91茄子

Baku State University (BSU) has integrated AI and digital transformation into its systems and curricula to prepare its graduates for a digital future, says Mahir Pirguliyev, head of the rector’s secretariat.

“BSU considers student preparation for the digital future as one of its most critical missions,” he says. The university has strategically positioned AI and digital transformation as central pillars of its institutional development. Through skills development, international exposure and innovation ecosystems, the university “ensures that graduates are not only academically competent, but also agile, entrepreneurial and globally competitive”, Pirguliyev says.

A vital element of this strategy involves incorporating digital skills, such as machine learning and AI, into curricula. “Rather than treating AI as a standalone specialisation, BSU embeds it as a cross-cutting enabler of innovation across disciplines,” Pirguliyev says. “This prepares students, researchers and faculty to meet both national and global challenges.”

 

For example, environmental science students at BSU are now applying AI tools to climate modelling and ecological forecasting, while economics students use them for predictive market analysis and policy modelling.

“Interdisciplinary electives, including courses like AI in Society and Big Data for Economists, provide students from non-technical backgrounds with practical skills applicable in their professions,” Pirguliyev says. “This ensures that every BSU graduate, regardless of discipline, leaves the university with the digital fluency required by today’s labour markets.”

There is a strong focus on the practical applications of AI and digital tools, Pirguliyev says. This focus both encourages real-world problem-solving but also prepares students for the workforce. 

Practicality infuses faculty and student projects, which leverage AI in diverse domains, Pirguliyev says. For example, researchers are harnessing digital tools and machine learning to diagnose diseases, make agriculture more sustainable with AI-enabled crop monitoring, process large-scale genomic and molecular datasets, and manage resources, such as energy, more efficiently.

“BSU sees AI as an enabler of interdisciplinary discovery, rather than a narrow specialisation,” Pirguliyev says. “This strategy bridges natural sciences, humanities, economics and engineering. It promotes collaborative innovation and nurtures digital competence across the entire university.”

Strategic partnerships form the backbone of BSU’s digital transformation, Pirguliyev says. “This ensures that the institution does not pursue digitalisation in isolation but as part of a wider global ecosystem of innovation, collaboration and knowledge exchange.” 

These relationships include partnerships with service providers, such as global technology company Blackboard, which ensure that BSU benefits from the latest technology. The university is also applying technology tools and digital platforms to streamline its administrative processes and enhance the student experience, Pirguliyev says.

“BSU cultivates collaborations with industry and maintains close co-operation with technology companies in Azerbaijan and abroad, particularly in areas such as cloud computing, cybersecurity and AI,” Pirguliyev says. “Joint projects, hackathons and innovation competitions offer students hands-on experience in entrepreneurial thinking and digital problem-solving.”

“The university also fosters academic partnerships with international institutions. Through this web of partnerships, BSU ensures that its digital transformation is not an isolated or inward-looking effort, but rather a dynamic process informed by global expertise, technological innovation and international collaboration,” Pirguliyev says. “These partnerships allow BSU to stay competitive, innovative and impactful in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape.”