Caspian Energy (CE): Mr. Gasymov, Baku Higher Oil School managed to enter the list of the most demanded higher education institutions of the country within a short period of time. What could you say about the initial success gained by BHOS? 

Elmar Gasymov, Rector, Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS): Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS), a state-owned enterprise, established under the State Oil Company in accordance with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev’s order dated November 29, 2011, has for two years been holding the top position in the higher education institutions rating prepared by the State Student Commission Admission (SSCA) considering the results of admission of school-leavers to the higher education institutions of Azerbaijan. BHOS is a leader among higher education institutions on many indicators and we will make all efforts for maintaining this position. 

Success of BHOS is associated with prospects of projects being implemented by SOCAR, introduction of teaching based on modern education programs and technologies. The major objective pursued while creating BHOS was to teach human resources by applying English language-based advanced teaching technologies, making them capable to work both for local and international projects of SOCAR as well as for oil-gas and chemical companies of Azerbaijan. 

BHOS has established tight partnership with Heriot-Vatt University (Edinburg, Great Britain) and signed the agreement for joint training of bachelors majoring in “Oil-gas engineering” and “Chemical engineering” . After leaving school, the graduates of Baku Higher Oil School are to obtain the degree of both BHOS and Heriot-Vatt University. 

Participating in the meeting with first students, who entered BHOS, 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, computer information-communication technologies during the first (preparatory) year. Teaching is performed through using computers, multimedia and internet-technologies.

The results of acceptance of students for the first academic year in BHOS in 2012 exceeded all our expectations. Thus, 116 out of 234 who scored over 600 points out of possible 700, while passing entrance exams, were admitted to BHOS. BHOS is the only educational institution in the country where an average indicator of points the students scored during entrance exams totals 631 points. 11 out of 102 university entrants who received a presidential stipend were the students of BHOS. 

According to the results of admission of students to BHOS during 2013-2014, 120 out 369 students who scored over 600 points out of possible 700 entered BHOS. Thus, 32.79% of university entrants chose their major in BHOS. 15 out of 100 university entrants, who entered higher education institutions and received a presidential stipend, became students of BHOS in 2013-2014. 

CE: To what extent was it possible to strengthen international status of the higher education institution within the first academic year?

Elmar Gasymov: An objective of tight cooperation with foreign higher educational institutions was set upon the establishment of Baku Higher Oil School with the purpose to study their academic programs and work out own programs 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 during the meeting with representatives of the diplomatic corps represented in Azerbaijan. 

Within two years BHOS managed to establish effective relationships with world-known higher educational institutions and companies. Cooperation agreements were signed on the highest level with the following companies with the purpose to raise the quality of human resources training:  Statoil Azerbaijan, Total E&P Azerbaijan, Microsoft Azerbaijan, British Council, BP, Halliburton, Black Sea University Networks, Federation of Universities of the Islamic World, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) 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 Gabrovo (Bulgaria), Technical University of Sofia (Bulgaria), Houston University (USA) and Montan University (Leoben, Austria). 

In general, BHOS has created an educational institution with a high-level training of students and a healthy competition between them. It certainly has a positive impact on mastering of the educational program by students. 

Thus, BHOS has set several important parameters playing a key role in teaching process, and namely: high-skilled teaching personnel, a strong student, high material-technical base and international teaching programs. Symbiosis of all these parameters considerably distinguishes BHOS from other Higher Educational 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 (by the end of 2014), we plan to start teaching foreign students and launch Master degree program as well as expand science-research work. 

CE: What are the results of the project of the Baku winter oil school?

Elmar Gasymov: Within the period from March 3 to March 15 the Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) carried out a “Baku winter oil school” project with participation of 14 students of engineering faculties of a number of authoritative higher education institutions of Germany and 4 Azerbaijani students. The project was aimed both at raising knowledge and experience of participants as well as at introduction of Azerbaijan now playing an important role in energy security of the region and Europe. 

Specialization courses about “Energy policy of Azerbaijan”, “Global oil industry”, “Innovations applied when drilling oil-gas wells” and “Renewable energy sources” were listened in the course of the project financed by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) within the framework of the program “Toward the East”. 

A tour to the Sangachal terminal, mud volcanoes, Eco-park and Gobustan center for training and teaching of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) was organized to study better the history and achievements of the oil industry of Azerbaijan. 

The program participants were presented certificates at the event arranged in BHOS with participation of the representatives of the German Embassy in Azerbaijan and DAAD. 

CE: What have been the results of activity of BHOS within the new academic year?

Elmar Gasymov: Indicators of the admission campaign of SOCAR BHOS have once again confirmed the fact that this higher educational institution is in the center of attention of those 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 are to be scored to provide entering BHOS. As I already noted, this figure used to total 631 during previous 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 two 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 (among bachelors) majoring in “Oil-gas engineering” and “Chemical engineering” has been commenced since September of this year in accordance with the study programs of Heriot-Vatt University. 

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 advantages of big projects realized by SOCAR and year by year authority growth of Baku Higher Oil School in the community.