1. Between Heaven and Earth

For a number of years I was familiarizing myself with different universities all over the world, whilst gathering my thoughts on science and education in my own country, Azerbaijan. These ideas and comparisons were taking a distinctive shape in my imagination - the shape of a university.

Novel ideas and thoughts seemingly appear unexpectedly, but in reality they are a result of long and intensive subconscious efforts. The information that we absorb, accept and keep in our minds is explored and analyzed in invisible and imperceptible ways. According to some hypotheses, this way is simply called a harmonization, putting thoughts into a correct and beautiful order. In this process, suddenly everything falls into place and an idea appears as a patch of light.

The first place where I studied after Azerbaijan was Moscow State University. I spent long years there first studying and then researching mathematics. The university’s extremely high scientific potential and pleasant and creative atmosphere seemed to be a new world to me. Later I traveled more and came across more varied systems at universities in Canada and in Europe. I didn't content myself solely with giving lectures, presenting papers at different conferences, workshops, and conducting new research. These universities themselves slowly became my object of study and investigation. Later I also started practicing "distance learning" of the world’s famous universities. With enthusiasm I studied histories of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (I was unable to visit those at the time) in order to understand their distinct features.

The crisis that has started in the higher education system in Azerbaijan was deepening further in the second part of the eighties. Historically, Azerbaijan has gained great successes in the art of music and other forms of art, and some fields of science had developed to the point that the foundations of certain scientific schools had been established. Meanwhile the spiritual values that the society was resting upon began to be reduced to dust, and the economic basis was about to be destroyed. These developments influenced every sphere of society including science and education. The habit of corruption, accepting bribes and falsifying the students’ grades was spreading day by day from one university to another and from one lecturer to another. There was no control over corruption and it was becoming accepted as common practice. The scientists and intellectuals that were trying to maintain their integrity and distance themselves from the surrounding world were slowly becoming mere observers. The level and intensity of scientific research was sharply decreasing. The political and economic crisis in the Soviet Union started having an impact on universities and research institutes. Many claimed that the pitiful lecturer earnings forced them to take bribes, and this number was gradually increasing. Lies and hypocrisy, dilettantism and protectionism were prospering.

In July 1990 I was invited to Great Britain as one of the keynote speakers at the 11th International Dundee Conference on Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations. There I met my old friends and some new faces, and refreshed in my memory the interesting pages of history of Scotland and England.

On the return London to Moscow flight, as I habitually do, I was trying to make travel notes and write down some of my thoughts. I was thinking and comparing the East and the West. My thoughts were random. Strangely, I was feeling myself not on the plane but between the earth and sky, in a condition of weightlessness. For a moment I felt strange anxiety and excitement. "Would I be able to establish a small university?". This strange question was not leaving me, but was attracting my thoughts like a powerful magnet. I was really struggling with my mind trying to free it of this annoying question, to leave it unanswered, but all my efforts were futile. On one hand, my mind was busy drawing up plans for university. On the other hand, I was putting up a weak resistance, thinking that I am again taken away from the realities of the world by rebelling thoughts.

2. In the Bottom of the Well

Having returned to Baku I had a little rest and then went back to work. At the time I was working at the Baku branch of the Voznesensky Institute of Finance and Economics of Leningrad.¹ This branch was established on the foundations of the Azerbaijan Institute of National Economy that lost its independent status because of serious flaws in its administration. Upon the decision of the Academic Council in Leningrad I had been elected the chairman of the department of mathematics of the branch. I had already been working there for two years.

Rahib Guliyev, the newly appointed director of the branch was trying to bring about sweeping reforms by replacing the old staff. However the situation was not so simple and in order to make real changes it was essential to make gradual, well thought through steps. Since his reforms were very closely associated with job losses they were not very popular. He faced strong resistance and the result was formation of power cliques. Guliyev wanted too much to soon, and his intolerance and the influence of the ongoing power struggle in the Government (this institute was always strongly associated with the governments) made him too vulnerable and he was forced to leave his position.

The newly appointed director, Fuad Alaskarov, was not a reformist, but rather a conformist. He brought back all those released by the previous director, tried to regain independence from Leningrad in order to lead a more calm and comfortable existence.

It seems that my independence and profile and the fact that I was staying out of all intrigues began to annoy Alaskarov. Although in our personal conversations he remained very respectful, various rumors starting spreading through the institute. One incident in particular served as a turning point from polite tension to badly hidden hostility. Only few days after I returned home from Scotland, voting for candidates into the Azerbaijani National Assembly (Parliament) was held at the Institute.² The deans of the faculties and chairmen of the various departments had nominated Alaskarov for election and were making speeches in his honor one after another. Then unexpectedly, a group of faculty members and students proposed my nomination. I was told that those who supported my candidacy were severely attacked and one of them was even beaten by Alaskarov's supporters. I went into the meeting hastily and thanked my supporters for giving me their support and confidence. At the same time I reminded them that I had no desire to be engaged in politics and I simply had too little time and withdrew my candidacy. After this incident the atmosphere around me became increasingly tense. Soon after I left for my summer holidays.

3. An Article on Education

I spent the summer of 1990 thinking continuously about education problems and the various new university models and I wrote an article entitled "Thoughts on Science and the Education System". I was intending to publish the article both in Azerbaijani and Russian to give everybody an opportunity to read it. Since I had serious doubts that this article would ever be published I gave the copy to some of my acquaintances and friends who knew about my activities and were expressing interest in my ideas. Among them was Saleh Mammadov, doctor of economics, who would become the Minister of Finance in the government of the Popular Front of Azerbaijan.³

Six years have passed since then and from today's point of view some facts and ideas in the article seem simplified, some vital problems have not even been touched upon. But the main purpose of it was to draw the readers', and I also hoped officials', attention to the necessity of reforms in science and education. At that time I had but a slight hope of convincing them of the necessity and natural possibility of establishing new universities.

After about three to four months the article was published in Russian in the "Bakinskiy Rabochiy"⁴ newspaper in an abbreviated and simplified form. The article was entitled "To reform Education" and published under the headline of "Scholar’s point of view" (January 25, 1991). The Azerbaijani version of the article was published in the newspaper "Communist"⁵ only in May 17, 1991 under the headline "Opinions, suggestions" entitled "Any education must be global". This belated version was also shortened but the expressions and sentences remained untouched. I have to mention with certain irony and pleasure that by the time the article was published in the newspaper "Communist", the university that I had been nurturing in my mind for a long time was about to become a reality. The Council of Ministers had already passed a decision to allow the setting up of the first private university and I had already begun working in this direction.

Before returning to other events in the fall of 1990 I'd like to introduce the article mentioned above in its entirety. Although the articles published in the newspapers "Communist" and "Bakinskiy Rabochiy" were not the same, the main messages were quite close. Since the style of the article published in "Communist" was more similar to my original manuscript, I present it to you with editorial abridgments distinguished by Italics.

4."Thoughts on Science and the Education System"

We live in difficult, responsible and anxious times. Distortions hidden in the shadow of our fight for political and economic independence, previously unseen scale and tension of struggle for power, corruption penetrated in the blood, soul and brain of the entire republic, incurable ecological problems, political and military counteraction⁶ with our neighboring nation, flabbiness of science, education and culture - are all different signs of our crisis. Incompetence, superficiality and indifference are everywhere. Pure ideals are smiled at in the best of circumstances.

The future of our nation is determined by the cultural level of our society and the universal character of our education and science. No rapid leap in the economy is possible without these two factors. When intellectual energy starts to weaken and ‘global’ thinking becomes a rarity, intolerance of other’s opinions and (pugnacious nepotism) occur.

Who could deny the obvious successes of our science, education and culture? At the same time it is crucial to consider the questions that trouble us. Why is the number of our world-renowned scholars next to nothing? Which of our scientific institutions are famous for their important works and glorious traditions? Which universities can offer diplomas that are able to compete with European and American ones?

If we do not think about the future of our science, education and culture today do not take serious measures, it is certain that our future will be bleak. It is in our nature to exaggerate and to be pleased with ourselves, thus stimulating our own and the public’s imagination about our ‘successes’.

Today when our international relations are becoming broader, the lack of highly skilled and competent specialists is even more obvious. The number of our compatriots familiar with the international world, modern science and economics, capable of dynamic and analytical thought and able to converse fluently in English (German, French...) with Western specialists can be easily counted on the fingers of one hand.

Up to now, and at present, the structure of education, science and culture and the ways in which they are developing have been under a tight centralized control and personal and small groups initiatives have not been taken into consideration. Everything has been defined, planned and governed from ‘above’. This way of governing could only bring local and temporary successes, but has not been able to form long lasting and firm traditions. One of the most serious and distressing results has been the separation of science and education from each other. The Academy of Science⁷ was responsible only for the development of scientific research, whereas the universities were there to train the specialists and give them higher education. The two had insignificant influence on each other.

On the other hand, there existed, and still exist, monotony and inertness in the administration of education. Identical programs, methods and rules created similar requirements and responsibilities, reduced competitiveness and brought down the standards. Slack personnel selection policies caused especially heavy damage to our education, science and culture. There are many lecturers with completely out-of-date knowledge at our universities and nobody questions them.

There is no thought given to competitiveness in education. As a result of all of these, interest and curiosity for science is reducing, education and culture are evidently loosing their role as indicators of our national esteem.

For the sake of the dignity and future of our nation, it is our duty to devote maximum attention to the development and administration of education and culture. The time now is right to bring about fundamental changes.

Is it possible to fundamentally renew the entire gigantic education system, science and culture? What, generally, is renovation in these complicated and diversified areas? It's not even easy to comprehend all aspects of our backwardness in these areas. It is going to be a long & hard work to analyze all the political, economic and historical aspects of our problems. Scientific, technical, moral and material resources must be laid bare, gigantic expenses must be incurred and efforts spent. So what is to be done immediately, today?

There are two possible roads leading to success. The first, is to define a certain group of research and education centers and devote special attention to their all-round development, to try to reform them. As mentioned before, hard and all encompassing work will have to be done in this direction. The second method I believe needs a special discussion. It is a completely new way for us and it is very important and urgent for us to go in this direction. The way is based on learning and applying West European and American education and science models while taking into account our traditions and circumstances.

If we long for a market economy and try to Westernize our political system, will it be possible to not follow Western models in our education system and science? Is it possible to develop our science, education and culture to the standards of tomorrow whilst using yesterday’s methods? It is quite obvious that revolutionary changes in the economy demand the appropriate changes in science and education, make it inevitable to lay foundation of flexible and strong world-wide thought and train new breed of specialists. Fundamental developments of modern areas of science in developed countries of Europe, America and Asia, and a well-governed education system as its organic unity, are indisputable arguments of the vitality of Western models in these spheres.

Though Western universities have similarities in the organizational principles of education, they differ from each other from the viewpoint of the importance of research or education, budgets, financing from state, and different level of requirements for achieving degrees. Private universities in the USA and some other countries are considered the most prestigious and influential science and education establishments. One of the most obvious examples of this is the famous Harvard University, USA, that has been an object of pride, amazement and imitation for over 360 years. Among its alumni are numerous specialists, scholars and statesmen of worldwide fame.

Today we have to think about the main characteristics of a new type of higher education and scientific institutions and to conduct certain investigations. These institutions must develop specialists qualified in exact, socio-political and humanitarian sciences and with good command of foreign languages (especially English). They have to contribute to the development of science and culture, and establish themselves in the international world. In this case what principles must be taken as fundamental and why are these principles of great importance?

If higher education is to be in conformity with international standards it must consist of two stages. The initial stage is generally four years long, provides a general higher education in certain subjects and ends with the awarding of a baccalaureate degree. The second stage of higher education lasts approximately two years and usually ends with the scientific specialization and master's degree, on the defense of a thesis. The need for such organization of higher education is not for the sake of fashion and artificial Westernizing, but it is in order to shape a ‘form’ necessary to improve the quality, to give an effective push to our science and culture. We can make use and derive certain advantages from the programs and practices of the world-leading universities and from the knowledge and experience of visiting scholars. We will have a real chance to agree mutual recognition of academic achievements and diplomas and degrees with Western countries. Until now, an agreement on mutual recognition of diplomas has only been achieved with Finland from all the developed countries, and negotiations are currently being held with Austria.⁸ Besides, if we have a higher education institution that awards bachelor and master's degrees that are accepted in the developed countries, we would have greater opportunities to teach foreign students.

It is very important to teach English and other foreign languages as well as giving students a profession. Language should be taught not only as a means of interaction and an object of linguistics, but as a specialist language in a student’s chosen subject. Some graduates can receive the diploma of foreign language interpreter as well as their main degree. Then our students will be able to successfully continue part of their education abroad (they will not be strangers to the Western ways of education and fluent in English). And our graduates will be able to work in any country in their chosen field. The children of Azeris living abroad can also be educated here and return to their countries with a bachelor and master's degree.

It makes sense if the education at the new type of institutions (or at least in some of them) should be fee paying. At the beginning of every year a student has to pay a fixed tuition fee depending on the subject he or she chooses. Paid education can stimulate not only the student's own responsible approach to education, but also help with funding successful research activities at the university. Of course, tuition fees can not only be paid by individuals but also by sponsor organizations that are, for example, in need of certain specialist skills.

It is advisable that at the end of each term the students are ranked according to their academic achievements and examination results, and the student is awarded a ‘success index’. Every term the ‘success index’ undergoes appropriate changes and upon completion of the education a final ‘success index’ is calculated. The level achieved by graduates (based on the final success index) will not only serve for the purposes of moral satisfaction but can also help in job search.

The unity of science and education and their mutual influence must be taken as a basis for education and be stimulated in every possible way. It is impossible to prepare highly qualified specialists at the universities where there is no respectable scientific research foundation. Top level universities function, both as a source of education and as a research center. (There are not many examples of large bureaucratic and purely scientific research academies and institutions like ours). Some dedicated funds perhaps in the shape of annual grants, will be defined for scientific work that is interesting and contemporary. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis thus encouraging development of science. Attached to universities, special research centers and institutes can also function.

It is essential that every subject has a specific ‘weight’ attached to it (i.e. credit). Students will have to re-sit subjects for which they fail to obtain the necessary credit. Only those who obtain the defined number of credits from the required courses, and some courses of general knowledge can graduate from the University.

Cooperation with leading universities and close contact with well known foreign scholars should be helpful in preparing curricula, the teaching of some subjects, raising the level of research, preparing the exact indicators of degree requirements, in organizing conferences and symposiums, and many other areas.

It is essential to start educating specialists in those areas where there is a great demand. These can include management, marketing, law, commerce, international finance systems, computer and mathematical sciences, international relations and political sciences, environmental studies, and others.

Pluralism of the political system and different forms of economic properties are making their way into our country and are becoming pat of everyday life. It is impossible to avoid these in higher education and science. Everyone would benefit from different types of universities functioning side by side. To give the freedom of choice to humans is one of the necessary factors of progress.

5. On the Threshold of the Palace

It was September 1990. The academic year had already begun and everybody was greeting each other and exchanging news. Ever ‘essential’ topics such as palace quarrels and difficulties of surviving were being discussed intensively. When the group numbers were down to two or three, money and love affairs would overcome other topics. When these hot topics were exhausted other issues were raised.

My "Thoughts on science and education system" article had reached a group of scholars and become an active object of discussion. Various people were approaching me with different questions, suggesting that I publish the article in other newspapers, and also giving some ideas and plans. I was giving short answers, in some cases with a smile and a joke. I was thinking: "I wrote the article to create an interest and to be discussed - and that is exactly what is happening. So the main work is done and all that is left is to make it a reality. This is the principal task now".

One day Saleh Mammadov came to the department of mathematics, and told me that he had read my article attentively and enjoyed it.

- You have touched upon serious problems. What's next? - He addressed me with his usual slightly arrogant tone of voice.

- What can happen? - I answered a question with question, - I will try to publish it both in Azeri and Russian, enable more people to read it, maybe somebody will find it helpful.

- That's good. But there is another way. As you know I am a financial adviser to the Prime Minister Hasan Hasanov and as such I see him occasionally. I have to be at one of the meetings in his office soon and if you don't mind I'll give him the manuscript of your article. Most probably it will draw his attention. He is a man of progressive ideas and he is very attentive to new and unexpected ideas, especially if it's related to an important problem.

Prior to this conversation I'd met Hasan Hasanov only once. I took my friend from Canada, Yaghoub Shafai, to see him. During one of my visits to Canada I lectured at Dalhousie University in Halifax, and became friends with two Azeri-scholars - a mathematician Heidar Rajavi, and a management specialist Yaghoub Shafai. From then our friendship went from strength to strength. My article "A scholar from Canada in his homeland" published in the "Literature & Culture" (Adabiyyat va injasanat) newspaper was dedicated to Heidar Rajavi and our meetings with him. In April-May, 1990, Yagub Shafai visited Baku as well. After a TV program where Yagoub Shafai, Fuad Alaskarov and myself took part, Yagub-bey had become very popular. People would stop him on the streets of Baku, greet him and ask after his health. Around that time I was told that the Prime Minister would like to meet Yagoub and we were invited to the Council of Ministers for an appointment.

Hasan Hasanov met us in a very friendly manner. First, he asked Yagoub a lot of questions, then turned to me and said:

- Aren't you the same mathematician Hamlet who was talking about his visits to Canada on the TV show "Dalga"?⁹

He didn't try to hide his pleasure to see our surprised faces.

The meeting lasted more than half an hour and was very interesting. We discussed Canada, Azerbaijan, Iran, Zanjan,¹⁰ economics, finance, management and other subjects and I think everybody enjoyed it.

Up to this I had neither met a Prime Minister before nor any other minister or top government official face to face. For some reason I couldn't take seriously a chat of two people living lives so different that we could have been living on different planets. I think for this reason our meeting remained in my memory as an exotic incident.

I had to reply to Saleh's suggestion of passing on the article, but frankly even if my article would reach the Prime Minister, I didn't pin my hopes on his interest in the problem. The most appropriate, real and modest thing for me to do was to publish the article in a newspaper and thus draw attention to my ideas. But after some hesitation, I agreed with Saleh.

- So do you think that we'll get what we want? Does the Prime Minister have nothing to do but read my scribbling? More probably he has already forgotten me. Oh well, life is unpredictable. Maybe this is the way. Let's go!

So, my letter was sent to the Palace.

6. Change

When the Baku branch of the Leningrad Institute of Finance & Economics became independent again under the name of the Azerbaijan State Economic Institute, the program worked out by Leningrad specialists not only remained unrealized but disappeared completely. I have to remark here that this institute was famous for being the most corrupt among all higher learning institutions in Baku. Though there were still some respectable researchers and professors, as well as the hopeful youth, there wasn’t an encouraging working atmosphere and no new staff members were brought in. In this condition I could not do anything useful even at the department of mathematics where I was chairman. The new mathematics curriculum worked out by me for three semesters was only followed by a small group of teachers. There was a group of teachers who made various excuses in order not to follow the program, arguing that the simple mathematical models of economics would be too complicated for students to understand. They claimed that economic terms and problems in mathematics are unnecessary. Then there would be no difference between the mathematics for economics, finance and management and mathematics for engineering.

One day the assistant to the Prime Minister gave me a call. He told me that the Prime Minister would like to meet me and we arranged an appointment.

One fine fall evening together with Saleh Mammadov I went to the Cabinet of Ministers. On the way we decided that I'd do most of the talking to save time and explain convincingly our aim. Of course, we could never guess how long our talk would last. We thought the discussion would be of general character, as some kind of probing exercise.

Hasan Hasanov met us cheerfully, asked after our welfare, and immediately went straight to the main point:

- I have heard about your ideas. Briefly tell me, what is your intention, what are you going to do?

I was not ready yet for such an open conversation without any introduction. That is why I did a quick, neutral move, as if playing speed chess, to give myself some time to think:

- Frankly, I only wrote down some of my ideas on education with the aim to initiate a discussion. I'm very honored to be asked about it on such a high-level.

- I have invited you to personally get information on what kind of university you are planning to establish - said the Prime Minister, and by making that move he increased the pressure. This question was very unexpected, but at the same time I felt that a perfect atmosphere was being created. It was impossible to continue in a vague manner, speaking the chess-players' language, tactics came into action now. I decided on a sharp move.

- Is it possible to establish a new university in Azerbaijan today? - Of course, I had revealed my surprise and suspicion with that question.

The Prime Minister smiled:

- Well, I've invited you here today in this connection. I want to understand how serious your plans are.

Suddenly, a wave of excitement raised inside of me. I realized how very important this meeting could be, and I felt a conviction that something beautiful is about to happen. This moment calmed me down, I felt that everything now depended on my faith in myself and on my ability to be convincing. I became encouraged in the way a chess-player who has an opportunity to demonstrate a good game would be. Of course, H. Hasanov's high spirits that day, his well-wishing attitude and ability to see a problem quickly inspired me. I took the initiative in my hands and relaxed, like if I was talking to a colleague, and not to the Prime Minister:

- A breath of fresh air, a new movement in the higher education system of Azerbaijan is as necessary as bread, as water. The deepening crisis of our education system is obvious, it doesn’t need any special explanation. No measures are being taken to improve the situation. Yet it will not be possible to make substantial changes in the entire education system. I think, one of the ways is to establish a new type of private colleges and universities.

H. Hasanov stopped me:

- What do you mean by a new type? And what is wrong with the Soviet education?

I explained:

- Nobody denies the achievements of Soviet science and the Soviet institutes of higher learning are not bad either. But it's not the point. What I want to say is that the best times of our institutes are in the past, the level of education has descended and research has weakened. On one hand, it's very much connected with the chaotic condition in society and government, on the other hand, it is the result of having no reforms and not feeling the pulse of the time. The education system must be taught and learnt just as any other kind of activity and as a subject, exposed to changes, be developed by making reforms. We do nothing in this direction. To establish a new and independent establishment for education does mean to make reforms in education...

- OK, OK, we all see the lagging in education and science, it's not your discovery. Look, what would be the main differences between the university you're going to establish and the existing universities and institutes?

I knew I found the right direction for the conversation and could foresee a favorable ending. But I could not forget that I was pressed for time to express my ideas. I tried to round off my thoughts:

- It is a university, where the students will pay for the education they receive. The teachers will be selected very attentively, their outlook, their research activity, teaching ability and their intellect will be taken into account. The tuition fee will increase the student's responsibility, and will enable us to increase the salaries, and the state expenses for education will be reduced. English language will be given a special importance. First it will be taught as a foreign language. Later, some courses and in future all courses, with a few exceptions, will be taught in English. In other words, a university with English as a medium of teaching will be established. One of the main characteristics of this university will be the application of the tried and tested ideas of European and American education, all educational programs and curricula will be devised in order to meet today's needs.

H. Hasanov stopped me again. The Primer Minister often changed the direction of the conversation and didn't allow chattering and monotony.

- To choose English as the language of instruction is very important and interesting. How about the teachers? Are there Azerbaijani specialists able to teach different subjects in English?

- We have no problem with this in sciences. As to social-political sciences and humanities, of course, we have very few specialists. Although it's a small number, one can find scholars and teachers speaking English (even French) here. It should be sufficient to train a small group of students. On the other hand, if we don't have enough English speaking specialists we can use Azerbaijani and Russian. One of the main tasks is to enable students to read books and scholarly articles in English. And this will be possible at the university we are discussing now. At the same time such a university must establish broad foreign relations. Eventually, the visiting foreign scholars can speed up the English language education process.

- How will you manage to invite the foreign scholars? Do you have money?

I smiled, and decided to pass on this question in order not to wander away from the main subject (naturally, I could answer the question, to mention receiving grants and other ways). I tried to demonstrate yet again a sense of self-confidence:

- There are ways of inviting a small group of teachers. We have friends too, their help will be of great importance. Some foreign scholars, our friends, want to come to Azerbaijan to help us. They are aware of our present conditions and they will partially provide for expenses.

Hasanov said suddenly:

- I have recently organized a business congress, probably you've heard about it, we had a lot of foreign guests. Peculiarities of a market economy were being discussed. One could feel very strongly the insufficiency of English speaking specialists in our country. To teach subjects in English and to train specialists of different fields is a good idea, - and I immediately replied:

- English language education will help us to join together with the rest of the world, we can have visiting teachers and scholars and our students can successfully continue their education at the developed countries of America and Europe.

Pushing his armchair back H. Hasanov stood up, and so did we (Saleh and I).

Hasanov turned to me and said:

-You know the idea of establishing the university is a reasonable one, but it's only one side of the problem. What pleases me is that you have good workable plans. I have felt that you know what to do, you have turned this work over in your mind. Also I don’t think there is any necessity to set-up a university or institute resembling our existing ones in any way. Your knowledge on the European - American education system is very important for this work.

- Thank you very much, - I replied.

- Come to my office once again. We will try to specify the subjects that are necessary for the beginning and identify problems that need to be solved and prepare some official proposal, - H. Hasanov said, smiled, then set the next appointment with us and we left.

Around the same time, my continued chairmanship of the mathematics department at Azerbaijan State Institute of Economics was getting more and more on the nerves of the institute’s managers. The department was one of the major ones, and they were eager to influence the entrance exam policies that I was in charge of. I started feeling more pressure and many conflicts were created in superficial ways. I started getting messages like "you have to leave your position or...", and there even were threats. The situation was such that this position no longer satisfied me.

First of all, as I mentioned before, there was no opportunity to do anything useful. Secondly, I knew that the young teachers I invited to the department would support me in any event of discord, some other teachers would not act against me and I didn't want them to be included on any "black list" because of me. Also, the gap between the image of university that I had conceived in my mind and the reality of my present job was so great that it led me to leave my position.

One day I went to the vice-chancellor's office and handed in my resignation. He immediately called the chancellor and told him about my resignation and everyone involved quickly agreed to accept it.

Now I could dedicate myself fully to my idea. I was preparing for a new meeting with the Prime Minister.

7. Light and Shadow

I was preparing for the discussion of specific and essential problems and issues during our next meeting with the Prime Minister. Among general issues to be discussed I was planning to place prime importance upon two issues: the building required for the university and financial support from the state budget. Also, as the Prime Minister mentioned himself, major departments and subjects needed to be defined. It was very difficult to plan in advance the direction that conversation would take and the content of the official document produced as a result.

I saw no problem in defining major subject areas and departments of the future university. I thought there was no need to explain to the Prime Minister the importance of training modern specialists in the field of management and economics. As a matter of fact he touched upon this problem himself during our last conversation. Law and social-political sciences could be considered as a second area of importance. Natural sciences could be represented by mathematics and computing. Setting up medical education would undoubtedly be a very difficult task, but it would be necessary to solve this problem as well.

With all these thoughts I went to meet Hasanov again. I hurried but unfortunately when I arrived in his assistant's office I was 5 minutes late. Saleh Mammadov was waiting for me in the corridor. The assistant showed us through to Hasanov's office.

Hasanov looked unhappy, he shook his head in response to our greeting and looked sourly at us:

- Why are you late?

I would normally never be late for a meeting, and I myself do not like those who are. The Prime Minister’s comment has increased even more my feeling of discontent with myself. When Saleh wanted to answer I interrupted him and said:

- I'm so sorry, it's my fault. The traffic was appalling.

- When you are coming to the meeting with the Prime Minister everything must be taken into account. If you had left half an hour earlier you'd have never been late.

He was right, but his second comment hurt me. A quick thought passed through my mind "that is what happens when someone who is destined to sit at home and prove theorems instead attends meetings with the Prime Minister."

- All right, take your seats - Hasanov changed tone of his voice and smiled; - how are things getting on?

- Thank you very much, quite well, - answered Saleh.

I said nothing.

Hasanov turned to me:

- Where do you want to begin? You have probably prepared a plan about the departments and subjects.

- Undoubtedly, economics and management are the first ones to come to mind. The market economy and appropriate management systems are among the fields that require a new way of thinking. The present management education leaves much to be desired.

The Prime Minister asked:

- There is the Institute of National Economy Management (INEM) attached to the Council of Ministers. Don’t they teach management?

Saleh responded quickly:

- They are holding retraining courses for administrators, and the market economy is not taught here.

I added:

- Our main goal is to teach modern economics, organization and management of business to high school graduates. The next advanced stages would be to prepare specialists in more specific areas. And we'll achieve it by learning from the American experience. Your Institute of National Economy Management is trying to "renew" the unwilling old school specialists in the shortest time.

I have a habit of always using some humor in my conversation or even scientific papers. This style was formed over the years. It didn’t always serve to my advantage - as an example, during the defense of my doctorate dissertation at the Steklov Institute of the Academy of Science of USSR in Moscow the main objection against my work brought by one of my opponents was "the language of the dissertation contains unacceptable level of humor and emotion for the scientific work".

- Lately we couldn't find anyone to send to that institute for training courses anyway. There are some problems with the institute,- Hasanov said as if he had completely forgotten about our presence.

I continued in a low voice:

- Besides economics and management we'd like to prepare specialists in law and diplomacy. The need in well-educated diplomats will be increasing, and specialists in this area are currently not being trained in Azerbaijan. Also our jurisdiction will be changed soon to accommodate changing times. There will be a special need for international lawyers…

- It is also necessary to prepare well-educated politicians, - Hasanov declared his view of the problem and continued:

- So, we are choosing two main areas- economics and management and political sciences, - he said as if concluding.

- It would be useful if we teach international law side by side with political sciences, - I added carefully.

- Well! - Prime Minister sounded uncertain, but it was obvious that he didn’t have strong objections.

I continued:

- Mathematics and computer sciences are also required.

The Prime Minister objected immediately, unexpectedly for me:

- Who needs mathematics? Who will want to dedicate themselves to mathematics and spend money on it?

I was annoyed a little. In order to understand my feelings, imagine the effect of an unpleasant opinion about the girl who you love and decide to marry. Moreover, there was some truth in difficulty of finding someone wanting to spend money in order to study mathematics.

Hasanov smiled:

- Of course, I had forgotten that you're a mathematician.

I had to convince the Prime Minister:

• We haven't set ourselves the task to prepare specialists in modern mathematics, although it would be an important task in itself. Modern economics and management are so close to computer sciences and mathematics, that sometimes it's impossible to distinguish them. From this viewpoint it's not possible even to consider the fundamental economics and business education and research without teaching applied mathematics, statistics, and computer sciences.

Saleh, as an economist and financier, also agreed with me:

- One of the main reasons of our lagging behind Europe and America is the lack of computerization in our economy, finance, banking and management.

- Well, I have no objection to it, - said Hasanov resting his hand against the edge of the table, - We defined major subjects. Let's discuss other issues.

I still carried on:

- It would be good to discuss the medical and biological sciences. Preparation of English-speaking medics and doctors will be of great importance in the near future if not today.

Oh, no, - he said, - let's leave this aside, it is an issue for the future. It seems you are not afraid of driving the Medical Institute into a rage. Generally, don’t expect that all will "applaud" and say "thank you" to you for setting up a new university.

I added in a low voice:

- Who will object as long as you give your consent to it? And if it serves the interests of the whole nation, why would anyone try to be an obstacle in its way?

Hasanov smiled and I thought that it is possible to interpret the expression of his face in two ways "You're a naive man and unaware of most things", or "Yes, in any case, my consent is the most significant in this matter".

- Well, tell me then, what will be the name of this university?" - asked Hasanov, - have you thought of a good name for it?

I think it was the only thing that I had never thought of - the name of the institution that I wanted to establish.

- Please allow us to think about it a little bit, - I wanted to gain more time, - In any case the name of this university will be connected to Azerbaijan, its nature, history or geography.

- Why university? Why not institute or college?

- There are at least two reasons why this higher education institution must be called a university. First, for the special attention that will be given to research, graduate studies, master and doctor programs. Second, we will not be limiting ourselves to only one or two areas of teaching and research. In general, we're thinking of taking most elements of the American University model as a basis.

- Well, what if we call it the "English Language Azerbaijan University", - said Hasanov, suddenly deciding solve the problem there and then, - It's a very good name. We have both "Azerbaijan" and "English" in it. What is your opinion?

This name seemed a little bit strange to me, more frankly I didn't really like it. But I didn’t think it was appropriate to refuse the Prime Minister's offer, besides he already said, "it’s a very good name".

- Yes, it's a very interesting name, - I said and set about to express my doubt in a ‘peaceful’ way, - But I have never heard of the university name that states the language of instruction in it.

Hasanov put an end to the problem:

- Let there be the name of the language in ours. And let the world see that there's a university in Azerbaijan where the language of teaching is English. Let them understand that we are not fundamentalists.¹¹ We are not a remote province of the USSR, but a country, a nation turning its face to Europe and America.

Then he continued jokingly:

- So, isn’t it well thought through? None of you could think of it. OK, what's left? Oh, do you have a building? Where will the classes be taught?

These were still Soviet times. Though the Soviet Union had begun to collapse, there was inertness in the way of living, in thoughts. There was no private ownership. There were no people in Azerbaijan rich enough (at least, not officially) who would care about education and science to an extent as to want to set up a university and spend money on its development. Those who knew about education and science and had new ideas could do something only with support of the government. For these reasons of course I could not have a building for a university and I thought it was a bit strange question to ask.

I said:

- We don't have a building and to tell the truth, we have not done any ground work since we didn't expect things to develop so fast. If for the beginning we could have with your help a small building or a part of any building and some financial support from the government we'll have enough time to prepare for the future.

- A building and money is not an easy thing to provide, in fact it is something we have a big shortage in, and not only for this exercise, - saying this Hasanov fell into thinking.

We were silent. I was hoping very much that the Prime Minister would be able to provide a building for us. Obviously things do not always go smoothly. It seemed we were not to be lucky in this aspect.

Hasanov suddenly said:

- Do you know the rector of the Institute of National Economy Management, Rahim Rahimov? I'm talking about the institute affiliated to the Council of Ministers. It has been mentioned in our conversation a little while ago.

We sat there, trying to understand which direction the problem was going to - better or worse.

The Premier with the help of his assistant gave a call to R. Rahimov. He spoke very gently to him:

- There is a very interesting idea. You'll like it. Come over here now. I'm waiting for you.

Then he told us in a satisfied voice:

- It seems I'll be able to solve your problem. I will reach an agreement with Rahimov and you will be placed at this institute. The rest will depend on you.

We left the Premier's cabinet and waited in the corridor for Rahimov to come.

Saleh looked very concerned. I wasn't in the highest of spirits either. It was only natural for us to want to work independently, without any obstacles since the success of any work mostly depends on independence.

I happened to have met Rahimov before. When my friend from Canada Dr. J. Shafai, whom I mentioned previously, was in Baku, Rahimov had invited him to lecture at his institute and that is when our first acquaintance took place. He was a very resourceful and orderly person. His institute and its surroundings were neat and charming, not typical of Baku establishments. After that lecture he invited us to his birthday party. Since we had already planned to make a trip to Lankaran,¹² I promised to try to attend his party if at all possible. It happened that I kept my promise. For it he thanked me repeatedly: "Come to my institute if you have spare time, to have a chat, maybe discuss an idea or two", - saying this he didn't hide his interest to cooperate with me on something.