Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku International Multiculturalism Centre Azerbaijani Multiculturalism Textbook for Higher Education

Teaching Azerbaijani Multiculturalism

A major, ongoing project of the BIMC since its creation is the teaching of the courses ‘An Introduction to Multiculturalism’ and ‘Azerbaijani Multiculturalism’ in local and foreign universities. The teaching programme for the two subjects has been approved by the Ministry of Education on the initiative and with the ideas of the State Counsellor on Multiculturalism, Interethnic and Religious Issues of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In parallel teaching staff have been trained to teach these disciplines.

Though not long has passed, these disciplines are already being taught in 19 foreign and some 40 local universities. The number of universities cooperating with BIMC is increasing every year and new chairs in multiculturalism are being set up, in conformity with the Year of Multiculturalism Action Plan.

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International summer and winter schools multiculturalism

International summer and winter schools of multiculturalism are held for students and researchers who have already studied the ‘Azerbaijani Multiculturalism’ course and are keen to further their knowledge. Summer and Winter Schools are of great importance in sparking interest in new research topics and in making use of the experience of Azerbaijan. The schools are a continuation of the project for education in multiculturalism abroad, as recommended by President Aliyev.

The main purpose of the summer and winter schools is to bring together students who have already studied Azerbaijani multiculturalism. They listen to lectures on different aspects of Azerbaijani multiculturalism and have the opportunity to observe in practice what they have learned. It is interesting for the students to attend these schools in scenic parts of Azerbaijan and to meet members of minorities and religious communities, with their diverse, rich traditions. This can be summed up in the three main goals of the schools:

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  to share and expand theoretical and practical knowledge­ about Azerbaijani multiculturalism;
  

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  to increase the effectiveness of the Azerbaijani Multiculturalism course;
  

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  to bring together scholars, researchers and students interested in multiculturalism.
  

Schools were held in July 2015, February 2016, July 2016, February 2017, July 2015, February 2018 and July 2018 were a great success.

Section III

Chapter 6

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Azerbaijani Multiculturalism