Caspian Energy (CE): Mr. Gasymov, what goals is the Baku Higher Oil School pursuing and how well has it managed to succeed in their implementation?
Elmar Gasymov, Rector, Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS): Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS), a state-owned enterprise, was established under the State Oil Company in accordance with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev’s order dated November 29, 2011.
The prime objective pursued upon creation of BHOS aimed at advanced teaching of new specialized highly-skilled human resources, speaking English fluently, for their further participation both in local and international projects of SOCAR as well as for oil, gas and chemical industry of Azerbaijan on the whole.
Having established tight partnership relations with Heriot-Vatt University (Edinburg, Great Britain), we signed an agreement for joint training of bachelors majoring in “Oil-gas engineering” and “Chemical engineering”. After leaving school, the graduates of Baku Higher Oil School obtain the degree of both BHOS and Heriot-Vatt University.
The meeting with the first students, who entered BHOS, was held on September 15, 2012. Participating in the meeting were President of SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev and Rector of Heriot-Vatt University Steve Chapman. Every student was presented an iPad by SOCAR. Those who needed lodging were settled in the dormitory. Students study English and information technologies during the first (preparation) year. Teaching is performed through using computers, multimedia and internet-technologies. In the special issue of Abiturient journal (university entrant) published by the State Students Admission Commission and dedicated to the results of 2012 entrance exams, BHOS occupied the first position in the higher educational institutions rating during the 2012/2013 academic year and still remains the leader on many indicators among them. It is a very big indicator and we will apply all efforts for maintaining this position.
Acceptance of students for the first academic year in BHOS exceeded all our expectations indeed. Thus, the majority of 116 students studying at BHOS scored over 600 points out of possible 700 while passing entrance exams. BHOS is the only educational institution where an average indicator of points scored by students during entrance exams totals 631 points. 11 out of 102 university entrants who receive a presidential stipend are the students of BHOS.
CE: What could you tell about success gained in strengthening of international status of the higher educational institution during the first academic year?
Elmar Gasymov: An objective of tight cooperation with foreign higher education institutions was set upon the establishment of Baku Higher Oil School with the purpose to study their academic programs and work out an own program on their basis.
Opportunities to expand cooperation with higher education institutions specialized in training of students majoring in “Oil-gas engineering” and “Chemical engineering” were also discussed in the meeting with representatives of the diplomatic corps represented in Azerbaijan.
Within a year BHOS managed to establish effective relationships with world-known higher education institutions and companies. In order to build an academic program on the highest level cooperation agreements with the following companies and educational institutions have been signed: Statoil Azerbaijan, Total E&P Azerbaijan, Microsoft Azerbaijan, British Council, Federation of Universities of the Islamic World and other organizations. BHOS has so far established partnership relations with the following universities: Heriot-Vatt, the French Institute of Petroleum (IFP School), Stavanger (Norway), Higher School in Sladkovichovo (Slovakia), University of Science and Technologies of Norway, Dr. Assen Zlatarov University (Bulgaria), Technical University of Sofia (Bulgaria).
BHOS created a learning culture with a high-level training of students and a healthy competition between them. It certainly has a positive impact on mastering of the teaching program by students.
Thus, BHOS has set several important parameters playing a key role in teaching process, and namely: a strong teacher, a good student, high material-technical base and international teaching programs. Symbiosis of all these parameters distinguishes BHOS considerably from other Higher Education Institutions.
Meanwhile, construction of the new campus of BHOS in Bibi-Heybat (on the Caspian Sea shore) is underway. After the commissioning of the new campus, we plan to start teaching foreign students and launch Master degree program as well as strengthen science-research work.
CE: What have been the results of activity of BHOS in the course of the first academic year?
Elmar Gasymov: Indicators of the admission campaign of SOCAR BHOS have once again confirmed the fact that this higher education institution is in the center of attention of university entrants who scored high points at entrance exams.
Minimum passing scores on specialties that Baku Higher Oil School announced an admission for totaled: Oil-gas engineering specialty - 648 and 637 (on a paid basis), Process automation engineer specialty – 650, and Chemical engineering specialty - 634 points. Average points on these specialties totaled 661, 669 and 646 points respectively. In general, 656 points have to be scored to provide entering BHOS. This figure used to total 631 last year.
50% of school-leavers who entered our institution scored over 650 points. Maximum indicator on “Oil-gas engineering”, “Process automation engineer” and “Chemical engineering” specialties totaled 685, 690 and 695 points respectively.
One of the school leavers who scored the highest points (695 points) at entrance exams for admission into the first group of specialties, Gafarly Sevinj has chosen Baku Higher Oil School where she will major in “Chemical engineering”.
Training of specialists majoring in “Oil-gas engineering” and “Chemical engineering” has been commenced since September of this year in accordance with the program of Heriot-Vatt University.
All these indicators are associated with high belief in perspectives of the oil strategy realized by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, with broad interest of talented youth in engineering specialties, with prospects of big projects realized by SOCAR and year by year authority growth of Baku Higher Oil School in the community.
