AZERBAIJAN: ALIMARDAN TOPCHUBASHOV’S 150TH ANNIVERSARY
IPAD ESSAY CONTEST
The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Canada announces an essay contest dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Alimardan Topchubashov (1863-1934), prominent Azerbaijani politician, Foreign Minister and speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920). The contest is aimed at increasing awareness in Canadian academia about Azerbaijan’s history, especially the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic – first parliamentary democracy in Muslim Orient, which pioneered many democratic reforms in the Muslim world, such as granted suffrage to women in 1918.
PRIZE
Winners of the competition will be awarded a new IPAD. Three IPAD prizes will be available. In addition, the authors of the most impressive papers will be considered for a field study trip to Azerbaijan in 2014.
SELECTION
The selection process will involve prominent scholars and experts. The winners will be identified upon recommendations from academicians. The involvement of the scholarly community is aimed at making the selection process merit-based and non-ideological. The panel of judges will be announced later.
TOPIC
Topics of the essays might include the life and contribution of Mr. Alimardan Topchubashov as well as the history of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in general. Within the context of generic topics students are invited to choose any specific topic according to their interest and educational background.
ELIGIBILITY
The contest is open to undergraduate, graduate and PhD students currently enroled full-time at Canadian universities. Preference is given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents; however international students are also welcomed with the exception of students from Azerbaijan.
REQUIREMENTS
– Essay submissions will be accepted starting January 1, 2014 (after the fall semester of 2013). The deadline for the contest is January 30, 2014.
– Essays should be (preferably but not limited) between 2,000-3,000 words, following footnotes style. All submissions must be double spaced in 12-point, Times New Roman regular font throughout.
– Essays must not have been published elsewhere (printed or internet), nor may they have been submitted elsewhere for pending publication. However, we would welcome any future publication based on a revised version of the essay after January 30, 2014.
– All submitted essays will be the property of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Canada and may be reproduced, distributed, or otherwise used, in whole or in part, etc., by the Embassy or its agents without permission from or compensation to the author.
– All authors assume the responsibility for any factual errors. If copyrighted material is used in an essay, the author is responsible for obtaining permission to use the material.
Note: This is the second essay contest initiated by the Embassy of Azerbaijan. In 2011 an essay contest, “Azerbaijan: 20 years of independence” was successfully concluded with three winners from the Carleton University. The Embassy encourages students from other Canadian universities to take part in the essay contest.
ESSAY SUBMISSION
Essays must be submitted by e-mail to Mr. Arif Mammadov arif.mammadov@azembassy.ca and accompanied by a letter from the faculty/university confirming the student’s enrolment.
CONTACT
For further information and research materials please contact the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Mr. Arif Mammadov, arif.mammadov@azembassy.ca, 613-288-0497 Ext. 248