Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 30
Trend:
Scottish Day dedicated to the 258th Anniversary of worldwide-known Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns was held at Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS). Officials from SOCAR, representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Azerbaijan and international companies operating in the country attended the event. Its program included Scottish songs and dances as well as performances by BHOS students.
Welcoming the guests, Rector of the Higher School Elmar Gasimov noted that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Great Britain would continue to develop for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
As he informed, according to a bilateral agreement between BHOS and Heriot-Watt University (HWU) the Scottish Day for the first time is celebrated at the Higher School.
Also for the first time, Azerbaijani Day will be celebrated at HWU in Edinburgh on May 28 this year.
“In his poetry, Burns drew inspiration from Scottish history, traditions and folklore literature and, thus, won popular affections,” Gasimov said while speaking about Robert Burns’ works. “It is the cultural wealth that unites every nation, and every person shall cherish their moral and spiritual values.”
Deputy Head of Mission of the UK Embassy to Azerbaijan Stephen McCormick emphasized that Azerbaijan and Great Britain are tied by close political, economic and cultural relations.
BP-Azerbaijan Communications, External Affairs, Strategy and Region Vice President Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, BP-Azerbaijan ACG Global Projects Organization Vice President Cathal Kelly, and Education and Society Manager the British Council Office in Azerbaijan also spoke about long-term strong cooperation between two countries.
They emphasized that such events help young people better understand importance of learning their and other people’s cultural and historical heritage.
The celebration continued with demonstration of a documentary about Scotland. Then the Higher School students Narmin Bakhishli and Gurban Gurbanov recited well known Farewell To Eliza and A Red, Red Rose poems by Robert Burns, BHOS students Lala Mammadova, Fidan Guliyeva and Aytaj Iskandarova sang Scottish folk-songs, and members of the Baku Caledonian Society performed Scottish country dances. At the end, Caledonian Society’s representative Innes Moir showed bagpipes performance.
Robert Burns is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He started writing poems when he was 14 years old. Robert Burns is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, and is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement. His influence has long been strong on Scottish literature, and in 2009 Robert Burns was chosen as the greatest Scot by the Scottish public in a vote run by Scottish television channel STV. Burns Night is celebrated on Burns's birthday, 25 January, with Burns suppers around the world.
According to the bilateral agreement between the Baku Higher Oil School and Heriot-Watt University on Bachelor degree programs, Petroleum Engineering and Chemical Engineering education programs at BHOS are based on the HWU curricula. First specialists with Bachelor degree will graduate from BHOS in 2017. Also this year, Higher School will commence Master degree programs.