After graduation from GCS, as an exchange student, Vusal returned to his home country of Azerbaijan. He continued his education in Baku, the Nation’s capital, at the Azerbaijan State Economics University and majored in International Economics. He completed his Masters Degree in International Economic Relations. While in college, he worked part-time and later, full time, for a US-based non-profit organization – Project Harmony International. During his tenure with PH International, as the outreach coordinator, Vusal facilitated educational and professional exchange programs between the United States and Azerbaijan. One of his primary responsibilities was to educate Azerbaijani youth, in both rural and urban areas, on the use of IT technologies in education and the opportunities they create for international communication among different cultures. His other responsibilities at PH International included community mobilization for community-based programs, facilitation of links between businesses and education, and public relations.

After working for PH International for four years, the twenty-two year-old accepted the position of Executive Director at Junior Achievement Azerbaijan, where he works today. In this position he has traveled frequently to the United States, Canada, Singapore, Sri-Lanka, Kazakhstan, Turkey, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ukraine, The United Arab Emirates, Russia, and other countries throughout the world.

In his tenure at Junior Achievement, the organization’s student impact has grown by a total of 1,250%. In 2005-2009, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Education approved the integration of the JA curriculum into two hundred and sixty schools country-wide. Vusal spearheaded an increase in private and individual foundation giving by in total 423% in 2005-2009, created development alliances in support of JA Azerbaijan activities among Azerbaijani, the United States and private companies and raised in-kind cost-sharing from Azerbaijani Government. JAA’s participation and support to the Asia/Pacific International Members, especially Central Asia and the Caucasus has been consistent, as JAA supported creation and maintenance of the JA Business Ethics Web Center for Central Asia and the Caucasus region. JAA supported and consulted its fellow International Members for Skills@Work Challenge participation and creation of the JA Asia/Pacific website.

Outside of JA Azerbaijan, Vusal is a successful businessman in the field of business consulting and tourism, is an active member of the Azerbaijan US-educated Alumni Association, and is regularly involved in curriculum development discussions with the Ministry of Education. In the years of 1999 to 2004, Vusal participated in and administered international reciprocal student and professional exchanges between the United States and Azerbaijan. Vusal’s significant volunteer experience includes activities in support of population rehabilitation and cultural exchange in Azerbaijan and the United States.

During Vusal’s time as the Executive Director, he has received many honors, including Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Youth Outstanding Youth Organization Leader award.

Vusal regards his time at GCS as a shaping experience. “My experience at Greenwich Central has affected my decision-making and life maxims. I will be always grateful to Mr. Patrick Morris, my counselor; and my teachers – Ms. Jeanne-Marie Breen (my host family), Mr. Craig Roods (math), Ms. Laura Goodman (English) and Mr. Mark Wells (digital electronics) for forming my perception of American culture and its values.”

Asked about qualities important in his field, Vusal cites “…defined life values and maxims, integrity, excellence, and hard-work.” His favorite quotation characterizes his career and family life: "Whoever recommends and helps a good cause becomes a partner therein, and whoever recommends and helps an evil cause shares in its burden." (Quran, 4:85)

Vusal is strongly family oriented and is a member of a prestigious Azerbaijani family. His father, Dr. Tarlan Khanlarov, is a professor of chemistry at the Baku State University and his mother, Yaqut Khanlarov, is a chemistry teacher at Baku School #20 (where Vusal graduated). His brother, Rashad Khanlarov, is a development consultant for Junior Achievement Azerbaijan.

Vusal lives in Baku, Azerbaijan, with his wife, Nargiz Khanlarova, who works for the Azerbaijan State Committee for Family  
    Azerbaijan is a secular, democratic republic       Planning, Gender Issues and Child Rights.
    with an Eastern border along the Caspian Sea.  
 

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