On June 30, 2026, Mingachevir State University held its “Graduation Day” ceremony for the 2025/2026 academic year. Organized in the university’s main academic building, the event was remembered for unforgettable moments symbolizing the graduates’ transition from student life to their professional future.

The event was attended by Head of the Mingachevir City Executive Authority Ilham Ismayilov, Member of the Milli Majlis Aydin Mirzazade, Rector of Mingachevir State University Anar Eminov, Secretary of the Public Council under the Ministry of Science and Education Gunay Akbarova, family members of martyrs, veterans, representatives of Mingachevir city law enforcement agencies, the leadership of the Central Aran Regional Youth and Sports Department and the Mingachevir City Education Sector, school principals, media representatives, the university’s academic staff, students, master’s students, graduates and their parents.

The participants first laid flowers in front of the bust of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, erected in front of the university’s main academic building, and commemorated the dear memory of the Great Leader with deep respect and reverence.

The “Graduation Day” began with the performance of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Afterwards, the cherished memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the founder of the modern independent Azerbaijani state, and our heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and freedom of our country was honored with a minute of silence.

Opening the event with an introductory speech, Head of the Mingachevir City Executive Authority Ilham Ismayilov congratulated the graduates, their parents and the university staff. The city leader noted that in recent years, Mingachevir State University has developed not only as a higher education institution of the region, but also as an important partner contributing to the socio-economic, cultural and intellectual development of the city. He emphasized that the young specialists trained by the university play an important role in strengthening the human capital of Mingachevir and the country as a whole, as well as in building a society based on modern knowledge and skills.

In his speech, Ilham Ismayilov stressed that the young people graduating today are not only receiving diplomas, but also assuming great responsibility. He stated that in their professional activities, they must always preserve their knowledge, civic position, commitment to national and moral values, and sense of social responsibility, while making worthy contributions to the country’s development. The city leader highly appreciated the integration of Mingachevir State University into city life, as well as its active participation in education, youth, sports, culture, ecology and social initiatives, and wished the graduates success in their future endeavors.

Then Rector of Mingachevir State University Anar Eminov delivered a speech and congratulated the graduates on this remarkable day. The rector noted that “Graduation Day” is not only a final stage in university life, but also a celebration of a new beginning, new responsibility and new hopes. He stated that MSU’s main goal is to educate young people who are knowledgeable, flexible-minded, innovative, responsive to labor market demands, and at the same time responsible toward society and the environment.

Anar Eminov emphasized that modern universities are no longer institutions that merely transmit knowledge in classrooms. They are living ecosystems that promote the ideas of sustainable development, shape green thinking, strengthen digital skills, and turn the values of social responsibility and inclusiveness into part of their daily activities. In this regard, Mingachevir State University not only provides students with professional knowledge, but also forms them through important values such as cooperation, leadership, environmental responsibility, innovation and service to society.

The rector noted that sending off the university’s next graduates for the 2025/2026 academic year is another indicator of MSU’s growing role in developing the region’s human resources potential. He stated that graduates trained by the university in engineering, economics and management, and pedagogical fields will work in various sectors in the future and contribute to the country’s sustainable development, the strengthening of regions, the formation of a knowledge-based economy and the enrichment of human capital.

Addressing the graduates, Anar Eminov said that they will always remain valuable members of the MSU family. The rector advised the young people to be principled, responsible, open to innovation and patriotic in their professional paths, and noted that the university’s doors will always be open to its graduates.

Member of the Milli Majlis Aydin Mirzazade also spoke at the event, congratulating the graduates and emphasizing the important role of young people in the future development of the country. He noted that in the modern era, higher education is important not only for professional training, but also for the formation of personality, civic position and worldview. The MP stressed that MSU has undergone dynamic development in recent years and has carried out important work in increasing access to education in the region and training highly qualified personnel.

Secretary of the Public Council under the Ministry of Science and Education Gunay Akbarova also congratulated the graduates and wished them success in their future lives. She noted that the education of young people as knowledgeable, active, socially responsible and initiative-driven individuals is of great importance for the development of society. Gunay Akbarova highly appreciated the work carried out at MSU to strengthen a student-oriented environment, support young people’s public engagement and reveal their individual potential.

Finally, a congratulatory video message addressed to the graduates of Mingachevir State University by Rector of Gümüşhane University of Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Oktay Yıldız, was shown.

Following the official speeches, the event continued with an award ceremony for the graduates. University and faculty top graduates at the bachelor’s and master’s levels were awarded based on their Grade Point Average.

Ibrahim Mammadov, a student of MSU’s Faculty of Engineering, was awarded as the faculty top graduate with 95.24 points; Khayal Sharifli, a student of the Faculty of Pedagogy, as the faculty top graduate with 98.85 points; Sabina Rahimova, a student of the Faculty of Economics and Management, as both the university and faculty top graduate at the bachelor’s level with 99.07 points; and Alsu Mammadova, a master’s graduate, as the university top graduate at the master’s level with 99.22 points.

At the event, 13 students and master’s students were also awarded for their active participation in university life, public initiative, involvement in student organizations and contribution to various university events. In addition, special attention was paid to graduates who are veterans and members of martyrs’ families, and they were also honored. This moment added both pride and a deep sense of moral responsibility to the event.

After the award ceremony, the “Graduation Day” continued with an artistic program. The program featured performances by Habil Mammadov and his students, musician Hikmat Poladzade, known as Gara Dervish, and Mardan Kazimov, who presented a series of impressive musical performances. The music, the joy of the graduates, the pride of the parents and the excitement of the university staff created a special festive atmosphere at the event.

It should be noted that in the 2025/2026 academic year, a total of 1077 students are graduating from Mingachevir State University, including 940 at the bachelor’s level and 137 at the master’s level.