The opening ceremony of the Global Congress on Sustainable Development, jointly organized by Times Higher Education (THE) and the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK), took place in Istanbul.

A delegation led by the Rector of Baku State University (BSU), Professor Elchin Babayev, participated in the event.

THE Director General for Global Affairs Phil Baty and YÖK President Erol Özvar addressed the opening session, emphasizing the vital role of sustainability in higher education and the significance of the congress in fostering international collaboration.

Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, also delivered a keynote speech, highlighting Azerbaijan’s ongoing reforms, programs, and international initiatives in science and education aligned with sustainable development goals.

During the event, the Top 10 universities in the THE Impact Rankings 2025 were officially announced.

The Minister of Science and Education of Azerbaijan and the head of YÖK also toured the Azerbaijani pavilion, where several leading universities, including BSU, showcased their sustainability-related initiatives, research projects, and achievements.