Baku International Multiculturalism Center’s (BIMC) project on teaching the subject of Azerbaijani Multiculturalism at foreign and domestic universities continues successfully. Currently, the subject of Azerbaijani Multiculturalism is taught at 39 universities of our country and 22 leading universities around the world within the framework of the relevant project.  

 Hokkaido University, one of the five most recognized and reputable universities of Japan, has already started regular classes on the Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism since 2017. Next month, the new academic year will commence at Hokkaido University. The classes are conducted by mutual agreement between Baku International Multiculturalism Center and the Slavic-Eurasian Research Center of Hokkaido University. The subject is taught by Japanese Studies scholar Alibay Mammadov who holds a PhD degree from Hokkaido University in conflict management and a Japanese government scholarship. The classes are conducted in Japanese.   

Most of the Japanese students enrolling for the classes of Azerbaijani Multiculturalism are those who want to study or start a business in Azerbaijan in the future or to acquire knowledge about Azerbaijan’s culture, history, literature and multicultural environment in order to give classes about Azerbaijan at Japanese universities. Selected students will have the opportunity to participate in winter and summer schools in Azerbaijan, which is a motivating factor for students.  

The project in question was launched after the Ministry of Education’s approval of the curricula on the subjects of “Introduction to Multiculturalism” and “Azerbaijani Multiculturalism” based on the idea and initiative of Chairman of BIMC’s Board of Trustees, academician Kamal Abdullayev. It is encouraging that some positive experience has already been gained in teaching the subject. The textbook of “Azerbaijani Multiculturalism” prepared and published by BIMC has been translated into English, which contributes to increasing the quality of teaching the subject in foreign countries.  

As a result of BIMC’s consistent and focused efforts in support of President Ilham Aliyev’s initiative “to promote Azerbaijan as a multiculturalism center worldwide”, the overseas teaching of the subject of Azerbaijani Multiculturalism covers a wider geographical area.  

 Press Service of Baku International Multiculturalism Center

10 September 2020