On 29 May 2025, Mingachevir State University (MSU), jointly with its Department of Science and Innovation and the Central Aran Scientific Research Centre, held a scientific roundtable entitled “Central Aran Folklore in the Context of Ethnocultural Values” within the framework of the “Year of Constitution and Sovereignty.”

The event took place in the small assembly hall of MSU’s Second Academic Building and was attended by university academic staff, students, and master’s students.

Opening the roundtable, Vugar Mustafayev, Head of the Department of Science and Innovation, spoke about the scientific significance of the event. He noted that the rich ethnocultural heritage of the Central Aran region required more extensive research within the Azerbaijani academic community and emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach to preserving these values and transmitting them to future generations. He highlighted the initiative’s significance in exploring the deeper layers of local and national cultural identity and identifying new research directions.

In accordance with the seminar programme, the following presentations were delivered. Professor Farah Jalil, Head of the Department of Pedagogy at MSU and a member of the research centre, presented “Environmental Consciousness in Mythological Thinking.” Vusala Movlayeva, Head of the Central Aran Scientific Research Centre, delivered a presentation entitled “The Footprint of Central Aran in the Historical Geography of Azerbaijan.” Saadat Agakishiyeva, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Humanities, spoke on “Folklore Examples of the Aran Region,” while Shalala Guliyeva, a lecturer in the same department, presented “Multicultural Values in the Central Aran Region.”

The presentations attracted considerable interest among participants. The discussions explored the folklore heritage, multicultural environment, and distinctive mythological thinking characteristic of the Central Aran region.

It should be noted that MSU organizes various events throughout the year within the framework of the “Year of Constitution and Sovereignty.”

One of the key areas of activity of the Central Aran Scientific Research Centre is the scholarly investigation and promotion of the preservation of regional folklore, oral traditions, local customs, and ethnocultural values. Scientific discussions and research initiatives in this area contribute to the study of the region’s intangible cultural heritage, the systematic organization of academic knowledge, and its transmission to future generations.