A relatively new university, ADA University was founded in 2014. It was formed as a result of the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy and the Information Technologies University merging. The university was initially established to train specialists for a diplomatic career in Azerbaijani Foreign Affairs but has since expanded its academic courses.
The university is located in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Situated 28 metres below sea level, the city is the lowest lying national capital in the world. The city is Azerbaijan’s cultural, industrial, and scientific centre, as well as being its only metropolis. In 2000, Baku’s Old City and its historical landmarks, Shirvanshah’s Palace and Maiden Tower, were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
There are four schools at the university offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees. They include the School of Business, School of Education, School of IT and Engineering, and School of Public and International Affairs.
At the heart of the university are its core values: academic excellence, accountability and shared governance, honour, integrity and transparency, diversity, collaboration and communication, and social responsibility. The university fulfils its value of diversity by welcoming international students from 46 countries around the world. This creates a multicultural environment that enriches the student experience.
Student life is an important part of the university. There are various clubs and societies available for students to participate in, such as arts and creativity club, book club, and politics club. Annually the university hosts the Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev Awards to reward the three student clubs that best demonstrate social responsibility.