Doctoral Student of the UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Development Awarded “Youth of the Year”

We are proud to announce that Elnur Arifzade, a doctoral student at the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Development of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, has been named among the recipients of the prestigious “Youth of the Year” award established by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The “Youth of the Year” award is presented to young individuals who actively contribute to the implementation of youth policy and stand out through their social and international activities, leadership skills, and exemplary initiatives. The award aims to promote the vital role of youth in the sustainable development of society.

Elnur Arifzade’s recognition with this prestigious award is a clear indication of the high appreciation of his scientific research in the field of sustainable development, his international experience, and his consistent and goal-oriented activities in youth work.
During the award ceremony, the prize was presented by the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Farid Gayibov.Elnur’s activities are directly related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, he has been active in the field of non-formal education development in the direction of SDG 4 - Quality Education, and has co-authored the “Trainer's Handbook on Non-Formal Education” for trainers in Azerbaijan. This activity serves to increase the knowledge and skills of young people, expand inclusive and sustainable education opportunities. In this regard, he has actively participated in global discussions on the development of education and strengthening the role of youth by participating in international events organized at the UN General Assembly in New York and the European Parliament in Belgium.At the same time, his scientific and public activities cover the goal of SDG 13 - Combating Climate Change. In this regard, Elnur Arifzadeh participated in the international youth conference on climate change and biodiversity held in Japan, contributing to the discussion of global environmental challenges and the development of international scientific dialogue.
Currently, Elnur Arifzade continues his scientific research in the field of ecology at the UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Development of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University under the academic supervision of Professor Yerlan Doszhanov, with Professor Jin Shang from the City University of Hong Kong acting as his foreign supervisor.