Today is the 102nd anniversary of Baku State University (BSU), the first higher education institution in Azerbaijan.
At the meeting of the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on September 1, 1919, it was decided to establish a university in Baku and its charter was approved - a new higher education institution was established at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
The university started its first academic year with 2 faculties - history-philology, medical faculties and 1094 students. The first rector of the university was the professor of Kazan University, famous surgeon VI Razumovsky.
Our famous compatriot, Nobel Laureate Lev Landau studied at this university in 1922-1924.
Unfortunately, in 1930, by the decision of the Council of People's Commissars, the university was abolished in the name of reorganization and the Higher Pedagogical Institute was established on its basis. However, in 1934, the State University was reopened and again became the center of scientific and pedagogical thought in the republic.
University scientists had a special contribution to the establishment of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences in 1945. Most of the higher education institutions operating in the country, including Azerbaijan Medical University, Azerbaijan State Economic University, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University and others were established on the basis of Baku State University.
The years after 1969 can be considered as the years of ascent to the highest peaks of knowledge and science in university life. This is due to the arrival of the world-famous graduate of our university Heydar Aliyev in Azerbaijan. In those years, covering a wide historical period, faculties, departments, up to 30 research laboratories on new modern specialties began to operate. Thus, a solid foundation was laid for the future development of the university.
The university has always been the center of progressive thought and national thinking in Azerbaijan. Hundreds of well-known Azerbaijani scientists, intellectuals and prominent diplomats studied here.
At present, about 18,000 students study at 17 faculties of Baku State University in 55 scientific specialties at the bachelor's level and 153 specializations at the master's level.
The scientific library of the university has a fund of more than 2.5 million books, its 12 reading rooms, 5 subscription departments are regularly used by teachers and students of the university every day.
The university's international relations are expanding day by day. Currently, the university is a member of the Eurasian University Association, which unites many universities of the former USSR, the Association of Caspian Universities, the Association of Black Sea Universities (QSU), and the Association of European Universities.
More than 400 foreign students, masters, postgraduates, doctoral students and interns from 12 countries study at Baku State University.
The university has a publishing house with printing equipment, 6 museums, 80 research and teaching laboratories, an information and translation center, a sports and health complex, and a polyclinic. There is also a dormitory and a campus.