of Baku Sabit Orujov, minister of the gas industry of the USSR Artur Rasizade, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Farman Salmanov, geologist Fazila Samadova, academic, chemical engineer-technologist José Eduardo dos Santos, President of Angola from September 1979 to September 2017 Vitaly Zholobov, Soviet cosmonaut who flew on Soyuz 21 Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Republic Tofig Aghahuseynov, Commander of the Baku Air Defense District Faculty Igor Kurchatov, Research Assistant at the Faculty of Physics (1924–1925) Affiliations The academy is a member of the Caucasus University Association. International relations ASOIU's international relations are developed in the following areas: Preparation of specialists and scientific staff for foreign countries; The activity of professor-teacher staff in foreign science and education institutions, education of students, masters and post-graduate students; Participation in international educational programs; Bilateral cooperation with foreign universities; Cooperation with foreign missions in Baku; Cooperation with international companies; Collaboration with International Associations of Universities. In 2015, by the presidential decree, the French-Azerbaijan University (UFAZ) was established. The students of this university have an opportunity to get a diploma form the University of Strasbourg. ASOIU is cooperating with several foreign universities: Georgia State University (USA) Zigen University (Germany) Ploektti Oil and Gas University (Romania) Tronheim City Science and Technology University (Norway) Russia's State Oil and Gas University (Russia) Genuya University (Italy) Nitsa Sofia-Antipolis University (France) Athens National Technical University (Greece) Khazar State University of Technology and Engineering (Kazakhstan) Foreign cooperation In 2017, “New Educational Trend” conference was held in Baku at the 11th Azerbaijan International Education Festival. During the conference “Memorandum of Understanding” between Azerbaijan State Oil and Industrial University and Poltava National Technical University. On September 23, 2018, during the 65th anniversary of the China University of Petroleum (CUP), Mustafa Babanli the rector of ASOIU and Zhang Laibin the rector of the CUP signed a memorandum of cooperation in Beijing, China. ASOIU signed cooperation contract with Inonu University of Turkey in 2018, which involves cooperation with higher educational institutions and organization in Turkey. During the meeting with Dr. Abdolrahim Navehebrahim who is the chancellor of Kharazmi University of Islamic Republic of Iran, the cooperation contract was signed between universities in 2018. On January 26, 2018, rector of ASOIU and Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan Mekan Ishanguliyev held a meeting. During the meeting, bilateral cooperation and friendship in educational field were discussed between the parties. ASOIU have signed cooperation contracts with several foreign universities