Reyhan Huseynova

Reyhan Huseynova

Founder and Head

Azerbaijan Future Studies Society (non-profit) and University Foundation Courses (LLC), Azerbaijan

Dr. Reyhan H. Huseynova is a scholar, institutional leader, and pioneer of futures studies in Azerbaijan, whose work lies at the intersection of social philosophy, cultural analysis, and strategic foresight. For more than twenty-five years, she has played a key role in advancing long-term thinking in her country, linking futures research with education, public dialogue, and national development. In 2006, she founded the Azerbaijan Future Studies Society (AFSS), establishing Azerbaijan’s connection to the global network of the Millennium Project. Through this platform, she has actively contributed to the development of futures literacy, strategic analysis, and international intellectual cooperation, fostering a culture of forward-looking thinking in both academic and policy environments. Dr. Huseynova was co-author and co-director of the first Azerbaijan State of the Future Index (AZ-SOFI), developed in collaboration with leading international experts. This work marked an important step in introducing structured, long-range analysis into national discussions on development, innovation, and strategic planning. She also organized the Baku Future Forum in 2013, bringing together international experts to engage in dialogue on emerging technologies and their broader social and economic implications. Across her work, she has consistently emphasized the importance of aligning technological change with human-centered development, ethical reflection, and cultural context. In the field of education, Dr. Huseynova is the founder of the University Foundation Center (UFC), an institution that has created pathways for Azerbaijani students into international academic systems. Through UFC, she has contributed not only to academic preparation, but also to the broader goal of expanding human potential and global mobility for younger generations. She was also among the initiators and authors of an early distance-learning program in foresight methodology developed for the Azerbaijan State University of Economics, further embedding futures thinking within the educational landscape. Alongside her academic and institutional work, Dr. Huseynova has been actively engaged in public and social initiatives. In cooperation with UNFPA, she has supported projects addressing gender issues and social inclusion, as well as initiatives aimed at expanding access to technology-oriented education for children from internally displaced families. She serves as Vice-President of the Azerbaijan-France Friendship Society and has represented Azerbaijan in international intellectual and policy-oriented forums, including major platforms dedicated to futures studies and global development. Dr. Huseynova’s work is defined by an interdisciplinary and integrative approach that brings together philosophy, foresight, education, culture, and public responsibility. At its core lies a commitment to building bridges between global ideas and local realities, with particular attention to the human dimension of technological and societal transformation.