Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi launches initiatives

Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, PSUAD, has launched a series of initiatives for youth in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The university launched its Foundation Degree Year Centre, which officially began its recruitment activities at the Western University in the capital of Azerbaijan. The university also launched its "Quality Assurance in Youth Work Sector" seminar-project in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan, which attracted a wide number of Azerbaijani students.

Professor Eric Fouache, Vice Chancellor at Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, represented the university in Azerbaijan with the support of the Ministry of Education in Azerbaijan and the French Embassy in Baku.

Professor Fouache said, "The Western University of Azerbaijan has decided to establish the foundation year in collaboration with the Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. This project aims to prepare young Azerbaijani students during their last year of secondary school on an academic level to be able to join the FLE Degree of Paris Sorbonne University. Once they obtain this Degree, they can enroll either at Paris Sorbonne or at Paris Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi."

He added, "In the presence of Aurelia Bouchez, French Ambassador in Azerbaijan, and Mrs. Zemfira Mammadova, Rector of Western University, we have just inaugurated the Foundation Year Degree of Paris Sorbonne and the first batch of students will commence in September, 2017. Starting at the beginning of 2018, a regular stream of Azerbaijani students will have the opportunity to join the variety of Degree courses offered by Paris Sorbonne University in Paris as well as in Abu Dhabi. The regional role of Abu Dhabi as international platform for higher education is thus reinforced while the position of the Francophone pole in Abu Dhabi is confirmed."

The main objective of the "Quality Assurance in Youth Work Sector" seminar-project is to exchange knowledge with the 100 NGOs and youth work sector leaders of Azerbaijan on innovative ways of modern and interactively integrated leadership and management. The seminar-project covered six modules, which are: youth governance, data collection modules of work with young people in the audience, overall strategy and plan development, analysis, content, and personal-reflection research.

Prof. Fouache met with a number of French officials and academics who fully support this kind of initiative in Baku. Intigam Babayev, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, Aurelia Bouchez, the Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan and Johan Schitterer, the French Ambassador's Advisor for Culture and Cooperation attended the opening ceremony of the seminar-project which was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan.