Narmin Baghirova: Summer 2021 Visiting Fellow

This summer, the Center for Global Business has hosted Ms. Narmin Baghirova, a Visiting Fellow from Azerbaijan, as part of the U.S. Department of States Professional Fellows Program in Governance and Society.

Ms. Bagjirova is an Advisor in the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, working to promote study abroad programs among Azerbaijan’s many universities. She is also a coordinator of their State Program on Increasing International Competitiveness of the Higher Education System in the Azerbaijan Republic. She came to The University of Texas and the Center for Global Business looking for insight into international studies and enrollment promotion.

Ms. Bajirova meet with Dr. Orlando Kelm Discuss framework for assisting Azerbaijani faculty in teaching in English language

During her virtual fellowship, Ms. Baghirova learned about best practices in the areas of international education management from UT leadership, including:

• Heather Thompson, Director of UT’s Education Abroad who discussed the perspectives of US universities regarding international education and how US American universities interface with the US government, and also provided an overview of institutional partnership strategies and structures
• Dr. Mary Neurburger, Director of UT’s CREES, who discussed the role of federally funded area studies center in promoting international education and potential models and methods based on understanding of regional structures and perspectives.
• Dr. Orlando Kelm, Director of UT’s Portuguese Flagship Program, who discussed best practices for transitioning faculty to instruction in a secondary language.
• Polly Trigger, Director of BBA Experiential Education, who discussed structures for student mobility, strategies for securing seats at partner universities, support structures for visiting international students
• Dr. Deirdre Mendez, Director of UT’s Center for Global Business, who discussed types and role of experiential offerings, exchange agreements, faculty-led programs, internship programs, and dual/double-degree programs.

It was a pleasure to host Ms. Baghirova, and CGB looks forward to more such collaborations in the future!