A forum was organized with the participation of international students studying in Azerbaijan within the framework of "Shusha Year". The purpose of the forum was to discuss the damages of war to cultural monuments and the environment in the territories liberated from occupation as a result of the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, to hold discussions on diplomacy, and to convey the truths of Karabakh to foreign students. During the event, panel discussions were held by local and foreign experts on the topics of culture, environment, and diplomacy with the participation of foreign students and professors. Employees of the Administration of the State Reserve of Shusha City, the Reserve Management Center under the State Tourism Agency, and the Permanent Delegation of Azerbaijan to UNESCO participated in the culture panel as speakers. In the environmental panel, the representatives of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, Khazar University, and the Azerbaijan State University of Economics, as well as independent experts delivered their speeches. Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Relations Analysis Center, Non-Aligned Movement Youth Organization, and Topchubashov Center spoke at the diplomatic panel. The speech of Michael Doran, director of the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East of the Hudson Institute of the USA, who participated in the mentioned panel, was welcomed with interest. About 70 foreign students studying in our country at the expense of educational grant programs established by the decrees of the President of the country, intergovernmental agreements supported by the Republic of Azerbaijan, and their own funds participated in the forum.

The Ministry of Science and Education joined the next tree-planting action organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources on the Absheron Peninsula within the framework of organizing the participation of foreign students studying in Azerbaijan.  Heads of structural divisions of relevant institutions, international students studying in our country, and representatives of higher education institutions participated in the tree-planting campaign. Representatives of the State Migration Service and the International Development Assistance Agency (AIDA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the leadership of the Eurasian Regional Center of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum also joined the mentioned campaign.  More than 100 international students from 18 higher education institutions from 33 countries participated in the autumn tree planting campaign for the purpose of improving the ecological situation, increasing the greenery, at the same time increasing the networking and social activity of international students, and promoting the education of foreigners in Azerbaijan. International students received eco-friendly gifts from the MSE. During the mentioned action, 4200 eldar pine, fig, and pistachio trees suitable for the climate of the Absheron peninsula were planted in a 6-hectare area. In the end, the impressions of the participants were heard and a commemorative photo was taken with them.

On December 9, with the organization of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, an online presentation was held about Algeria by Hamza Nacer, a PhD student at Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University studying in Azerbaijan within the framework of the educational grant program for citizens of the member states of the OIC and the NAM. About 560 students from schools of Baku, Absheron-Khizi, Ganja-Dashkasan, Nagorno Shirvan, and Central Aran zones took part in the meeting. The first part of the meeting was dedicated to Hamza Nacer’s presentation about Algeria, and the second part was devoted to questions. The students addressed their questions about Algeria to the foreign student and received his answers with great interest. The webinar was broadcasted live on the Teams platform. The video recording of the meeting is given below: Algeria, Hamza Nacer, Scholarship-Holders' Country Presentations

As determined by clause 2.7 of the "Regulation on the Procedure for Awarding Scientific Degrees" approved by Decree No. 728 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 11, 2019 (Subsection 2.7.3) Azerbaijani language was among the exams for foreign and stateless applicants in order to receive the degree of the doctor of philosophy. Starting from 29.09.2020, the Azerbaijani language exam for foreign and stateless applicants has been conducted by the State Examination Center of the Republic of Azerbaijan.  We inform you that the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated November 26, 2022, on amending Decree No. 728 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 11, 2019, on the approval of the "Regulation on the Procedure for Awarding Academic Degrees" and the "Regulation on the Procedure for Awarding Scientific Names" was signed (https://president.az/az/articles/view/57982 ).  As a result of this amendment, applicants who write and defend their dissertation in English or Russian will not be required to take a mandatory Azerbaijani language exam at the State Examination Center.