In the 3rd Nationwide Scientific Article Competition entitled “Strategic Aspects of the Restoration of Karabakh in Strengthening the State Sovereignty of Azerbaijan,” organized by the Department for Coordination and Organization of Research Centers of UNEC with the support of SOCAR Polymer LLC, Samira Alekperova, Head of the Population Geography Laboratory of the Institute of Geography of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, PhD in Geography, Associate Professor, was awarded third place and received both a cash prize and a certificate.

    The competition, dedicated to the restoration of Karabakh, received nearly 200 scientific articles from more than 30 research institutions and higher education establishments across the country. Among the winners in the nomination for the faculty staff, the article presented by Samira Alekperova was highly rated by the jury. Her paper was devoted to the topic “Spatial Restoration of Karabakh and Prospects for Sustainable Development: Analysis of the Economic-Geographical Potential of the Liberated Territories.”

   Prior to the event, participants visited the bust of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev at UNEC and the Martyrs’ Memorial Complex, paying tribute to their cherished memory and laying flowers.

   At the opening ceremony, Rovnag Rzayev, Vice-Rector of UNEC for Science and Innovations and Professor, emphasized that the competition was held within the framework of the “Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty” and carried special significance. He also noted that the collection of articles would be prepared in e-book format and made available through UNEC’s electronic resources.

   The Head of the Karabakh Economic Research Center of UNEC, Professor Shafa Aliyev, stated that interest in the competition had doubled compared to previous years and highly praised the active participation of young researchers. He noted that the competition aims to promote scientific research on the restoration of Karabakh, the study of effective mechanisms for economic development in the liberated territories, and the scientific examination of the role of this process in strengthening state sovereignty.

   Speaking at the event, Mushfig Hajiyev, Financial Director of SOCAR Polymer LLC, congratulated the winners and expressed confidence that the selected scientific studies would make significant contributions to the process of Karabakh’s restoration.

   At the end of the event, held under the moderation of Rena Huseynova, Head of the Department for Coordination and Organization of Research Centers of UNEC, the award ceremony took place.

  Cash prizes were presented to the winners who took the first three places in two nominations covering faculty members, doctoral candidates, master’s students, and undergraduate students. Other participants were awarded certificates, while staff members distinguished for their effective contribution to the organization of the competition received Letters of Appreciation.