IOM Azerbaijan Support Academia to Transfer the Historical Knowledge of the Kahriz Engineering Profession to the Next Generation of Local Engineers
Baku - On 27 October 2021, the first 43 students of the Hydro melioration department of the Azerbaijan State Agricultural University (ASAU) who attended the kahriz engineering course were given certificates for successful completion. The course which is based on the curriculum prepared by ASAU teaching staff jointly with the IOM Azerbaijan was the next step in reviving and transferring the historical knowledge of the kahriz engineering profession to the next generation of local engineers that will further develop new renovation models based on the new available technology.
The subject was taught by ASAU faculty members who participated in training courses on kahriz engineering and study visits to kahrizes located in Nakchivan to improve their knowledge and learn best practices of kahriz construction and maintenance organized by IOM Azerbaijan. These capacity-building activities were supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) as part of the project “Integrated Rural Development for IDP Communities in Azerbaijan through Revitalization of Kahriz Water Supply System.”
Speaking at the certificate award ceremony, Vladimir Gjorgjiev, the Chief of IOM Mission to Azerbaijan and Anar Hetemov, ASAU Vice-rector on education expressed their satisfaction from the 2-year fruitful cooperation and voiced the expectation of future mutual work.
“I am very happy to realize that together we have been able to make this happen. It was made possible for the knowledge about kahriz system to be passed on to the younger generation,” stated Mr Gjorgjiev.
Thus, the cooperation agreement which was signed between IOM Azerbaijan and ASAU in 2019 is close to its successful completion. The objectives which were set within the agreement, i.e. establishing the Kahriz Information and Research Center, publishing a kahriz engineering coursebook, and incorporating kahriz engineering course into the curriculum, were achieved successfully.
In addition to a strong engagement with academia, the project contributes to the prevention of forced economic migration by enhancing access of rural communities in Azerbaijan to energy-free water resources as a means to increase agriculture productivity and livelihoods through provision of water infrastructure, by providing opportunities for income-generating activities in link with Kahriz renovation.
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