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The delegation led by Elmar Gasimov, Rector of Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) met with Andreas Karlsböck, Member of Austrian Parliament and Head of Scientific Committee, in Austria. The attendees of the meeting emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in the sphere of education and science such as the successful implementation of the contract aimed at ensuring mutual recognition of diplomas, and touched upon the important steps taken toward this goal.

Elmar Gasimov emphasized the goal of the visit, to build collaboration with Leoben Montan University, and thanked Andreas Karlsböck for warm reception and hospitality. He also invited Andreas Karlsböck to Azerbaijan to meet with his colleagues – Parliament members of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Executive Board of the Committee for Education and Science and also to BHOS. It was noted that the official invitation would be sent to Andreas Karlsböck by the Azerbaijani Parliament.

Andreas Karlsböck emphasized the importance of building mutual cooperation in the sphere of science and education, which would build span the bridge between the two countries and lead to more success toward achieving this goal. Attaching importance to leading more efforts to stir up the interest of Austrian public in Azerbaijan, Andreas Karlsböck pledged support for strengthening the mutual cooperation and promised to discuss possibilities with other Austrian colleagues. He also thanked SOCAR Regional Office in Austria for supporting similar programs and taking the initiative to establish relations between BHOS and Leoben Montan University and to organize the meeting in Austrian Parliament.

At the end, the delegation took a tour to the historic halls of the Austrian Parliament.

SOCAR delegation also met with the Leoben Montana University management staff and members of the Higher Scientific Council of the university.

The guests were welcomed by Wilfred Aixlseder, Chancellor of Leoben Montana University, who expressed hope for building fruitful cooperation between BHOS and Leoben Montana University.

The talks which continued the whole day were led by Peter Mozer, Vice Chancellor of Leoben Montana University responsible for maintaining international cooperation between institutions of higher education. He received the delegation warmly and gave them detailed information about the university. It was noted that Leoben Montana University, which was established in 1840, was one of the oldest and most famous higher education institution training professional specialist and scientists not only in Europe, but also around the world, with 756 teachers and about 3500 students from 75 countries including 450 foreign students. Leoben Montana University has established relations with over 100 universities.

During the talks the attendees spoke about the commitments of BHOS, the newly established higher education institution under SOCAR, for training highly skilled professional specialists in oil and gas engineering, as well as its present activity and achievements, and needs.

Leading professors of Leoben Montana University, especially, Gerhard Tonhauzer, Head of the Department of Drilling and Oil and Gas Engineering of Leoben Montana University and Paul O’Leary, Head of the Department of Automation of Leoben Montana University made presentations which led to interesting scientific discussions.

The talks and official correspondence between SOCAR Regional Office and Leoben Montana University for over a year and half, as well as the successfully maintained relations between BHOS and other universities and productive discussions finally led up to the signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between these higher education institutions.

Under the MOU, both parties initially agreed to switch to a new stage of collaboration aimed at implementing student exchange programs, providing advanced training courses for BHOS teaching staff, enrolling students in summer courses, particularly, signing an agreement for the establishment of the Department of Automation at BHOS by Leoben Montana University in the near future.

Although Leoben Montana University maintains relations with about 100 higher education institutions, it has close academic collaboration and realizes student exchange only with 10 of them.

Leoben Montana University agreed to collaborate with BHOS in the above-mentioned spheres and even to run dual diploma program in the future taking into account BHOS’s keen intention of complying with modern and European standards and experiencing best international practice in the sphere of education.

The event was also attended by Gulmirza Javadov, Head of SOCAR Regional Office in Austria and Vice-rectors of BHOS prof. Ramiz Humbatov and prof. Rashad Hasanov.

At the end of the meeting, Elmar Gasimov and Gulmirza Javadov thanked Leoben Montana University staff for their warm reception, productive meeting and support.