Elnara Ismaylova defended her thesis on the topic “Assessment of tourist and recreational resources of the Ganja-Gazakh economic and geographical region” at a meeting of the Dissertation Council of the Institute of Geography named after acad. H. Aliyev of ANAS, for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography, specialty 5402.01 “Historical geography, political and recreational geography".

It was decided by secret ballot to apply to the High Attestation Commission (HAC) under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the scientific degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography.