The Sub-committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Public Health, Training, Education and Youth, Culture, Information Society and Audiovisual Policy, and Science and Technology of the European Union-Azerbaijan Cooperation Committee held its fourth session in Baku on October 14. On behalf of Azerbaijan the session was chaired by the Ministry of Education. It was attended by employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Communication and High Technologies and the National Academy of Sciences, as well as a delegation of the European Union.  The one-day session featured discussion on a wide range of issues, including education, employment and social affairs, public health, youth policy, culture, research and innovation, information society. The Azerbaijani delegation highlighted the country`s reforms and accomplishments in these areas. The EU delegation made presentations on relevant policies and planned changes.  The sides also discussed cooperation prospects, including the implementation of new joint projects.

17/10/2016 12:57

A ceremony was held at the Ministry of Education on October 14 to give state awards to education workers. Prior to the ceremony Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov, senior education officials, teachers who received state awards visited the Alley of Honors to lay flowers at the graves of national leader Heydar Aliyev and academician Zarifa Aliyeva. Participants in the ceremony included Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov, deputy ministers Jeyhun Bayramov and Firudin Qurbanov, and media representatives.  Minister Mikayil Jabbarov congratulated the education workers who received honorary titles under executive orders of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev for their contribution to the development of education. He described the orders as the President`s attention to the education sector. The minister said teachers` recruitment process has been conducted in a centralized manner for several years. He highlighted the mechanisms applied to improve reputation of teaching profession, increase teachers` knowledge and attract young people to teaching profession. The number of high-scoring entrants who chose teaching profession has grown thanks to purposeful work carried out recently, he said. Mikayil Jabbarov said diagnostic assessment of teachers` performance will continue, and the number of teachers whose wages increase will reach 100,000. The minister hailed the “undeniable and outstanding” role of teachers in ensuring accomplishments in education. He said that if 50 per cent of pupils successfully passed exams in 2012, this figure rose to 67 per cent in 2016. The teachers who received awards thanked the head of state for his attention. They promised to continue to do their utmost to give schoolchildren comprehensive knowledge and skills. The awarded teachers received medals and certificates.

17/10/2016 12:56

Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Azerbaijan Onno Kervers on October 13. They discussed Azerbaijani-Dutch relations in the field of education and prospects for cooperation in accordance with the tasks set by the “State Strategy for Development of Education in the Republic of Azerbaijan”.

17/10/2016 11:01

A workshop and conference on “Media and Education Dialogue” was conducted on October 13. Participants in the event included representatives of the Ministry of Education, and heads of press services of higher education institutions. The conference aimed to strengthen relations of higher education institutions in the fields of media and education, and to increase public relations skills.  Department head at Baku State University Aynur Karimova made a presentation on PR strategy. She highlighted a range of issues, including PR ethics, development of media plans, and the organization of internal PR. Member of the Expert Council of the European Public Relations Institute Vali Alibayov made a presentation on “Communication in crisis situations”. He provided information about key requirements of communication in crisis situations and crisis management strategies. Employees of the Ministry of Education revealed the results of monitoring of websites of higher education institutions, and provided an insight into the use of new tools in improving these websites. They also made presentations on PR technologies in media. Head of Press and Information Department at Baku State University Parvana Ibrahimova and director of the Department of Marketing and Communications at Azerbaijan State University of Economics Rasim Sharifov shared their experience, and spoke of relations in the fields of education and media. The event featured discussion on the improvement of media and education dialogue. Participants gave proposals and recommendations on the development of social conduct rules platform, establishment of a common network of press services of higher education institutions, creation of student centers at universities, and other issues. This is the fifth conference held by the Ministry of Education as part of “Media and Education Dialogue”.

14/10/2016 17:16

A database of holders of diplomas of foreign higher education institutions, which are nostrificated (recognized as equivalent) in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has been launched. The database can be accessed at “Database of holders of recognized diplomas” in “Nostrification” section on the website of the Ministry of Education (http://edu.gov.az/en/nostrification/search). The launch of the database aims to increase the effectiveness of the execution of the tasks set by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev`s decree “On additional measures to ensure the provision of electronic services by public bodies”. The database provides information about holders of nostrificated diplomas of foreign higher education institutions starting from May 13, 2013. The database features information about the country and university of study, academic degree, and personal data (name, surname, patronymic name) of holders of nostrificated diplomas. The database will be updated on a regular basis. The database will be useful for both holders of nostrificated diplomas and employers.

12/10/2016 17:58

In accordance with October 2016 timetable of reception hours of government executives, Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov received residents of Aghdam, Fuzuli, Beylaqan and Tartar districts in Quzanli, Aghdam on October 10. Residents as well as IDPs with temporary residence in Aghdam, Fuzuli, Beylaqan and Tartar districts attended the reception. The issues raised by citizens at the reception included recruitment and transfer of teachers from one school (district) to another, reinstatement, recognition of academic degree certificates, transfer of students from one higher education institution to another, tuition fees, labor contract extension, education loans, second higher education, and etc. Sixty-five citizens submitted their requests at the reception, with the majority of them immediately dealt with. Minister Mikayil Jabbarov instructed relevant bodies of the Ministry of Education to deal with several other requests. Some requests, which were out of the Ministry`s area of competence, and personal requests, will be brought to the notice of relevant authorities.

11/10/2016 11:30

The opening ceremony of the 10th Anniversary Azerbaijan International Education Exhibition was held at the Baku Expo Center on October 7. The exhibition is organized in partnership with the Ministry of Education. Participants in the opening ceremony included deputy Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov, heads of higher and vocational education institutions and representatives of agencies providing educational services. Deputy Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov welcomed participants of the exhibition. He said reforms and purposeful measures are being conducted in Azerbaijan to develop education sector. Jeyhun Bayramov said the development of human capital is the key task of the country`s statehood philosophy. “The main burden of fulfilling this task falls on education.” Jeyhun Bayramov said the exhibition will contribute to cooperation among educational institutions, and open up additional opportunities for both educational institutions and students. Participants of the ceremony then viewed stands of the exhibition. The Ministry of Education, which annually takes an active part at the exhibition, presents its “Maarifçi” Student Loan Fund”, “SABAH”, “Bir Volunteering”, “Teach for Azerbaijan” projects. “French-Azerbaijan University” project is also promoted at the exhibition. This year, representatives of universities, colleges and other educational institutions from Azerbaijan, Germany, Latvia, Hungary, Jordan introduce their educational programs to visitors. Poland (“Go Poland”), Lithuania (“Study in Lithuania”) and Turkey (“Study in Turkey”) presented their national stands. Among local exhibitors are higher education institutions as well as IT Step Academy. The 10th Anniversary Azerbaijan International Education Exhibition will close on October 9.

10/10/2016 09:22

A press conference on the 10th Anniversary Azerbaijan International Education Exhibition that will be organized at the Baku Expo Center in partnership with the Ministry of Education was held on October 6. Speakers at the event said Azerbaijan International Education Exhibition is the only event in the field of education in the country. A total of 800 companies have attended the exhibition so far. This year, representatives of universities, colleges and other educational institutions from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Belarus, Jordan will introduce their educational programs to visitors of the exhibition. Among the local exhibitors are Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry, Azerbaijan Technical University, Azerbaijan State Economic University, Baku Business University, Azerbaijan Architecture and Construction University, Ganja State University, and IT Step Academy. Local exhibitors make 30 per cent of the total number of participants. A total of 118 institutions from 14 countries will participate in this year`s exhibition. The Ministry of Education, which annually takes an active part at the exhibition, will present its “Maarifçi” Student Loan Fund”, “SABAH”, “Bir Volunteering”, “Teach for Azerbaijan”, “French-Azerbaijan University” projects. The 10th Anniversary Azerbaijan International Education Exhibition will run from October 7-9. It is organized by “Caspian Event Organisers” (CEO).

07/10/2016 13:58

            “Torino Process 2016-2017” political dialogue on reforms in vocational education was held on October 5. Participants in the event included director for cooperation at UN Azerbaijan office Y. Williams, European Training Foundation representative for Azerbaijan Margareta Nikolovska, director of the State Vocational Education Agency Famil Mustafayev, and representatives of the ministries of Economy, Labor and Social Protection of the Population, State Statistics Committee, Azerbaijan Entrepreneurs` Organization, employers and experts. Director of the State Vocational Education Agency Famil Mustafayev said the event aims to strengthen cooperation in the field of vocational education and training, define shortcomings through analyzing achievements secured thanks to recent years` reforms compared with other countries, and encourage the formation of a common development strategy. Director for cooperation at UN Azerbaijan office Williams emphasized the importance of analyzing vocational education in the country. He also highlighted the role of EU programs in supporting educational reforms in Azerbaijan. National Coordinator for “Torino Process”, head of Vocational Education Division at the Ministry of Education Nigar Ismayilzade presented an assessment report on reforms carried out in Azerbaijan`s vocational education sector in the last two years. Participants defined priorities for increasing the effectiveness of vocational education and training.

07/10/2016 12:06

On October 4, a ceremony was held at Baku Vocational Lyceum No. 5 to start the execution of a new pilot project in hospitality area in the vocational education sector. The project is implemented by the State Vocational Education Agency under the Ministry of Education and British Council Azerbaijan in partnership with 5-star hotels in Baku. Participants in the event included director of the State Vocational Education Agency Famil Mustafayev, British Council Azerbaijan Country Director Elizabeth White, Managing Director of Absheron Hotel Group Marc Ehler and representatives of partner companies. The aim of the project is to provide capacity-building opportunity for teachers, develop relevant curriculum in compliance with the national standards for three specialties (Chef, Hotel Concierge and Housekeeping Controller), and organize apprenticeship program for the selected students. Under the program, 12 selected teachers and 45 students underwent a series of capacity building and practical trainings on culinary, tourism and customer service. The pilot program materials development and teacher training was done by UK organization People 1st, and UK expertise was used in designing the on-the-job apprenticeship scheme. People 1st was involved into three new specialties (Chef, Hotel Concierge and Housekeeping Controller) curriculum development in hospitality. Students of vocational schools who attended training sessions on hospitality qualified to study culinary, tourism and customer service under a new curriculum. They will study in groups for a one-year term.  The program is set to expand to further schools and all 5-star hotels in Baku and beyond. The teachers selected under the last year`s program have been involved in studying the needs of labor market, conducting specialty related classes and making curricula.

05/10/2016 17:14