The event, organized with support from the Fund for Support to Azerbaijani Diaspora, was attended by the faculty members of the university, researchers from French universities, representatives of various academic foundations based in Geneva, employees of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Switzerland, executives of the Swiss-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce and Industry, representatives of the Azerbaijani community, prominent lawyers and entrepreneurs.
Speakers at the event extended their congratulations to the author of the research study Tural Aliyev, PhD researcher at the University of Geneva, and his academic advisors Dr. Alexander Hedjazi and Prof. Laurent Matthey. The study was described as a great contribution to the field of architecture and urban planning and was praised as a rare example of literature on Baku urbanism published abroad. The author analyzes the stages of the transition period of Baku’s urban development, examining the dynamics of architectural and urban planning potential and the city’s development model. The causes behind the failure of the last master plan (1986) in the transition period were such facts as the occupation of 20% of Azerbaijani lands, the capital city facing the problem of the influx of about 1 million refugees and internally displaced persons, and the loss of 16% of the housing stock.
The study took into account the opinions and experience, analysis and recommendations of scholars and experts from universities in Switzerland (University of Geneva and College of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg), France (University of Montpellier and INALCO in Paris), USA (Harvard University and UCLA), and Azerbaijan (ADA University and Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction).
The aim of the event, carried out as part of the “Brain Gain” program of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, is to support Azerbaijani scientists in the diaspora, strengthen ties of Azerbaijani scientists working in renowned foreign universities with their historic homeland, interest foreign scientists in Azerbaijan, and encourage participation in joint research projects.
Note that Tural Aliyev is also a member of the Coordination Council of Swiss Azerbaijanis.
The State Committee on Work with Diaspora congratulates our compatriot on this presentation and wishes him further success in his future academic endeavors.
