On October 1, with the organizational support of the Ministry of Science and Education, a visit of foreign students studying in our country to the city of Shusha took place. 44 foreign students representing 36 countries from 18 higher education institutions participated in the trip, which was carried out within the project of the relevant non-governmental organization. During the visit, foreign students were given detailed information about the rich nature, cultural and historical heritage of the territories freed from occupation. During the trip, the students visited Shusha Castle, Jidir plain. Statues of Bulbul, Khurshidbanu Natavan, and Uzeyir Hajibey, who were prominent figures of Azerbaijan were shown to foreign students, these statues were shot during the occupation. In the end, a commemorative photo was taken and impressions of foreign students were heard.

Attracting foreign students to higher education institutions is regarded as one of the important directions of international relations in our modern era. Foreign students contribute to the diversity of cultures in higher education institutions, the creation of a rich intellectual environment, and the rapid development of international cooperation. For many years now, Azerbaijani universities have been opening their doors to citizens of other countries, attracting them to study in our country, and training successful specialists in various fields. Azerbaijan Medical University, Nakhchivan State University, Azerbaijan Architecture and Construction University, Baku State University, Azerbaijan State Economic University, Azerbaijan State Agrarian University, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Azerbaijan Technical University, Khazar University, and ADA University are among the local higher education institutions where foreign students study most. The listed universities have high-level teaching staff. According to statistics, in the last 2021/2022 academic year, for the first time, about 7,400 foreigners and stateless persons from 102 countries studied in Azerbaijan's higher and secondary educational institutions. In the 2021/2022 academic year, the number of foreign students for undergraduate and basic higher medical education was 6,500, and 300 for master's level. The deadline for admission of foreign citizens to other levels of education by local higher education institutions was September 30 with the exception of preparatory courses. After the process is completed, statistics on the number of newly admitted foreign students for the 2022/2023 academic year will be known. Citizens of Turkey, Iran, Georgia, Russia, Iraq, Nigeria, Syria, India, Pakistan, and China are among the top 10 foreign students studying in our country. Foreign students admitted to Azerbaijan higher education institutions mostly study in medical, technical and technological, healthcare, welfare and service, economy and management, humanitarian and social specialty groups. In order to find out the opinions of foreign students studying in Azerbaijan about our country and its education, interviews were held by the “Azərbaycan müəllimi” newspaper with foreign students from several universities. Below, we present the impressions of those foreign young people to our readers. "I chose Azerbaijan to study as a grant winner." Hamza Naser - doctoral student (Ph.D.) of the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, winner of an educational grant: "I came from Algeria to Azerbaijan as a winner of an educational grant for citizens of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. I had to choose between Spain and Azerbaijan when I was a grant winner, and I chose Azerbaijan. Before coming here, I got interested in the education system and universities of Azerbaijan, I asked my Arabic-speaking acquaintances studying there through Facebook and got information. After gathering positive opinions about Azerbaijan, I decided to study here. At Bomertes University in my home country Algeria, I was told that Azerbaijani universities provide good education in the oil industry. I am satisfied with my educational experience here. First of all, I am very satisfied with the modern equipment here, because my scientific work is the collection of radiation in the water left over from oil production. I conduct experiments in this field and I can use the necessary equipment in the laboratory of the Academy of Sciences to carry out my experiments. At the same time, starting on September 15, I was given the opportunity to teach at the university. This was one of my goals. I really like Baku's beautiful buildings, museums, infrastructure, convenient and accessible transport system, and friendly people." "I am satisfied with my studies at the university."  Jonathan Grantley Edwards – 2nd-year student of the business management faculty of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics, winner of an educational grant: "I came to Azerbaijan as a winner of a grant from Antigua and Barbuda for citizens of the member states of the Non-Aligned Movement. I talked with my compatriot student studying in Azerbaijan via Facebook and heard very positive opinions about Azerbaijan, so I decided to study here. I am satisfied with the education provided at my university. Our teachers are very interactive, and always ready to help us. In my first year at the university, I had difficulties with the evaluation system, which is due to the difference between the evaluation system in my country and here. Compared to the country where I live, Azerbaijan is a very different country. People in Azerbaijan love their religion and nation very much, they are very supportive of each other." "I am very proud that the flags of Azerbaijan and Turkey are waving side by side." Deniz Ece - Master's student in Philology (Azerbaijani literature) of the Azerbaijan University of Languages: "I came from Ankara, the city of the brother country Turkey. I received a bachelor's degree in Turkology from Hacettepe University in Turkey, and I am doing a master's degree in the same field in Turkey. At the same time, I came to Azerbaijan within the framework of the Erasmus program, and now I am studying Azerbaijani philology for the first semester. I am writing a dissertation on "Postmodernism in Turkish and Azerbaijani novels", and I am comparing novels. It is my first time in Baku and, I have been here for three weeks already. In Azerbaijan, I don't feel like I am in another country, this place is very familiar to me. Baku is a very beautiful city. I am very proud to see the flags of Azerbaijan and Turkey waving side by side. I want the relations between our countries to become stronger. It depends on us- young people to develop and strengthen our states more. My goal in the future is to work for the whole Turkic world and to develop my business in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other Turkic states. "I am happy to be in Azerbaijan." Sameera Sardar – a student of Azerbaijani language course at Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University: "I am a citizen of Pakistan and I worked there as an English teacher. Many of my acquaintances have been to Azerbaijan as tourists and with admiration advised me to definitely visit this country. After coming to Azerbaijan, I wanted to continue my activities here, and for this purpose, I decided to learn the Azerbaijani language. I was accepted to the Azerbaijani language courses of the university where I studied, designed for foreign students. I have been in Azerbaijan for 7 months and I am happy to be here. I am very satisfied with the approach of my teachers, they are always open to cooperation, and the educational environment is very well organized. Baku is a safe city to live in, people are friendly and sociable. In addition to Baku, I visited Gabala and other regions of Azerbaijan. I was very attracted by the greenness and cleanliness of the places I visited. One of the points that I like the most in Azerbaijan is that women have greater respect here. I want to stay and live in Azerbaijan. I wish to continue my future education in the field of architecture and construction." "I like the architectural style of Baku very much." Rokaya al-Hosain - a second-year student in the architecture faculty of Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction: "My family and I came to Azerbaijan as refugees from Iraq in 2017. My older sister also graduated from the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction, and I am currently studying in the second year of the same university. I am satisfied with the education here, the teachers are attentive to the students and are always open. As I studied architecture, I would like to mention that I like the architectural style of Baku very much. There are both classical and modern buildings here. I also want to specially mention that Baku is safe, and its people are friendly and always ready to help."   "I am very proud to be a student of UNEC." Luna-Eylin (Aylin) Miller Neyheed – 2nd-year student of business management faculty of Azerbaijan State University of Economics: "I was born in Dubai, but I grew up in the USA. My father is Spanish-American, and my mother is Azerbaijani. In 2019, I moved to Azerbaijan with my family. When I was admitted to the higher education institution, I had a choice between several prestigious Azerbaijani universities. However, since my grandfather, uncle, many relatives, and acquaintances graduated from the Azerbaijan State University of Economics, they recommended this higher education institution to me. Currently, I am also very proud to be a UNEC student. The International department of our university is always ready and open to help foreign students. I act as a mentor and advocate for foreign students at the university I study, and at the same time, I am the chairman of the Intercultural club. I like the respect for women in Azerbaijan. Baku is a green and safe city. I have also visited the regions of Azerbaijan. I would like to say that Azerbaijan is a country with rich greenery and very beautiful nature. "I love Azerbaijani cuisine." Luo Gengxin Qiuwang – 2nd-year student of the Faculty of Philology (Azerbaijani Language and Literature) of Baku Slavic University: "I studied engineering in the People's Republic of China. I had a dream to do an internship in a foreign country. An American friend who studied in Azerbaijan recommended me to study in this country. In 2019, I came to Azerbaijan to study in a preparatory language course. I am currently studying at the Faculty of Philology of Baku Slavic University. Between Azerbaijani and Chinese education, I would like to point out that here students are given more homework, assignments to work independently, and students research and learn the material themselves. In China, teachers explain the subject and give students tests. I spend most of my time studying and translating because you need to prepare well to score in the assessment. I really like Azerbaijan, the city of Baku, and the people here, and I want to stay and live here in the future. I would like to say that I love Azerbaijani cuisine, I can cook good food myself, and I learn how to prepare Azerbaijani food from my friends." ©Lamiya Alimardanova, “Azərbaycan müəllimi” newspaper

The candidate selection process for the 2022-2023 academic year of educational grant programs (EGPs), which provide foreign students with the opportunity to study at the higher educational institutions (HEIs) of the Republic of Azerbaijan at the expense of the state, has been completed. It should be recalled that the EGPs were established for the duration of 5 years in the preparatory courses in accordance with the language of instruction in the HEIs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor’s degrees, at the main education and residency levels of medical education for the citizens of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation by the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 3457 dated December 6, 2017, (OIC), as well as for the citizens of the member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) by the Order No. 3567 dated January 10, 2018. According to the terms of the EGPs, it is expected to allocate an educational grant to 20 foreign students (thus, a total of 40 people for both programs) on an annual basis in each direction (IOC and NAM). According to the list selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and finally approved together with the Ministry of Science and Education (MSE), the MSE has determined the higher educational institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan where the participants of the EGP will study. The EGP covers tuition fees, visa, registration, monthly stipend, medical assistance, and international transportation expenses paid by the government. Based on the results of the selection process, the EGPs for the 2022-2023 academic year have been awarded to 20 students from 18 OIC countries (Bangladesh, Algeria, Palestine, Ivory Coast, Indonesia, Iran, Comoros, Kuwait, Egypt, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Gambia, Kazakhstan, Somalia, Sudan, Tajikistan and Yemen), as well as to 20 students from 18 NMA countries (Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Ecuador, India, Honduras, Iran, Colombia, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Nepal, Nicaragua, Thailand, Uganda and Zambia). Selected students will study in 11 higher educational institutions in Azerbaijan, mainly at Azerbaijan Medical University, ADA University, and Khazar University.

The Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan received some information on fraud attempts in the admission process of international students to higher education institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Some international students may have been deceived to pay some amount to scammers promising their admission to Azerbaijani universities. The Ministry of Science and Education call all prospective international students to be careful and not to approach brokers for their admission applications. SIA: CAS (“Study in Azerbaijan: Centralised Admission Service”) / portal.edu.az is an official portal of the Ministry of Science and Education where prospective students can find all universities operating in Azerbaijan and make direct applications to the universities on the portal free of charge. We would like to emphasize again that there is no application fee on portal.edu.az.The portal operates both in English enabling all foreign individuals to use it freely. The Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan invites all applicants to apply to the universities individually through portal.edu.az and not fall victim to scammers.