Sustainable Development Goals at Baku State University.

On the eve of the 13th session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13), scheduled to be held in Baku in 2026, an academic seminar titled “Sustainable Socio-Economic and Demographic Development Characteristics of Azerbaijani Cities” was held at Baku State University (BDU). The seminar was organized by the leadership of the Faculty of Geography and the Student Youth Organization (TGT).

Opening the event, Dean of the Faculty of Geography, Professor Maqsad Jojamanov, highlighted the importance of sustainable governance of urban development in an increasingly globalized world. He emphasized the need to enhance students’ knowledge in the field of urbanization and expressed confidence that activities organized within the framework of WUF13 would significantly broaden students’ scientific outlook and perspectives on urban planning processes.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Associate Professor Etibar Badalov, a lecturer at the Department of Geography of Azerbaijan and Methods of Teaching Geography. In his presentation, he explained the scientific and practical foundations of the factors determining the socio-economic development of cities and provided insights into demographic processes within the national urban system. Issues such as urbanization dynamics, environmental pressure on urban areas, and the impact of migration flows on urban infrastructure were presented based on factual data and statistical indicators. He underlined that sustainable development is ensured not only through economic indicators but also through social well-being, ecological balance, and adaptive management of the urban environment.

The seminar concluded with a question-and-answer session and discussions on future prospects of urban development processes.

SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 13 (Climate Action)