipment. According to contemporary concepts, students will be trained according to an integrative system to study in detail all the aspects of artistic creativity. It includes information technology along with traditional teaching of all other subjects. This concept will create an opportunity for the students studying at The Architecture and Design Department to learn all the aspects of graphics, as well as to use new methods of projecting.
The following specialisations are available at the school for Bachelor, Master, PhD and doctoral studies:
- Bachelor Programs
- Design
- Architecture
- Master Programs
- Design and Technical Aesthetics
- PhD and Doctoral Studies
- Technical Aesthetics and Design
- School of Economics
Activities in this field have been conducted since the first day of Western Caspian University. Various specialisations are available at the school - such as "Economy", "Finance and Accounting", "Management" and "Consumer Goods and Expertise in Marketing". The school provides specialisation in the following subject areas:
- Bachelor level
- World Economy
- Economy
- Public and Municipal Administration
- Industrial Engineering and Management
- Consumer Goods, Expertise in Marketing
- Master level
- International Economic Relations
- Legal Regulation of the Economy
- International Financial and Currency Credit Relations
- PhD level
- World Economy
- Local Economy
- Business School
The Business School provides training in the following specialisations:
- Bachelor level
- Finance
- Management
- Business Administration
- Tourism and Hotel Management
- Accounting and Auditing
- Master level
- Business Organization and Administration
- Business Administration
- Tax and Taxation
- Financial Control and Auditing
- Innovation and Project Management
- Tourism and Socio-Cultural Services
- International Tourism and Regional Ethnography
- PhD level
- Domestic Fiscal Policy and State Finance
- Department of Philology and Translation
This Department has been entitled as the Department of Western Languages since 1996. Students are trained in Philology (English Language and Philology) and Translation (English, German, French). Since 2017, the Department has continued its activity as the School of Philology and Translation.
The Department aims to train philologists of high quality, including specialists in foreign languages and philology, as well as professional translators. The main aim of the Department is teaching foreign languages and translation. The Department benefits from the best programs meeting world teaching standards and utilises the most modern technology. As Azerbaijan passes through a period of developing public and political relations, the main direction of the Department is training philologists, including translators of Business, Management, Political Studies, Sociology and Law.
In general, nine languages are taught at school: Azerbaijani, English, German, French, Russian, Latin, Chinese, Spanish and Finnish. Foreign specialists - native speakers - are available to improve students' language skills.
The University's academic programs are recognized by many higher educational institutions in the USA, Great Britain, Germany and other countries. They are also in accordance with the standards of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Foreign students can confidently apply for education at Western Caspian University as the programs at the University measure up to international standards
Currently, tuition is provided in the following disciplines at the Faculty:
- Bachelor Programs
- Philology (English language and literature);
- Translation (English, German, French);
- Philology (Azerbaijani language and literature)
- Teaching of English Language and Literature
- Master Programs
- Translation
- Language Studies
- Literary Studies
- PhD and Doctoral Studies
- Germanic Languages
- World Literature
- School of Political and Public Sciences
The Department of Political Sciences had been the training, science and administrative division at Western University since day one. It led training at bachelor and master degree levels in the fields of Political Studies, Psychology, Regional Studies, International Journalism, International Relations and so on.
The teaching staff with their intellectual, scientific and practical knowledge aim to maintain high educational standards in the teaching process, as well as to go ahead with confidence in taking our school to the top of the educational lists. The University holds regular public and social events in different formats on significant phenomena in the history and life of the Republic, serving to improve the students' world outlook. The main aim of the School of Political and Public Sciences is to train professionals with high skills to take our young and independent state further in development on the path of democracy.
Besides, the school targets to have a skilled and continuously developing teaching staff who keep to the principles of autonomy, confidence and faith in the teaching process, as well as innovative administration who are jointly able to bring up graduates ready for free and healthy competition, capable of acquiring and applying scientific innovations in their fields of education, are faithful to national and world values and are able to resolve all problems through their knowledge, skills and practice. The school aims to train the best graduates with higher education in Political Studies, Regional Studies, International Relations, Psychology, History and Philosophy in the Republic.
The mission is to arm the students with necessary methodological, empirical and analytical abilities, and prepare them to be able to relate to society and real-life activities.
International programs
Along with local specialists, the University regularly invites specialists from the USA, the United Kingdom, Canada, Netherland and other countries, to deliver training and lectures.
Short and long term education projects internationally create opportunities for participation in education programs abroad. Presently, within the Erasmus+ and Movlana Exchange projects, students of the University study at the leading universities of the Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, Romania, Turkey and Ireland. Western University realizes double diploma projects jointly with Coventry University, Great Britain and London School of Business & Finance in Singapore and the University of Business and International Studies (UBIS) in Switzerland.
Today, Western University's international network embraces more than 200 world authoritative education institutions. International cooperative and bilateral activities include bachelor and master courses, articulation and development agreements, the Erasmus+ and Movlana Exchange projects and others.
Academic profile
Scientific Research Institutes
The University regularly encourages scientific research. Two research institutes under the University - Continuous Human Development Institute, and Landscape Research Institute carry out scientific researches.
Laboratories and centres
Western Caspian University is provided with modern, progressive laboratories and research centres.
Physics and Electronics Laboratory - creates an opportunity for students to carry out fundamental scientific calculations, extend and enhance their knowledge and application of the fundamentals of electronics and the laws of physics. The main aim of laboratory research is to facilitate understanding of the importance of knowledge in physics through real experiments carried out by appropriate instruments and equipment, as well as to make students aware of the necessary methods and means to carry out research in physics.
Each student at Western Caspian University takes notes on held experiments at the laboratory, as well as learns how to use and employ them.
The laboratory is provided with modern equipment produced by famous German and Turkish companies. These companies produce equipment for scientific research laboratories of many universities in the world, as well as for high quality science and engineering teaching systems for secondary schools and universities.
The Geomathic Centre is a unique centre at the University. Establishment of the centre aims to provide students with necessary software and technical skills for gathering information on Geoscience. Such laboratories were initially created at the end of the XX century, as there was a great demand for geoinformation. Meeting increasing demands for geographic information was possible only through integration of new technological opportunities for conducting traditional field-research activities. Geomathic centres ensure such kind of integration; they play a key role in conducting scientific-research activities in geographic information systems, distance space-air research, geodesy and mapping, photogrammetry, environment protection.
The Centre at Western University has ample opportunities. Following research activities are conducted in the centre: design and updating of the digital mapping of geo-objects; creating GIS-based water, land, forest, property and other acquisition database management systems; realizing topographic planning activities; modelling landslide zones and monitoring landslide dynamics; conducting multi-scale analysis on space images taken from various spectral diapasons.
The Bachelors degree in Biology is a multilateral training programme covering the great number of existing and extinct biological species, their composition and functions, origin and development, as well as relations between animate and inanimate nature. Sitology, Molecular Biology, Human Evolutionary Theory, Ecology, Biosphere theory, the theory of evolution are covered by the program. Along with mastering achievements in the biological sciences, students acquire practical knowledge and skills in modern genetics, heredity and mutability. For this purpose, Western Caspian University provides students with opportunities to conduct a variety of research and laboratory studies.
The University's Centre of Information Technologies is provided with up-to-date equipment and computers. There's a 3D printer at the Centre. Students are able to print items prepared in various formats. Students are provided with all possibilities to acquire skills in operational systems and computer engineering.
The Science and Innovation Centre successfully implemented several projects in application of scientific and educational innovations.
The mission of the Confucius Centre at Western Caspian University is the promotion of Chinese language and Culture, as well as the development of cultural relations between China and Azerbaijan.
The Language Centre created at Western Caspian University aims to introduce fundamental changes in the teaching and learning process of foreign languages. Conceptually, it has the following format:
- to research difficulties and problems in teaching foreign languages;
- to realize programs in relations to learning foreign languages abroad at the University;
- to establish business relations with leading world language centres, in order to acquire language teaching practice.
Library
The library at Western Caspian University is the richest library in the country. It has more than 60 000 books, more than 500 microforms and other sources of information. More than 16 000 books is available in English.
This library is the first and only library in the Republic to work in correlation with the UN Library.
The UN Library, established in 2016, continues the process of enriching the library fund with various publications of international institutions. The Depositary Library of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was established at the University. And Western Caspian University was the first Azerbaijani University whose name was included in the library program.
The UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Secretary of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - joint international body of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) adopted a decision to present their publications to the Western Caspian University Library. The publications of these international organizations are regularly received by the library.
At the same time, Western Caspian University joined the Depository Library of The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Within this program, the WIPO sends publications to University twice a year.
Museum of Thor Heyerdahl
The centre has been officially opened during the Thor Heyerdahl Film Festival week, on May 12-20, 2014. It is dedicated to the commemoration of his 100 anniversary.
Museum which is permanently located on the second floor of the main building of Western Caspian Iniversity, contains archive materials related to his activity. It includes documentary films, articles, books about his expeditions, memoirs, handwritten postcards and images from his great journeys, including photos from his visit to Azerbaijan.
The following books about Thor Heyerdal have been translated into the Azerbaijani language by Western Caspian University:
- 1) The Kon-Tiki Expedition
- 2) The Ra Expeditions
- 3) Exploration series I-IX
Honorary professor of Western Caspian University, Thor Heyerdahl was a world-renowned explorer, archaeologist and ethnographer, who dared to challenge scientific thinking by sailing on rafts and boats across immense oceans to justify his views on human migration. Heyerdahl said his life was dominated by three challenges: to live in harmony with nature and protect it; to make his mark on the scientific community; and to build on his conception of the basic unity of mankind.
Student life
Student Youth Organization
Student Youth Organization (SYO) confirmed its efficiency as a democratic student self-governing body system and creator of close relationships between the University administration and students. The SYO acts within the following responsibilities:
- Conducting surveys among students, exploring their view-points and wishes;
- preparing and introducing comments and proposals on specific problems of students' life;
- protecting the students' rights and interests (including social interests);
- introducing proposals on elimination of negative effects on the quality of the teaching process and causes of legal violation.
Career
The Career and Graduate Coordination Centre offers services on providing practice and career opportunities, ensuring smooth the student-University relationship, hiring a big number of specialists to conduct practical and individual sessions for students and organizing trainings on priority topics.
Western Caspian University welcomes close cooperation with numerous organizations for further internship and employment of students. The key mission of the Students Service Centre is to implement projects with a view to provide intellectual and cultural development, student's capacity building, maintain continuous communication with University alumni.
The Centre assists graduates to find job in their specific fields. Information for all students at the University is kept in a database which is updated annually. The Centre often initiates meetings with representatives of foreign companies and organizations operating in Azerbaijan. Since its launch, the Centre has assisted hundreds of graduates and students to find respective jobs. Western Caspian University cooperates with major government institutions (Parliament, Ministries and Committees, institutes under Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences) and banking sector for successful internship activities. Big number of students was later hired by this organizations.
Well-known alumnies
Many young Azerbaijanis that have achieved success in their carriers are alumni of Western Caspian University:
- Nargiz Gurbanova, PhD, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Bulgaria;
- Anar Alakbarov, Executive Director of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Director of the Heydar Aliyev Centre, Assistant to Azerbaijan's first Vice-President;
- Agasamad Efendiyev, Head of the Office of the Ministry of Taxes of Azerbaijan Republic;
- Jasarat Valehov, Head of division for work with NGOs and press, Ministry of Education;
- Fariz Ismailzade, Executive Vice-Rector at Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA), a member of the Board of Directors at the State Examination Centre public legal entity of the Republic of Azerbaijan;
- Saida (Ibrahimova) Barvarz, Senior advisor at BP, Houston, USA;
- Kamran Kalbaliyev, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Representative in France;
- Farid Jafarov, General Manager at Microsoft Azerbaijan.
Western Caspian University's High School
Western Caspian University High School established in 2003 applies the up-to-date methods and curriculum standards.
In addition to the complete secondary education tailored to the high international standards, special emphasis is given to foreign languages - English, French and German. Tuition process applies a variety of interactive and technologically advanced learning tools. Conversation classes with foreign experts create favorable conditions for advanced language learning.
The school is equipped with ICTs, modern laboratories, MimioStudio software and smart boards. The library comprises wide range of science fiction and other related literature.
The High School students and their team leaders are able to participate in summer exchange programs at the Katherine and Kings College of London and English Language School in Beckenham, England.
Thanks to the high-quality training, High School seniors have succeeded in entry examinations (100 percent) over the last 10 years. Some of them were awarded with presidential scholarship for excellent results achieved at the admission exams.
Graduates from the Western University High School achieve the highest scores every year and enter the most prestigious universities not only in Azerbaijan, but also in many countries around the world, such as the University of Texas and James Madison University (USA), Czech Technical University in Prague, Istanbul Bilgi University (Turkey), St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design (Russia), Cyprus International University in Northern Cyprus and International University "MITSO", etc.
The Training Centre at Western Caspian University
The Western Knowledge Training Centre at Western Caspian University runs academic preparatory classes that are conducted by highly qualified specialists and include:
- Preparing students to begin University tuition
- Training masters
- Preparing to pursue a civil service career
- Foreign language courses
- Preparing to study abroad
- Languages courses abroad
Notes
Source of article : Wikipedia
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