When outstanding individuals receive a world-class education in the UK, the effects can last a lifetime. The Alumni Awards shine a light on the impact that alumni of UK higher education institutions are making in their chosen field, and how this was sparked by their studies in the UK. Among stiff competition from a variety of strong applicants, these candidates stood out. Find out what makes their story unique.
Alumni Awards 2020 Winners
Tural Gulu | University of Sheffield – Professional Achievement Award
Tural is a Head of Division at the State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance. He works on designing and implementing healthcare reforms, which started on a national level in 2020 after a successful pilot project. He is also involved in projects on education and professional development through AUKAA – the Azerbaijan-UK Alumni Association. Tural Gulu is a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship from the President of the Azerbaijan Republic, a Youth Award from the Ministry of Youth and Sport, and a full scholarship from the Ministry of Education to study in the UK.
Zumrud Jalilova | University of Bristol – Social Impact Award
Zumrud is a programme specialist in a Women’s Participation Programme at Counterpart International. Her work on women’s economic empowerment supports business entrepreneurship for young women by organising training workshops in 12 regions of Azerbaijan that provide marketable skills for employment, such as digital marketing, business and leadership.
Jafar Najafov | Coventry University – Entrepreneurial Award
Jafar is the Founder and CEO of JOOPZY, a multinational eCommerce company. Before his successful venture, he developed over 50 mobile apps and games, winning several start-up awards such as the MilliNet and Netty awards. He also contributes to the eCommerce Academy Community to enable people to make life-changing incomes through online sales.
Alumni Awards 2019 Winners
Afgan Bakhishov | University of Manchester – Professional Achievement Award
As a member of the Executive Board of FIMSA, Afghan Bakhishov is actively involved in the World Bank’s FSMP 2 project and contributes to the preparation of laws regulating financial markets. Apart from his daily job, Afghan Bakhishov also takes pro bono cases as member of the Bar Association. He was guest speaker and trainer at various types of educational events. Afghan Bakhishov aims to bring international best practices to the legal framework of financial market regulation in Azerbaijan.
Ayan Aliyeva | Bangor University – Entrepreneurial Award
Ayan is CEO at the A-Level Education Group. As an entrepreneur in international education, Ayan’s main focus is the implementation of alternative interactive approaches to the educational process. Ayan’s contribution to innovative methodology in language and subject learning has led to the successful development of critical thinking and analytical skills that students had been lacking in other learning environments.
Tural Maharramov | University of Nottingham – Social Impact Award
Tural is a senior environmental engineer at SOCAR (State Oil Company), a lecturer at Khazar University and an adviser to the CEO at AZGREEN LLC. To contribute to the development of the society, he implements social projects as chairman of the Azerbaijan-UK Alumni Association. Tural is also doing his PhD in Remote Aerospace Studies.