Spotlighting The Azerbaijan Chapter in the ACM-W Professional Chapter’s Corner

Bridging Traditions and Innovation: Azerbaijan ACM-W Chapter’s Collaborative Excellence

Written by Asegul Hulus

Welcome back, readers! Today, we’ll be travelling to Azerbaijan to showcase a unique collaboration in the ACM-W community. The Azerbaijan ACM-W Chapter collaborates with the ADA ACM Student Chapter, creating a unique model that combines experienced professionals with enthusiastic students.

It was a privilege to speak with the Azerbaijan ACM-W leadership team, whose members are distinguished in both academic and professional fields. In the professional context, I met Chair Lala Shahbandayeva and Treasurer Dr. Araz Yusubov, a Senior ACM Member since 2016, who was formerly part of the International Olympiad in Informatics committee. Alongside, Nigar Alishzade, a dedicated member, exemplifies the chapter’s commitment to advancing computing knowledge through her research in computer vision and deep learning, specifically in creating sophisticated recognition systems for human actions and gestures, with a focus on Azerbaijani Sign Language (AzSL).

The ADA ACM student chapter counts with remarkable talent, including Chair Hajar Naghiyeva, a Magna Cum Laude graduate and Azerbaijan’s representative at CanSat Global 2024; Vice-Chair Ilhama Novruzova, a Summa Cum Laude graduate and Co-founder/CEO of “VerifAI”; and Communications Manager Khavar Jabbarli, whose work in embedded systems engineering highlights the chapter’s technical expertise. The collaborative structure is further strengthened by faculty sponsors Dr. Araz Yusubov and co-sponsor Samir Mammadov, with treasurer Gultaj Muradova ensuring operational excellence.

*Azerbaijan ACM-W Chapter and ADA ACM Student Chapter members interviewed in this spotlight*

A Harmonized Vision for Computing Excellence

The Azerbaijan ACM-W Chapter, which is harmonized with the Azerbaijan ACM Chapter, collaborates closely with the ADA ACM Student Chapter to achieve a unique collaboration merging ACM and ACM-W efforts for a shared goal.

“Our mission is to empower the computing community in Azerbaijan and beyond by involving people from various backgrounds, genders, and countries.” – Hajar Naghiyeva

This collaborative leadership approach, linking academic achievement with practical industry knowledge, strengthening a well-established and vibrant pathway of mentoring and leadership opportunities..

From Ada’s Legacy to Global Recognition

The chapters started by honoring Ada Lovelace in their area to encourage people worldwide to join in. The Ada’s Legacy events, launched in 2016 and scheduled before womENcourage, began with no Azerbaijani participation but reached a turning point. Three research posters from Azerbaijan were accepted to womENcourage 2018, and ACM’s official Instagram highlighted their students, marking a significant achievement.

This community-driven effort, which initially received assistance when an ACM-W member travelled from Ankara to help start their first event, ultimately led to the successful hosting of womENcourage 2020. Even with the difficulties of the pandemic, they innovatively transformed the traditional three-day format into a four-day online experience with shorter, more engaging sessions.

*Azerbaijan ACM-W Chapter: WomENcourage 2020*

Innovation Through Collaboration

“We don’t really differentiate between what’s done by the ACM chapter versus the ACM-W chapter; we work together,” emphasizes Dr. Yusubov. This philosophy is put into practice through various programs, such as their well-known Café Informatique Series, which features discussions over Azerbaijani tea, visits to the Azercosmos Ground Control Station, and technical workshops. An example of the latter is “Exploring Lotfi Zadeh’s Legacy in Fuzzy Logic,” which was highlighted in the ACM Chapter Member Newsletter. In the last three years, they’ve seen impressive growth, starting with 10 people and now drawing 50 to 150 attendees per event, having put on more than 25 different events, for example, movie nights featuring ‘Hidden Figures’ and ‘Picture a Scientist,’ Intellectual Game Trivia covering Ada Lovelace and hardware topics, and ‘Extending Turing’ sessions with Samir Mammadov.

The group’s achievements have earned them “Club of the Month” for two months straight, and they’re busy with initiatives such as a research-focused seminar series and a planned visit to Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory in September 2025. These cross-cultural programs have made it possible for 50% of female programming contest participants to travel with their mothers, showcasing the growing family support for women in the tech field.

*ADA ACM Student Chapter: Club of the Month*

Addressing Barriers and the “Gender Paradox”

The chapters examine the “gender paradox” as Azerbaijan has many women in STEM fields. According to them, the issue isn’t getting women started in STEM, but keeping them engaged and helping them move into leadership roles in STEM.

According to Hajar, ADA University is experiencing a shift with some classes having more female students than male students, indicating improved representation. Nevertheless, obstacles remain. Lala Shahbandayeva related that, “During my first internship interview, I was informed that male interns would be prioritized because they were able to stay and work later.”

Ilhama Novruzova identifies the source of the problem: “It goes back to how women are raised, with expectations like ‘you’ll be a doctor or a teacher.’ We must show them they have the same potential as those who have achieved remarkable success.”

Modern Community Building

Recognizing that conventional methods are inadequate, they’ve adopted new ways to connect, including WhatsApp communities, Telegram channels, and integrated social media messaging. “We have a collaboration with a big WhatsApp community where all around Azerbaijan events are shared. We get above 100 students from other universities who want to join our chapter,” explains Ilhama.

The mentorship they provide builds lasting leadership development, with those starting as mentees becoming mentors, including academic direction, engagement in international conferences, and alliances with companies. Thanks to this all-encompassing strategy, graduates have secured positions at leading tech companies such as Microsoft and Amazon, and successful startups.

Inspiration and Looking Forward

The chapters highlight accessible mentorship, drawing inspiration from historical pioneers like Ada Lovelace, Katherine Johnson, and Margaret Hamilton, whose contributions to the NASA Apollo mission defined software engineering as a discipline. There are many local role models – accomplished women in engineering, science and industry, who supported the chapter activities – including the founding chair of the Azerbaijan ACM-W Chapter, Ulduza Khalilova, founder and CEO of Digital Umbrella (https://digirella.az/) and a founding board member of the Femmes Digitales Supporting Women in TECH public association. Additionally, they initiated partnerships with IEEE Women in Engineering, broadening networking prospects within technical fields and centers. For example, during their trip to the STEAM Innovation Center, students explored various areas such as AI, robotics, 3D printing, and game design, witnessing how STEAM is influencing the future of technology in Azerbaijan. It was a day brimming with creativity and motivation.

*Azerbaijan ACM-W Chapter and ADA ACM Student Chapter: STEAM Innovation Center Visit*

By continuing to host significant events such as the ICPC World Finals in Baku (August 2025) and leveraging their experience from the 2019 International Olympiad in Informatics, Azerbaijan showcases its rising importance in the field of computing. They are strategically prioritizing increased global collaboration, expanding industry partnerships, and concentrating on new technologies such as GenAI and Web3.

Messages of Unity and Courage

The chapter leaders offer inspiring messages to the global ACM-W community. Ilhama Novruzova encourages thinking outside the box and emphasizes in Stuart Scott’s words: “Don’t downgrade your dream just to fit your reality. Upgrade your conviction to match your destiny.“

Hajar Naghiyeva adds, “Enjoy every moment, stay positive, and let your passion guide the process.” Moreover, Nigar Alishzade confirms the impact of ACM-W: “After I received my ACM-W travel scholarship, I saw the sparkle in the eyes of my students who heard about it. This encouragement of scholarship support is really very important to female students to girls overall.”

Lala Shahbandayeva reminds us: “Stay Inspired Till the End ” – the informal motto of the School of IT and Engineering at ADA University. Finally, Khavar Jabbarli captures the joy of problem-solving: “When you solve a bug, it’s the best feeling.” Her mother, Raziyya Jabbarli, a mathematics instructor for two decades, instilled in her a passion for embedded systems rooted in solid mathematical principles, demonstrating how mathematics could be a gateway to various fields, particularly computing. She particularly appreciates mentors like Samir Mammadov, who always took time to listen and respond thoroughly, creating a space where learning feels both meaningful and enjoyable.

A Model for Global Impact

“Students are the driving force behind every progress. Professional chapters should focus on supporting and nourishing student chapters,” reflects Dr. Yusubov, highlighting the universal importance of intergenerational collaboration.

The collaboration between Azerbaijan ACM-W Chapter and the ADA ACM Student Chapter perfectly demonstrates how working together fosters lasting results. It illustrates how merging local expertise with a global perspective motivates future computing leaders, transcending limitations.

As this spotlight tour concludes, I am sharing the infographic for this collaboration as a souvenir below, along with contact information and social media details for the chapters and myself.