On April 30, 2026, Mingachevir State University hosted the XXI Scientific Conference of the Student Scientific Society of the Faculty of Economics and Management dedicated to the 103rd anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev. Organized within the framework of the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture,” the conference aimed to increase students’ interest in scientific research and promote academic discussions on urban planning, management, tourism, and regional development.

Opening the conference, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management Nushaba Gadimli spoke about the importance of involving students in scientific activities and emphasized the significance of researching modern urban planning policies and sustainable development approaches implemented in the country within the academic environment.

During the conference, students delivered presentations on urban planning, territorial marketing, smart city concepts, tourism, and regional development in the post-conflict period. The presentations covered a wide range of актуal topics, including the role of marketing strategies in city branding and urban planning processes, Shusha as a unique example of urban culture, the role of territorial marketing in balanced regional development, the “Smart City” concept in Azerbaijan, urban planning and economic revitalization models in Karabakh, and the impact of architectural monuments on the tourism sector.

The presented research papers were discussed with the participation of academic supervisors, and participants exchanged views and proposals on the topics addressed during the conference. At the end of the event, the importance of such academic platforms in developing students’ scientific potential and encouraging innovative and creative approaches was particularly highlighted.