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For the fourth consecutive year, the birthday of prominent enlightener, literary scholar, and educator Firidun bey Kocharli has been commemorated at the historic Gazakh Teachers’ Seminary, now operating as ADA University’s Gazakh Center. Teachers from various regions of Azerbaijan gathered to carry forward the Seminary’s historic mission by enhancing the prestige of the teaching profession and revitalizing long-standing educational traditions.

This year’s event held special significance as ADA University celebrates its 20th anniversary. Faculty members of the University once again convened at the Seminary, symbolically uniting around the intellectual legacy of Firidun bey Kocharli. The event, titled “The Legacy of Firidun bey Kocharli: The Beginning of Excellence in Teaching and Research,” saw ADA University faculty follow in Firidun bey’s footsteps, traveling from Baku to Gazakh by mirroring his historic journey from Gori to Gazakh to establish the Seminary.

The event started with a presentation by Azad Aghaoglu, philologist and translator involved in the transliteration project of the “Azerbaijan” newspaper. His lecture, “Firidun bey Kocharli and the Gazakh Teachers’ Seminary in 1918–1920: Historical Articles and Records Reflected in the ‘Azerbaijan’ Newspaper,” highlighted valuable archival insights into the Seminary’s role during that period.

The program continued with panel discussions featuring ADA University faculty on “Innovative Approaches in Teaching and Learning” and “The Path Toward a Research University.” Discussions focused on the teaching profession, the role of educators in shaping future generations, effective engagement with youth, and the importance of balancing teaching and research in higher education institutions.

Faculty members awarded in the “Best Designed Course of the Year” category showcased their electronic course pages developed on the Blackboard platform, sharing best practices on how digital tools can more effectively engage students in the learning process.

Within the framework of the event, Galib Mammad, a member of the Board of Directors of the Gazakh Teachers’ Seminary, delivered a presentation titled “Restoring the Legacy of Firidun bey Kocharli and the Gazakh Teachers’ Seminary: A Place-Defined Way of Thinking.” He reflected on ADA University’s journey at this historic site since 2020 and outlined the University’s future plans for its Gazakh Center.

The event concluded with the presentation of ADA University’s traditional annual awards for “Best Teacher of the Year,” “Best Researcher of the Year,” and “Best Designed Course of the Year.” Following the award ceremony, the gathering ended on a high note with a cultural program featuring selected examples of Azerbaijani national music.