As part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening partnerships between higher education institutions and general education schools, as well as promoting international pedagogical standards at the regional level, Mingachevir State University (MSU) has taken another significant step toward advancing educational excellence.
On January 22, 2026, faculty members of the Department of Foreign Languages at Mingachevir State University—Khadija Aliyeva, PhD in Philology, Khayala Abdullayeva, and Shahnaz Mahishzade—organized a comprehensive informational seminar for English language teachers at Secondary School No. 8 named after Nizami Ganjavi in Mingachevir.
The primary objective of the seminar was to familiarize regional educators with contemporary global educational trends, enhance mechanisms for teachers’ professional development, and promote the integration of Cambridge Assessment standards into the teaching and learning process.
Internationally Certified Experts Share Professional Experience:
One of the seminar’s distinguishing features was the participation of three highly qualified MSU academics—Khadija Aliyeva, Khayala Abdullayeva, and Shahnaz Mahishzade—all of whom hold internationally recognized TESOL and Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) certifications. Drawing upon their professional expertise and international training, the presenters introduced participants to Cambridge teaching methodologies and globally recognized standards in English language education through practical examples and real-life classroom experience.
Conducted in a highly interactive format, the seminar featured presentations on several topics of strategic importance for improving the quality of regional education:
The Importance of International Certifications
TKT: A Key Qualification for Teachers
Why Teachers Should Take TKT?
Cambridge English Exams and School Development
The presentations emphasized the pivotal role of international teaching qualifications in strengthening teachers’ professional competitiveness, facilitating the effective implementation of modern learner-centered teaching methodologies, and enhancing the overall quality of education in schools. The speakers also demonstrated practical approaches to integrating internationally recognized educational frameworks with the national curriculum.
School Administration Commends the University’s Educational Mission:
The scientific and methodological seminar, dedicated to international certification and contemporary pedagogical approaches, attracted considerable interest from the school’s academic staff and was highly appreciated by the participants.
Addressing the audience, Aysel Khalilova, Principal of Secondary School No. 8 named after Nizami Ganjavi, expressed her satisfaction with the productive collaboration established between the university and the school:
“The regular organization of scientific and methodological seminars of this nature is of great importance for the academic environment of our secondary schools. Our close cooperation with Mingachevir State University brings fresh perspectives to our teachers’ professional practice while making a significant contribution to their professional growth and motivation. We highly appreciate the opportunity to learn from the University’s internationally certified TESOL and TKT specialists, who generously share their global expertise with our teaching staff.”
A Strategic Step Toward Future Educational Excellence
The seminar was recognized not only as an important professional development initiative for teachers but also as a strategic milestone in strengthening the sustainable partnership ecosystem between higher education institutions and general education schools throughout the region.
Representatives of Mingachevir State University reaffirmed that, within the framework of the University’s mission to align regional education with international standards, similar outreach and community engagement initiatives will continue to be implemented on a broader scale in the future.