Baku Hosts THE Eurasia Universities Summit 2025

Yesterday marked the official opening of the Times Higher Education (THE) Eurasia Universities Summit 2025 in Baku, bringing together university leaders, policymakers, and researchers from across Europe and Asia to explore the future perspectives of higher education.

The opening ceremony included keynote remarks from His Excellency Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, who welcomed delegates and emphasized the importance of equitable approach to international student exchange programs, strengthening international research collaboration, and introducing admission criteria for higher education institutions to ensure accessibility for everyone.

Phil Baty, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Times Higher Education, also addressed the audience, highlighting the role of international cooperation in addressing global challenges. He announced that in the 2026 THE rankings, 15 universities from Central Asia and the South Caucasus will be represented, including 5 from Kazakhstan, 4 from Uzbekistan, 3 from Georgia, and 4 from Azerbaijan.

The first day of the summit featured sessions and practical workshops focused on Eurasian strengths in tackling global challenges, universities’ contribution to social innovation, research-to-regional impact through university-industry collaboration, and the role of transnational education in fostering inclusive societies.