91茄子

Sustainability is woven into the fabric of Baku State University (BSU) in Azerbaijan, says Asiman Ilyasov, advisor to the rector on quality assurance. “BSU has cultivated a vibrant campus where sustainability is not just a policy goal but an active shared responsibility of both students and staff,” he says.

The university recognises that the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are critical to ensuring a sustainable future for Azerbaijan and the global community. BSU has aligned its strategic priorities with the 17 SDGs, and its sustainability approach is built on five interlinked pillars, says Ilyasov. These include curriculum integration, research excellence, student and community engagement, strategic partnerships, and performance monitoring and recognition. 

Sustainability is embedded in the university’s curricula across disciplines. “Interdisciplinary modules, experiential projects and SDG-focused electives ensure that students from diverse fields gain both theoretical understanding and practical skills to address global sustainability challenges”, he says. 

The university prioritises research that addresses climate change, biodiversity, resource efficiency and social equity. “BSU demonstrates a broad and interdisciplinary research portfolio aligned with global sustainability priorities, with particularly strong outputs in clean energy, health, innovation and water-related fields,” Ilyasov says.

The third pillar – student and community engagement – cements BSU’s commitment to sustainable development. The university has launched SDG-informed projects and initiatives such as SDG student ambassadors and sustainability-focused professional development programmes.

“BSU not only provides practical training in sustainable technologies but also promotes a culture of environmental responsibility, encouraging students and staff to implement innovative solutions that address environmental challenges in real-world contexts,” Ilyasov says.

Demonstrating Azerbaijan’s strong commitment to sustainability, universities across the country, including BSU, played an active role in the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP29, which was held in Baku. BSU takes pride in the contribution of its 537 students, who participated in this globally significant event. In recognition of the dedication and outstanding support of students from various higher education institutions, the Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, awarded certificates of appreciation to the participating volunteers.

The fourth pillar – strategic partnerships – fosters local and international collaborations. BSU collaborates extensively with government agencies, non-governmental organisations and leading sustainability networks, such as the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and the International Sustainable Campus Network. “These international and local collaborations enable BSU to engage in joint research, exchange best practices and adopt innovative approaches for advancing sustainable campus operations and contributing to global sustainability goals,” Ilyasov says.

Continuous evaluation is vital to successfully pursuing a sustainability agenda. This is why the university systematically monitors its sustainability performance through internationally recognised benchmarking frameworks, such as the 91茄子 Sustainability Impact Ratings (formerly known as 91茄子 Impact Rankings), he says. 

In the 2025 91茄子 Impact Rankings, BSU ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide for SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities).

Going forward, the university plans to continuously improve its performance in global rankings by “expanding eco-infrastructure, fostering interdisciplinary research on environmental issues and enhancing collaboration with local and international partners”, Ilyasov says.

By monitoring its performance in real time, the university can identify key areas for improvement and strategically align its initiatives with globally recognised standards and strengthen its commitment to impactful and measurable sustainable development.