In 2025, the academic and teaching staff of the Department of Philology and Translation, KNUTD are in the process of launching an international academic credit mobility programme for higher education applicants at Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design and Baku Slavic University (Azerbaijan). As part of the programme Ukrainian and English language practice: exploring Ukraine and English language practice: exploring Azerbaijan, in September 2025, Yelizaveta Isakova, PhD in Philology, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Philology and Translation, KNUTD, gave an integrated lecture entitled “The intangible heritage of Ukraine” for BSU students, and Senior Lecturer of the Department of Area Studies, BSU Mayya Jafarguliyeva presented a lecture entitled “The Azerbaijani experience of multiculturalism: historical roots and modern policy dimensions” for KNUTD students. The events were moderated by Yelizaveta Isakova, PhD in Philology, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Philology and Translation, KNUTD, and Svitlana Dvorianchykova, PhD in Philology, Associate Professor at the Department of Philology and Translation, KNUTD.

Yelizaveta Isakova provided BSU students, whose future professions will be related to Ukraine, multiculturalism and country studies,  international relations, with general information about the concept of intangible heritage, as well as explained why it is important for identity and knowledge transfer. The students learned about the role of UNESCO in recognising and protecting elements of the heritage of countries around the world and Ukraine.

The applicants became more familiar with Ukrainian traditional rituals and calendar celebrations, our oral folk art and music, Ukrainian folk crafts, and the traditions of cooking as a social identifier.

Azerbaijani students heard many interesting facts about Ukraine and Ukrainians, traditions of celebrating Easter, New Year and Christmas, Ukrainian carols and shchedrivky, and looked at photos of embroidered shirts and delicious dishes. The rich lecture and vivid illustrations left no one indifferent. The students had the opportunity to communicate in English and the lecturer answered numerous questions about Ukraine and Ukrainians.

Mayya Jafarguliyeva told KNUTD students, in particular future translators and applicants of the Department of Philology and Translation, about the historical background and current state of Azerbaijan's experience of multiculturalism. The lecturer introduced the audience to the historical preconditions for intercultural interaction in Azerbaijan and demonstrated contemporary institutional and political approaches to multiculturalism.

Transcontinental contacts, trade and historical influences are the historical roots of multiculturalism in the region. National communities form an ethnocultural and religious mosaic and are an example of local practices of tolerance. Among the mechanisms for preserving and developing multiculturalism, the lecturer highlighted cultural and linguistic factors and state policy. The Baku International Centre for Multiculturalism, cultural diplomacy, the development of tourism and the media contribute to the preservation and development of the country's rich culture and the strengthening of friendship between the nations.

Lecturers from KNUTD and BSU offered applicants to complete tasks for independent work, as well as take tests to control the level of acquired knowledge and assimilation of the studied material.

We sincerely thank our colleagues and students of Baku Slavic University for cooperation within the framework of the international academic credit mobility program.

29.10.2025