The 22nd general assembly of the Association of State Universities of the Caspian Region Countries was held on 1-2 Oct 2019, at the University of Guilan. This event aimed to strengthen the relationship between the association members and develop further cooperation between the universities. University of Guilan hosted this international event, as one of the founding members of the Association, the permanent secretariat of the Persian universities of the association and a member of the Association since 1996.
The president of the Association of State Universities of the Caspian Region, Acting Minister for International Scientific Cooperation, governor-general of Guilan province, chancellors and deputies of Iranian, Russian, Kazakh and Azeri universities were the distinguished guests of this assembly.
In this meeting, Dr. Razi, chancellor of University of Guilan highlighted the importance of this association on providing a platform for cooperation of its member states, given their existing capacities and political, cultural and social history and similarities. He referred to the frequent meeting of presidents of the member countries as great sign of their interest for expanding cooperation. He also emphasized on the importance of strengthening the infrastructure at member states for a sustainable scientific cooperation, while overcoming the exiting challenges, adding new active members and non-member observant members to this association.
He added that establishing and expanding scientific cooperation with the neighboring and association member countries in the form of exchanging students and researchers, and holding venture research projects can be of priorities for expanding international cooperation among these countries.
It was also suggested for the association to form executives' committees on education, research and technology, and to find suitable approaches on meeting technology and innovation challenger, as well as enhance joint student activities.
Dr. Razi, as the chancellor of Guilan University, was then selected as this session's director of the Association of State Universities of the Caspian Region Countries.
In this year's event, more than 30 members of the association from Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Iran attended the assembly. These include Astrakhan State University, Astrakhan Technical University, Dagestan State University, Astrakhan State Medical University, Astrakhan State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, and Kalmyk State University of the Russian Federation, Aktau State University and Atyrau University of Oil and Gas of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan Technical University and Baku State University of Azerbaijan.
It is worth noting that the Association of State Universities of the Caspian Region Countries is comprised of 57 members. It includes 7 universities from Azerbaijan; 12 universities, 2 Science and Technology Parks, and 13 research institutes from Iran; 11 universities and 5 research institutes from the Russian Federation (including Dagestan and Kalmyk); 4 universities and 2 research institutes from Kazakhstan, and 1 university from Turkmenistan.
