Azerbaijan University of Languages

Teaching of foreign languages at the higher educational establishments in Azerbaijan began in 20s of last century, independent department of foreign languages was established at API (Azerbaijan Pedagogical Institute) first in 1936/37. As there was lack of national teachers teaching foreign languages, Azerbaijan People’s Commissars Soviet came to a decision about “organizing of the school of foreign languages at Azerbaijan Pedagogical Institute” on October 9, 1937. 175 students were admitted to the school in 1937/38. 59 students on English language,92 students on German language, 24 students were admitted on French language. 46 of them to the Azerbaijan section, 129 to the Russian section. Only 95 students from that admission got diplomas in 1941. After the beginning of Second World War, necessity for the teachers of foreign languages rose, on the basis of decision reached by Azerbaijan SSR PCS about “education of German, French and English languages at higher institutions and secondary schools of Azerbaijan SSR” in October of 1940, the school of foreign languages of API named after V.I.Lenin turned to Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages beginning from 1941/42 and 150 students were admitted to the institute the same year. But the institute could only realize organization process connected with the beginning of Great Patriotic War and by the order of PCS the school of API continued its activity from the first of September in 1941. Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages was opened on the base of the school of Foreign Languages of API in Baku city from 1948/49 years by the order of Minister of Education for the purpose to improve preparation of specialists of foreign languages. Graduate of the school of Foreign languages and a teacher of the school for some time, then activating as a dean of the school Heybat Pashayev was appointed the first rector of the institute. 150 students were admitted to the institute first year.