General information
In the information society, where globalisation is spreading, as well as competition is strengthening in social and economic fields of activity, and natural resources are becoming gradually exhausted; the role of education is progressively expanding. It is not accidental that the United Nations announced XXI century the Century of Education. The role of education, especially higher education, in forming high quality human resources, as well as in building a strong economy based on sustainable development has never been as urgent as now. In Azerbaijan, likewise in other countries, the role of higher education in forming human resources is undeniable.
One of the important events in the history of Azerbaijan was an application of two steps of higher education (bachelor’s and master’s degree) in 1993. For the first time, there was held student admission to 80 fields in more than 300 specialities of 23 higher educational institutions to bachelor’s degree. During the past years, there were changes and progresses in the bachelor education subject. The present systems were improved and created new ones, in accordance with the world education standards, and begun the application of the credit system in the education.
The initial graduation with a bachelor’s degree was in 1997, after, with the consent of Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in accordance with the order No 412 of the Education Ministry dated June 16, 1997, 9 private and 23 state universities of the country received the permission for conversion to the master’s degree. Admissions to the master’s degree were held by universities until 2005. According to the decree No 219 of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic on approval of the “Regulations of the State Student Admission Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan” dated 06.04.2005, student admissions to the master’s degree have been held by the State Student Admission Commission (SSAC) since 2005. From the 2001/02 academic year, student’s admission to the correspondence study for the master’s degree has been held by the decision of Cabinet of Ministries dated 06.07.2002.
Since the beginning of the 1990s, there has been held discussions about reforms in the education system of Azerbaijan. However, the works in this direction were not carried out systematically and in a planned manner. In 1999, after the approval of Education Reform Program of the Azerbaijan Republic, reforms have expediently realized in all systems of education, as well as in higher educational stages. According to that program had been carried out structural changes in the higher education, optimized network organization, and added new professions to the structure of the specialist training.
There have been given a free hand and large power to the educational institutions. These institutions have begun to define scientific councils independently, the content of the State Attestation Commissions, its internal structure; prepare, in accordance with the State Educational Standards, the curriculum for specialties etc. Moreover, 6 higher schools have been receiving the wide independence, and they began to organise their activity under self-governmental principals. Those higher schools have been funded from the state budget since 2001.
According to the decree of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic on Improvement Educational System of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dated June 13, 2000, regardless of pattern of ownership and submission, the education quality control was transferred to the Ministry of Education, and after the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Regulations of attestation and accreditation of higher and secondary specialized educational establishments, was created a mechanism of control over the education quality in a short - term. Moreover, in 1999 was begun the application of the new mechanism of the evaluation of students' knowledge. At present this system is covering most higher education institutions.
Preparations of the teaching staff with contemporary standards, who possess a deep mentality, pedagogical and methodical skill is always at the centre of attention. Certain measures were taken in order to improve this work. Furthermore, the professiogram was prepared for the definition of teaching competencies; double specialities were included to the existing list of specialities in order to provide rural schools with teachers, and prepared pedagogical practice rules.
The Education Ministry in cooperation with the World Bank within the framework of the Education Sector Development Project, and under sub-component of “Teacher's training,” prepared the Concept and strategy of teacher education and continuous teacher training in the Azerbaijan Republic, a completely new curriculum content providing training for primary school teachers. These documents have already been approved. Moreover, The Basis of Education textbook was prepared. In 3 pilot universities (Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, Azerbaijan Institute of Teachers, and Ganja State University) has been started the application of curriculum for primary school teachers training.
In the modern world, integration into the educational system of European countries and formation of the European Higher Education Area gets a special urgency. From this point of view, Bologna process takes a special place. Azerbaijan joined to the Bologna process in 2005, and it defined contours of the reforms carrying out in the field of higher education. For the realization of provisions of Bologna declaration, in accordance with the appropriate action plan for 2006-1010, was approved the structure of minimum state requirements to the content and quality of bachelor preparation, confirmed and prepared new generation state educational standards in corresponding fields. After Azerbaijan joined to the Bologna process has raised a need to apply a credit system in higher education. In accordance with the application of this system was studied some foreign countries’ practice in order to create the legal-normative basis. Furthermore, was approved “Regulation on the introduction of the credit system in higher educational institutions of Azerbaijan,” and was made the decision to use the credit system in the number of universities experimentally. In the 2006/2007 academic year, the experiment covered 10 universities, in the 2009/2010 academic year, all specialities of 27 state universities.
There were some measures carried out for recognition diplomas of students, who studied abroad in Azerbaijan. The Ministry of Education created a Standing Commission and sector, in accordance with the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on approval Rules for recognition of the higher education specialties of the foreign countries and determining of the equivalency (nostrification).
One of the aspects in the frame of the Bologna process is preparing of the appendix to diploma, which plays an important role in equivalence of diplomas and their mutual recognition. The single model (example) of appendix to diploma was prepared by the Joint Working Group, consisting of experts from the European Commission, European Council and UNESCO. The appendix to the diploma, simplifies academic mobility of graduates and their activity in the labour market. In accordance with that, was prepared, as well as approved by the decree No 990 of the Ministry of Education, dated August 8, 2008 “Appendix to the Diploma” in the country, and sent to all higher schools. In order to accelerate the integration process of education into the world education system, especially the European Higher Education Area and expediting the works in the field of fulfilling requirements of the Bologna declaration the President of the Azerbaijan Republic signed the degree on some measures aimed at integrating higher educational institutions into European higher education area, dated January 31, 2008. According to the first section of decree was prepared and ratified “State program for reforms in the higher education system of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2008-2012)” by the Cabinet of Ministers. The Education Ministry prepared an action plan for the purpose of ensuring the execution of State Program.
Since the classification of current higher educational specialities has passed a long time. During this period the republican economic infrastructure and labour market demand have changed, Azerbaijan has joined to the Bologna process, lists of bachelor’s degree specialities (programs) were coordinated with the relevant documents of UNESCO, and, as well existence of specialities, which do not carry out a staff training (from approximately 531 to 264 specialities) in these classification created a need to rework it. Not surprisingly, the issue of updating this document was discussed at the Education Commission, and the Working Group prepared "List of bachelor’s degree specialties (programs).” After some discussions at universities, the list was approved by the decision No 8 of the Cabinet of Ministers, dated January 12, 2009. All professions in the list were prepared in accordance with State Educational Standards and universities started their application.
“Education Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan” was approved by the decree No 156 of the President dated September 5, 2009. In order to provide execution of the decree and in accordance with the decree No 247 of the Cabinet of Ministers dated September 17, 2009, by the order of the Ministry of Education No 1084 (September 25, 2009) was approved “Action plans.” in accordance with the plan was carried out a great work in the direction of coordinate the normative - legal basis connecting with the education with demands of “Education Law.”
The second special education occupies a special place in the solution of the questions related to the social-economic development of the country and in satisfaction of needs of the individual and society for professional special education in the condition of market relations. This stage of the education plays an important role in providing different fields of the economy with specialized staffs. Secondary professional education solves two questions – the possession of different professions by young people and obtainment of compulsory general education.
Secondary professional education plays an important role in enhancing the prestige of national educational system and formulation of intellectual potential of the society in the country. It serves to raise the educational and cultural level of the citizens as a mass professional education.
Having a sufficient number of secondary specialized educational institutions, and their equal distribution throughout the country, a requirement of training in this education level relatively a little time and money; creates a great opportunity for training secondary specialized staffs in accordance with the needs of the country's economy and social sphere. In the conditions of market relations, there are demand in the new professional qualities, systematic mentality, meditation, cultural ownership, analysing skills of its activity consciously, acting independently in the condition of indefiniteness and, etc. from the staff of secondary education.
For the training of specialists with such qualities, should be carried out appropriate reforms in the field of secondary education, improved the net and internal structure of this system, created new typed educational establishments based on the existing secondary educational institutions and redefined requirements to the maintenance of education.
In recent years, as a consequence of government reforms in the education sector, was founded legal and economic ground for the independent activity and development of secondary professional educational institutions, secondary specialized education network significantly improved. According to the Presidential degree on Improvement of the education system of the Azerbaijan Republic, dated June 13, 2000, some state establishments were transferred under the Education Ministry' authority. Afterwards, the Ministry created an opportunity for fundamental changes in the content of secondary special education and improved the staff training structure, as well as chains of educational institutions.
The important steps have been taken in order to create new type of secondary educational institutions – colleges. They were established due to the consolidation of several technical schools, their material basis, and pedagogical staff potential. The quantity of these institutions is increasing and now forms major part of the secondary specialized schools. Some works have been carried out in fields of constructing educational complexes, since 2002. According to the Presidential decree on improvement of the education system of the Azerbaijan Republic, dated June 13. 2000, was established Art College under National Arts Academy, and Musical College under the National Conservatory. Construction College under Azerbaijan Architecture and Construction University was established by the decree No 195 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic dated 23.12.2004.
In recent years, in the staff training structure of secondary educational institutions has been held necessary changes. In accordance with the labour market demand and youth interest, the staff training specialities, such as oil and energy, engineering, information, transport and communication, social-cultural service, economy, business organization, marketing and management, humanitarian and economic profiles increased considerably.
Some necessary changes was made to the content of secondary specialities as well; were applied state standards of secondary specialized educational institutions to the minimum demands of the content and level of small staff training, and prepared appropriate new education plan and programs.
In accordance with the demand of ‘Basic Teaching plan of general education, which is a component of the decree No 72 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic on approval of the State standards of general secondary education of the Azerbaijan Republic, dated April 26, 1999, the Education Ministry approved the model structure of the basic teaching plans’ programs. According to that appropriate changes were made on teaching plans and programs.
The multipoint system of assessment of the student's knowledge in the secondary educational institutions have begun to apply since 2008. In accordance with the system was prepared and approved by the order No 231 of the Ministry of Education the “Temporary regulations of the Student's Knowledge Assessment Multipoint System" , dated February 20, 2008.
Over the past years, the normative legal basis of the secondary specialized education was completely formed. The state policy carried out in the secondary specialized education sphere changed its content, and improved the structure of the expert's training, in accordance with the current social economy conditions.
