Prof. Elena Korosteleva has been invited to be a Board Member of the Scientific Council in preparation for the COP29 Presidency by Azerbaijan. As part of the Board's remit, the scientists will work on the agenda, ideas and recommendations for COP29. The 1st meeting took place on Friday, 26 July 2024, and involved 30 members from the international Scientific Community. Members were addressed by H.E. Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President-Designate, Minister of Energy and Dr Elnur Soltanov, CEO of COP29, & Deputy Minister of Energy in Azerbaijan. The meeting was hosted by ADA University, its Rector Ambassador Hafiz Pashaeyev, Rector, and Dr Fariz Ismailzade, Vice Rector.

The meeting discussed key challenges and issues for COP29, to shape the agenda as well as the activities for side events at COP29. The next meeting is scheduled for September 2024.

COP29 related researches and analysis by ADA University's IDD: https://idd.az/en/research_and_analysis/cop29/

IGSD Research Fellow Dr. Aijan SharshenovaLink opens in a new window (SHAPEDEM-EU ProjectLink opens in a new window) completed a 13 week-long gender equality training course at the University of Central Asia. The School for the Advancement of Gender EqualityLink opens in a new window provided an extensive theoretical and practical training on gender equality and advocacy for women-led organisations, civil society activists, journalists and bloggers. Dr. Sharshenova was awarded qualification of a specialist in gender equality advocacy.

IGSD Research Fellow Dr Aijan Sharshenova (SHAPEDEM-EU Project) participated in the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) event organised by the European Commission, UKRO and UUKi. The event took place at the University College London on June 26^th and focussed on promoting MSCA funding programmes: MSCA Doctoral NetworksLink opens in a new window, MSCA Postdoctoral FellowshipsLink opens in a new window, MSCA COFUNDLink opens in a new window, and MSCA Citizens.Link opens in a new window

IGSD Research Fellow Dr. Aijan SharshenovaLink opens in a new window (SHAPEDEM-EULink opens in a new window project) gave a keynote speech at the “Research and Higher Education in Central Asia and the Caucasus” SymposiumLink opens in a new window organised by the Volkswagen FoundationLink opens in a new window in Hannover, Germany on June 10-12, 2024. The Volkswagen Foundation is a private research funding organisation, which supports education and research worldwide. The Symposium took the stock of the 25 years of the Foundation's Central Asia and Caucasus portfolio.

Dr. Sharshenova delivered a keynote speech on making an academic career in Central Asia offering her insights and recommendations to early career researchers from the region. Dr. Sharshenova is a former recipient of the Volkswagen Foundation's research grant.

Professor Korosteleva was invited by the COE Secretariat to speak at the PACE COE conference 'Luxembourg Solutions' on the future of Belarus. The focus of this session was to develop recommendations based on the report produced by Paul Galles (Luxemburg Epp/CD) in 2023, which resolution was adopted by the PACE in 2024. This report and its discussions should lay foundations for the actions by the COE member states - national parliaments - in relation to Belarus, including on the issues of visa and consular protection; political prisoners and refugees; identity preservation, education and employment access for the displaced Belarusians residing in Europe. For more information visit here.