Sustainable Development Goals at Baku State University.

As part of the “Learn from the Master” project organized by the BSU Volunteers, a meeting was held between students and the renowned scholar, public figure, People’s Writer, and academic Kamal Abdulla at Baku State University (BSU).

BSU Rector Elchin Babayev highlighted that Kamal Abdulla, in addition to being an outstanding writer and statesman, is a distinguished educator who has tirelessly contributed to higher education for decades. Born on 4 December 1950 in Baku, he graduated from BSU’s Faculty of Philology in 1973. He has held positions such as the first rector of Baku Slavic University (2000–2014), academic secretary of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (2011–2014), and State Advisor on Interethnic, Multiculturalism, and Religious Affairs (2014–2017). Since 2017, he has been the rector of the Azerbaijan University of Languages.

The rector emphasized Kamal Abdulla’s versatile and rich literary activity. Author of around 300 articles and more than 20 textbooks and monographs, Kamal Abdulla has made significant contributions to modern Azerbaijani literature and linguistics. His works include Theoretical Problems of Azerbaijani Syntax, From Myth to Writing, Journey into Linguistics, among others. In recognition of his research on the Book of Dede Korkut, he was awarded the title of Honored Scientist by Heydar Aliyev in 1999. Kamal Abdulla is also a prominent contemporary writer and dramatist, with notable works including Half-finished Manuscript, The Valley of Magicians, No One to Forget, Secrets of the Silver Age, and plays such as Spy, The Bridge, and One-Two, Ours. His works combine mythological elements, archaic forms, folk speech, and modern syntactic structures, making him one of Azerbaijan’s most widely read authors.

The meeting was moderated by Ələmdar Cabbarlı, dean of the Faculty of Information and Document Management, and Nizami Jafarov, head of the General Linguistics Department. They discussed Kamal Abdulla’s literary and socio-political activities, noting his leadership in postmodern trends in Azerbaijani literature and his lasting contributions to linguistics.

Kamal Abdulla addressed the students, expressing his affection for BSU and reflecting on his student years: “My unforgettable teachers and renowned Azerbaijani scholars have had a lasting impact on my life. We truly understood the concept of the homeland at the University. The homeland is a place where people share the same language and values. This is precisely what we learned at the University.”

The writer also spoke about his literary journey, the depth and hidden aspects of his works, and his early interest in literature. He emphasized that a writer whose works are worth reading multiple times is truly cherished, expressing his commitment to meeting such high expectations.

The session concluded with Kamal Abdulla answering numerous questions from students.

SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)