In accordance with a timetable of reception hours of government executives, Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov received residents of Ujar, Zardab, Goychay and Agjabadi districts at the Heydar Aliyev Center in the city of Zardab on September 23. 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, and etc. Forty-two citizens submitted their requests at the reception, and the majority of these requests were 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.

27/09/2016 12:23

  Thirteen draft electronic books have been uploaded on www.e-resurs.edu.az electronic textbook portal of the Ministry of Education, bringing the total number of draft textbooks available on the website to 156.  The new uploads include “Natural history” textbook for 5th grade and “Biology”, “Geography”, “Informatics”, “Fine arts”, “Physics”,  and “General history” textbooks for 9th grades of Azerbaijani and Russian sections. New textbooks and methodological handbooks for teachers will be uploaded on the portal in the next few months.   A total of 93,342 people have registered on the electronic textbook portal so far. Textbooks and methodological handbooks on the website have been reviewed more than 1,052,000 times. Between 2,500-4,000 people visit the resource on a daily basis. The first three quarters of 2016 saw 258,808 people use the website, a three-time growth compared to 2015, when the figure was 91,968. Launched in 2014, the portal aims to expand the involvement of pupils and students in the education process and provide them with the opportunity to effectively use ICT and read electronic textbooks. The website allows to review methodological handbooks for teachers through using a special filter.

27/09/2016 12:23

The Ministry of Education and BP announced a new partnership as they launched “Development of New Occupations in Agricultural Vocational Education” project on September 22. Participants in the ceremony included Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Carole Crofts, BP’s Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey Gordon Birrell and British Council Azerbaijan Country Director Elizabeth White. In his remarks, Minister Mikayil Jabbarov said global political and economic processes necessitate the improvement of competitiveness of the country`s economy. “President Ilham Aliyev set a number of priorities for us including ensuring comprehensive development of export-oriented non-oil economy and effective use of human capital.” “Guided by these priorities, the Ministry of Education has such major tasks as meeting the economy`s demand in highly-skilled specialists and building a vocational education system able to flexibly respond to new economic challenges.” Mikayil Jabbarov said the “State Strategy for the Development of Education in the Republic of Azerbaijan” set the development of vocational education as one of the key priorities. “Thanks to the President`s attention to this sector the State Agency for Vocational Education was established under the Ministry of Education with the aim of raising the efficiency of vocational training and preparing competitive specialists for the country`s economy.” The minister mentioned the opening of IT STEP Academy, which was attended by President Ilham Aliyev last week. He said the academy was the first vocational education institution in Azerbaijan established based on the labor market demands and public-private partnership mechanism. Mikayil Jabbarov also highlighted world practice of developing vocational education. The minister said the project is aimed at 36 per cent of the country`s employed population, and expressed his confidence that it will contribute to the development of agriculture, which, he described as “one of the most important areas of our economy”. British Ambassador Carole Crofts, BP’s Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey Gordon Birrell and British Council Azerbaijan Country Director Elizabeth White said they believe the project will help develop human capital and build a quality labor market in Azerbaijan.

23/09/2016 13:08

The Institute for Professional Development of Education Workers will launch “Principals` Club” on September 28. The project aims to ensure continuous professional development of school principals, update them on novelties, provide professional advice, conduct trainings and seminars, study and apply the best local and global experience. Those who wish to attend the presentation of “Principals` Club” can register at http://bit.ly/2d7AQ2E. Invitations will be emailed to the school principals who applied to join the event.  

21/09/2016 14:53

“Electronic Education” countrywide contest was launched on September 19. The contest aims to encourage and support the activities of teachers who actively apply information technologies in the teaching process, promote the best electronic teaching resources, increase the awareness of the country`s education community of the advanced teaching techniques through blogs, websites, social media, search for new methods of applying ICT in the teaching process, expand the use of electronic resources in educational institutions, stimulate teachers and students to create electronic resources and use the existing ones. The contest will feature three categories (Teacher, Pupil and School) and six nominations. The contest is conducted in partnership with “Dr. Web”, “AZEDUNET”, “Ultra”, “Edumedia Azerbaijan”, “Nar” mobile operator and “Innovative Technologies in Education” Additional Education Center. Winners will receive laptops, tablets, printers and other special awards.  

21/09/2016 11:40

“Bir” Volunteer Academy, which was organized in the city of Shaki as part of “Bir” Student-Volunteer Program of the Ministry of Education, has successfully ended. Sixty selected student volunteers from 18 higher education institutions in Baku, Sumgayit, Ganja, Shaki, Lankaran and Mingachevir received new knowledge and skills at the Academy. At the closing ceremony, Coordinator of “Bir” Student-Volunteer Program Tural Abdullazade and head of Shaki City Education Department Sudabar Ismayılova congratulated first graduates of “Bir” Volunteer Academy and wished them success in their future volunteering activities. They said the main goal of “Bir” Volunteer Academy was to promote volunteering philosophy and values among students, apply volunteering standards and prepare leader volunteers. The Academy featured trainings on a number of topics conducted by professional trainers, including “Azerbaijani Management”, “Career Development”, “Communication Skills”, “Presentation Skills”, “PR–SMM”, “Internet Communication”, “Project Management”. Students were also offered a cultural and sports program, which included Brain Ring and Code Tusi quizzes. Participants of the Academy received certificates. Students who graduates from “Bir” Volunteer Academy will be coordinators of “Bir” Student-Volunteer Program at their universities. An initiative of the Ministry of Education, “Bir” Student-Volunteer Program implements different projects to encourage students to engage in volunteering activities. The Program, which builds its activity in six priority areas (Learn, Teach, Live, Give Life, Discover, Enjoy), aims to effectively organize leisure time of students, ensure their involvement in different events and trainings, and help those in need.  “Bir”, which embraces 18 higher education institutions in the cities of Baku, Sumgayit, Ganja, Mingachevir, Shaki and Lankaran, is a long-term program to systematize work with student volunteers and ensure their involvement in state events. Volunteers of “Bir” Student-Volunteer Program have contributed to more than 35 large-scale events so far.

19/09/2016 12:27

Second education block of Lankaran State University inaugurated   Lankaran State University`s (LSU) second education block opened after renovation on September 15. Opening the ceremony, acting rector of LSU Natiq Ibrahimov congratulated students on the start of the new academic year and wished them success. Deputy Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov highlighted successful execution of the education strategy in Azerbaijan. He said attention to science and education considerably increased in the country under President Ilham Aliyev. Head of Lankaran City Executive Authority Taleh Qarashov said all accomplishments of Azerbaijan were associated with national leader Heydar Aliyev. “This policy is successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev,” he added. Participants of the ceremony viewed fully equipped departments and laboratories of the new education block of the university. The ceremony also featured a concert. * * *   Event held in Ismayilli to mark Knowledge Day   An event has been held at Ivanovka village secondary school named after Heydar Aliyev in Ismayilli district on the occasion of Knowledge Day. Participants in the event included Deputy Minister of Education Firudin Qurbanov, deputy head of Ismayili District Executive Authority Mahmud Suleymanov, adviser at Baku International Multiculturalism Center Valentin Kulik, teachers and pupils. Prior to the event participants laid a wreath and flowers at a statue of national leader Heydar Aliyev. Deputy Minister of Education Firudin Qurbanov congratulated teachers and pupils, and provided an insight into educational reforms. The event also featured performance by first and eleventh grade pupils. Participants of the event then viewed the school, and met with pupils and teachers.   * * *   Newly renovated integrated boarding school and gymnasium opens in Balakan     A newly renovated integrated boarding school and gymnasium of the Ministry of Education has opened in Balakan district. Participants in the opening ceremony included deputy head of the Administration of the Ministry of Education Farzali Qadirov, head of Balakan District Executive Authority Islam Rzayev, teachers, pupils and representatives of the local public. Speakers at the event congratulated teachers and pupils on the start of the new academic year and Knowledge Day. They also highlighted the country`s accomplishments in the field of education, and emphasized what must be done to improve the quality of education. Participants of the ceremony viewed the school, which was supplied with modern equipment by the Ministry of Education. The school`s education block and dormitory, canteen and additional buildings were renovated. There are departments of chemistry, biology, physics and informatics, and a state-of-the-art laboratory in the school, which is supplied with modern ICT equipment. The school provides accommodation for sixteen young teachers.

19/09/2016 12:26

French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ) opened on September 15. Participants in the opening ceremony included Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov, French ambassador to Azerbaijan Aurelia Bouchez, Director for European and International Relations and Cooperation at the French Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research Marianne de Brunhoff, University of Strasbourg Vice-President in charge of international relations Francis Kern, UFAZ professors and teachers, students and parents. Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov congratulated teachers and students on the opening of UFAZ. He said reforms contributed to quality changes in all pillars and levels of education. “According to results of the entrance exams to higher education institutions conducted by the State Examination Center of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 143 out of nearly 300 entrants who scored over 500 points in the 1st group exams were admitted to UFAZ. Of them, 120 people were enrolled on a free basis, while 23 entrants were given fee-based places.” French ambassador to Azerbaijan Aurelia Bouchez, Director for European and International Relations and Cooperation at the French Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research Marianne de Brunhoff, University of Strasbourg Vice-President in charge of international relations Francis Kern highlighted relations and cooperation between the two countries in the field of education. They also expressed their confidence that the activity of UFAZ will be a success. After the speeches, participants of the ceremony toured UFAZ. The guests were informed of the teaching process at the university. A joint initiative of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the French Republic Francois Hollande, UFAZ marks a new era in the development of relations between the two countries. French-Azerbaijani University was established on the basis of Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University in accordance with a letter of intent on cooperation signed by the minister of education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and French minister of national education, higher education and research as part of the French President`s visit to Azerbaijan on April 25, 2015 and an Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the execution of “Joint Azerbaijani-French University (UFAZ)” project dated June 9, 2016. The main goal of UFAZ is to prepare highly-qualified specialists capable of contributing to Azerbaijan`s development in socio-economic area, and particularly in the fields of science and advanced technologies. French-Azerbaijani University announced enrollment in four disciplines in 2016/2017 academic year:  Chemical Engineering (State Oil and Industry University and Strasbourg University), Computer Science (State Oil and Industry University and Strasbourg University), Geophysical Engineering (State Oil and Industry University and Strasbourg University), and Oil Exploration and Exploitation (State Oil and Industry University and Rennes 1 University). Lectures at UFAZ will be delivered in English by an international academic staff of highly qualified French and Azerbaijani professors. Graduates will obtain a double degree.

19/09/2016 09:12

“Electronic Education” countrywide contest will be launched on September 19. The contest is aimed at encouraging and supporting the activities of teachers who actively apply information technologies in the teaching process, promoting the best electronic teaching resources, increasing the awareness of the country`s education community of the advanced teaching techniques through blogs, websites, social networks, searching for new forms of application of ICT in teaching process, expanding the use of electronic resources in educational institutions, stimulating teachers and students to create electronic resources and use the existing ones. The contest will feature three categories (teacher, Pupil and School) and six nominations. The contest will be held in partnership with “Dr. Web”, “AZEDUNET”, “Ultra”, “Edumedia Azerbaijan”, “Nar” mobile operator and “Innovative Technologies in Education” Additional Education Center. Winners will receive laptops, tablets, printers and other special awards.  

16/09/2016 12:26

Young Azerbaijani foresters have participated in the 13th International Contest of Young Foresters in Saint Petersburg. Organized by the Federal Agency for Forestry of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the contest saw participation of 49 pupils and students from 27 countries. Azerbaijan was represented at the contest by the winners of the 5th countrywide contest of foresters, who presented their projects aimed at addressing environmental projects. They also highlighted the damage caused to natural resources and environment of Qarabagh as a result of Armenia`s military aggression. The jury of the contest awarded the young Azerbaijani foresters with certificates and medals. Participants of the contest also visited historical places in Saint Petersburg, as well as Saint Petersburg State Forest Technical University.

16/09/2016 12:25