From November 29 to December 1, 2023, Mingachevir State University (MSU), Gazi University of Turkiye and Azerbaijan Technical University (AZTU) collaboratively hosted the "Information Security and Cyber Defense: Global Trends and Strategies" scientific-practical conference. The event was dedicated to "November 30 - International Information Security Day" as part of the "Year of Heydar Aliyev."

Academic and administrative staff members, students, master's and doctoral students of all three universities participated in the conference organized in online format.

During the conference's inauguration, AZTU Rector Vilayat Valiyev, MSU Vice-Rector Veysal Ayyubov, Gazi University Vice-Rector Ramazan Bayındır and Technology Faculty Dean Musa Atar delivered welcoming addresses.

The conference proceeded over three days, featuring panel discussions on "Cybersecurity Policies and Strategies," "Cybersecurity and Cyber Attacks," and "Technologies and Innovations in the Field of Cyber Defense."

The inaugural panel, titled "Cybersecurity Policies and Strategies," was moderated by Cemal Yilmaz, a visiting professor at MSU from Gazi University. Speakers in this panel included Elvin Balajanov, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Cybersecurity Organizations of Azerbaijan, Professor Ayhan Erdem from Gazi University, Professor Ali Akcayol, Associate Professor Sinan Toklu, Associate Professor Ibrahim Alper Doğru, Associate Professor Elmira Israfilova from MSU and Valida Nuriyeva and Farid Gasimli from AZTU.

The second panel, titled "Cybersecurity and Cyberattacks," was moderated by Professor Yadigar Imamverdiyev, the head of the Cybersecurity Department at AZTU. This panel featured contributions from Shahin Aliyev, the executive director of the Cybersecurity Platform, Professor Hajer Karajan and Professor Yusuf Sonmez from Gazi University, Associate Professor Yadigar Imamverdiyev from AZTU, Associate Professor Aida Mustafayeva from MSU, as well as Gunel Bakhshiyeva, Elvin Muradzade and Maryam Asadova.

In the third panel, titled "Technologies and Innovations in the Field of Cyber Defense," Associate Professor Umit Atila from Gazi University, Associate Professor Adem Tekerek and Esra Söğüt, Mehmet Sevri from Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Narmin Ahmadova and Shabnam from MSU participated. The panel, moderated by Associate Professor Almaz Aliyeva, Dean of the Engineering Faculty at MSU, also featured contributions from Adila Karimova, Azima Abasova and Nasirova from AZTU.

After the reports, which were received with interest, discussions on the topic were held in the panel meetings and the questions of the participants were answered.

It is noteworthy that significant emphasis is placed on maintaining the ongoing collaboration between Gazi University, AZTU and MSU in a tripartite format. Within this framework, regular meetings involving rectors, academic and administrative staff from all three higher education institutions have been conducted. Additionally, collaborative events in various formats and partnerships have been implemented, including participation in international conferences.

Source: Mingachevir State University