Studying at prestigious universities around the world is the dream of thousands of Azerbaijani youth. Every year, young people who realize this dream within the framework of the State Program on Education Abroad and are admitted to leading universities worldwide attract attention with both their academic achievements and success stories.
Modern.az website's "Azerbaijani youth opening up to the world" section continues. In this presentation of our section, we spoke with Mursal Gorchuyev, who gained the right to pursue a master's degree in Data Science at Johns Hopkins University in the USA within the framework of the State Program.
- Mr. Mursal, you completed your bachelor's degree in Business Administration at UNEC, but for your master's, you changed your direction and chose Data Science. What were the reasons for your transition to a different field?
- While studying Business Administration for four years, I encountered a gap. A large part of management decisions still relies on experience and intuition, whereas the same decisions could be justified with much higher accuracy through analysis based on data. Which product will be in demand, who the target customer segment is, how sales will be formed in the next quarter – the answers to all these questions are actually within the numbers.
This is important not only for private businesses but also for institutions of national importance. Disease spread models in healthcare, forecasting cargo flow in transportation, analysis of student outcomes in education – all these are related to the same methodology.
Therefore, I do not see this transition as a change of field. Business education taught me how to ask the right questions, and Data Science provides the tools to find answers to those questions. One without the other remains incomplete: technical knowledge separated from a business context becomes meaningless calculation, and a business decision separated from data becomes a guess.
- When did your interest in Data Science arise and why?
- Mathematics has been my favorite subject since childhood. In 10th grade, I started learning the Python programming language and saw that its source was simple logic and mathematics. Breaking down a complex problem into small steps, checking each step separately, and seeing the result – this process is what attracted me.
In my second year, I won the “Technest” Scholarship Program of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency and participated in Data Analytics training for a year. There, I worked on real databases for the first time. I saw how concepts like market behavior and customer segmentation, which I learned theoretically at UNEC, were measured with numbers, and the impact this had on business was decisive for me.
After receiving my diploma, I didn't want to stop and continued with a Data Science course. By working on individual and group projects, I gained the opportunity to turn theoretical knowledge into practice. It was at this stage that I realized I should choose this field not as an additional skill, but as my main specialization.
- What was the main reason for choosing Johns Hopkins University for your master's degree in the USA?
- Johns Hopkins is the first research university in the USA, and this is not just a historical fact. The entire academic culture of the university is built on research. In the field of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, both a strong theoretical foundation and laboratory experience are offered, a combination that is not found in every university. The Interactive AI (AI2AI) Initiative, a joint collaboration between Amazon and JHU, operates within the Whiting School of Engineering and funds doctoral scholarships, collaborative research projects, and open scientific events.
The university's position in the medical field also influenced my choice. One of the most impactful application areas of Data Science is healthcare, and JHU is one of the world's leading centers at the intersection of these two fields.
Furthermore, the volume of research investment attracted by the university indicates that both the public and private sectors seriously trust the work done here. For a student, the practical meaning of this is that you are not limited to studying theory in the classroom; you can become part of real and funded projects.
- What were the requirements for admission when you applied, and which stage was the most difficult for you?
- The admission process included academic transcripts, a motivation letter, recommendation letters, and an IELTS certificate for English proficiency. The most difficult stage was writing the motivation letter in such a way that I could logically justify both my academic background, i.e., my business education, and my transition to a new field. I needed to explain to the committee that this seemingly strange transition was actually my strong point.
- Did you apply to other universities for a master's degree abroad?
- Yes. I also received admissions from Nanyang Technological University, University of Glasgow, Sapienza University of Rome, and ELTE.
- What was your first reaction when you received the news of your admission to Johns Hopkins University?
- At that time, I was working at PASHA Bank, and due to my work schedule, I only saw the admission news a few hours later. After seeing it, I left work and shared my joy with my family and friends, because this was not just my success, but the success of everyone who supported me.
- You went through a separate selection stage to become a winner of the State Program on Education Abroad. What is mainly required from a candidate in this process, and what were the main advantages that distinguished your candidacy from other applicants?
- The State Program on Education Abroad is a separate, independent selection process from gaining admission to a university. Here, the candidate is mainly required to demonstrate the conformity of the admitted university and specialization with the Program's priority list, academic performance, English language proficiency, work and social activity experience, and a clear plan of what they will do specifically upon returning to the country after their education. The last criterion, in my opinion, is the least noticed but has the most weight. The Program is not just a scholarship; it is an investment, and every investor wants to know what this fund will return.
The main aspect that distinguished my candidacy was having practical experience in addition to theoretical knowledge. The four months I spent in the USA within the Work and Travel program, the academic program I participated in in Europe, my individual projects, and the work experience I gained in international companies were the main proofs of this.
- What are the most common mistakes students make when applying for the State Program?
- The first and most common mistake is time planning. Many wait for the application period to be announced, whereas by that time, language certificates, recommendation letters, and university admission should already be ready. Gathering documents takes months.
The second mistake is using template motivation letters. Writing your name into a sample taken from the internet is immediately visible to the committee. They read hundreds of letters every year and can distinguish between sincere and copied ones from the first paragraph.
The third mistake is basing university selection solely on rankings. The overall ranking of a university and the strength of the program you choose are different things. The candidate should be able to answer the question, "What specific skills will this program equip me with?" rather than "This university is ranked 20th."
The fourth mistake is writing future plans with general statements. The sentence "I want to benefit my country" says nothing. "I want to work on analyzing healthcare data" is concrete and a discussable position.
- How long before did you start preparing to become a winner of the Program?
- I obtained my IELTS certificate in the winter months. I received my admission from Johns Hopkins University in April. After making the deposit payment, I started preparing the documents according to the Program's conditions. When the application acceptance was announced, all important documents were already in order and in place.
- In an era of rapid AI development, how do you see the future of a Data Science specialist?
- My view is that artificial intelligence does not eliminate this profession; it shifts its center of gravity. Routine tasks, such as data cleaning, building simple models, and writing code, are becoming increasingly automated. But the stages before and after these tasks remain with humans.
The preceding stage is asking the right question. Artificial intelligence answers the question it is given, not the question that should be asked. Identifying what problem needs to be solved, what indicator is actually important, what data is available and what is not, requires contextual knowledge.
The subsequent stage is the interpretation of results and responsibility. The model gave 87 percent accuracy; is this good or bad? The answer depends on the field in which the model is used. The cost of a wrong result is one thing in an advertising campaign, and completely different in a medical diagnosis. Seeing bias in the model, evaluating the reliability of data, communicating the result to the decision-maker in an understandable language – these are areas that cannot be automated.
Therefore, the data scientist of the future will be a specialist who writes less code but carries more responsibility. This is where I see the benefit of my business education.
- Was your dream of studying abroad present since childhood, or did it develop later?
- Every child dreams of traveling the world and seeing different countries, and I was no exception. But it specifically took the form of studying abroad later. I have always been interested in learning, and the idea of studying abroad gradually formed in me after my first international experiences. My time in the USA within the Work and Travel program played a decisive role in the maturation of this decision, as I practically saw what it means to live and work in a different environment.
- What is the biggest misconception among Azerbaijani youth about studying abroad?
- The biggest misconception is that studying abroad is only for children from financially well-off families. However, numerous mechanisms exist, such as the State Program, Intergovernmental Scholarship Programs, university scholarships, research grants, and assistantship positions. The problem is often not the lack of opportunity, but the unawareness of these opportunities and the lack of courage to apply.
The second widespread misconception is: I got my diploma, so everything is solved. A foreign university diploma opens a door, but what you do after entering that door still depends on you. A diploma is not a resu< it is a tool.
The third is in the opposite direction. Some imagine studying abroad as something excessively difficult and unattainable, so they don't even try. The process is indeed complex, but it is understandable. It has concrete steps, and it is possible to take those steps sequentially.
- "Data Science" is currently one of the fastest-growing fields in the global labor market. In which specific area do you plan to apply the knowledge you will gain at Johns Hopkins in the future?
- My main goal is the application of data science in healthcare, especially in increasing the accuracy of medical diagnoses. Behind this choice lies a simple observation. The cost of a wrong result in medicine is incomparable to any other field. A wrong forecast in credit risk assessment means financial loss, while the same mistake in medical diagnosis affects human life. This is precisely why this field is the most demanding in terms of responsibility for data analysis, and at the same time, the one that can provide the most benefit. The specific areas that interest me are these: First, image-based diagnostics, meaning the use of machine learning models as an auxiliary tool in the analysis of X-ray, CT, and MRI images. These models do not replace the doctor but act as a second opinion by highlighting details that might be overlooked. Second, early detection of diseases. When medical history, laboratory test results, and other clinical indicators are analyzed together, risk can be assessed even before symptoms appear. Third, diagnostic decision support systems, which are tools that show the doctor probable options and their reliability based on existing data. Here, I want to emphasize one point in particular. Artificial intelligence in this field is not a replacement for the doctor but a tool that enhances their work. The final decision always rests with the doctor, because the responsibility also rests with them. The result given by the model is a suggestion, not a judgment. An approach that does not understand this boundary can do more harm than good. That is why the most important problem in the field is not purely technical. On what data the model is trained, which groups are not represented in that data, how the result will be interpreted, and how patient data confidentiality will be protected – all these require an ethical and managerial approach in addition to technical skills. Here, too, I see the benefit of my business education, because building a system is not just about writing algorithms. This is one of the main reasons why I chose Johns Hopkins. The university is a leading center in the USA in the medical field and at the same time has a strong Data Science base. The intersection of these two directions at one address is not very common in the world. For me, this means the opportunity to learn theory together with real clinical issues.
- After completing your master's degree, do you want to stay in the USA or return to Azerbaijan?
- I intend to return to Azerbaijan. This is not only because it is a condition of the State Program, but because the logic of the program and my personal logic coincide here. The state invests in my education, and the place for this investment to be returned is here. In addition, there is a practical reason. The Data Science field is already well-established in the USA; there, I would be part of an existing system. In Azerbaijan, this field is still forming, and there is an opportunity to play a foundational role here. For me, the latter is more interesting. Nevertheless, gaining as much practical experience as possible during my education in the USA, i.e., internships, research projects, and international connections, is part of my plans. I should not return empty-handed.
- In the future, do you see yourself more as a businessman, a data scientist, or a specialist combining these two fields?
- Undoubtedly, the third. This is not a compromise, but a conscious choice. A purely technical specialist builds a model, but if they cannot explain what it brings to the business, their work remains on the shelves. A purely manager makes decisions, but if they cannot read the numbers behind that decision, they are guessing. People who can act as translators between these two worlds are few, and that is where value is created.
My educational trajectory is also in this direction: a bachelor's in business, a master's in Data Science. In the future, I see myself as a specialist who can convert data into business decisions, that is, build a bridge between the analytical team and management.
- Before leaving for your studies abroad, what excites and frightens you the most?
- What excites me the most is the academic environment itself. The opportunity to be in the same classroom with people from various countries around the world who are strong in their fields and to participate in real research projects inspires me.
What concerns me the most is adapting to the academic pace. The demands at Johns Hopkins are high, and the program is intensive. This is compounded by adapting to a new country, a new culture, and a new daily life. I know the first semester will be challenging.
But I accept this not as fear, but as an expected difficulty. It is possible to prepare for a difficulty you know in advance, and that is what I am preparing for.
- What advice would you give to Azerbaijani students aiming to study at leading universities worldwide through the State Program today, based on your experience?
- Start early. Don't wait for the application period to be announced. Language exams, documents, and recommendation letters – each of these takes longer than you expect. Gain experience. High grades are necessary, but not sufficient. Internships, volunteer activities, and projects transform you from a collection of scores on paper into a real person. Be specific. You must be able to clearly explain what you want to study, why you chose that particular university, and what you will do after returning. General statements convince no one. Find your story. Every candidate has a different path. In my case, this was the transition from business to Data Science. Yours will be something else. Don't hide it; on the contrary, put it at the center. Don't be afraid of rejection. A person who doesn't apply has zero chance of success. This is a mathematical fact.
