Scientists at Azerbaijani educational institutions published 242 papers in impact-factor journals in 2011, 300 papers in 2014, and 604 papers in 2015. Purposeful work has been conducted in the country in recent years to expand the use of international research databases, including Thomson Reuters, the largest provider of intelligent information in the world. The Ministry of Education signed an agreement on cooperation with Thomson Reuters last December, under which, requested by the Ministry, 40 higher education institutions in Azerbaijan received access to products and services of Thomson Reuters, including Web of Science®, the most comprehensive and versatile research platform available. Apart from this database, Azerbaijani scientists also received access to the most recently published issues of leading scholarly journals. The Ministry of Education will organize a competition to evaluate quality of scholarly articles published in Thomson Reuters-indexed journals. The main goal of the competition is to expand scientific and publishing activity of scientists and teachers at higher education institutions in Azerbaijan. Quality of authors` scientific activity will be measured through a special methodology developed by the Ministry of Education. The competition will feature mathematical and technical sciences, physics, chemistry, biology, humanities, economy and management, medical sciences. The Ministry of Education will provide comprehensive information about the competition that will be held at the end of every calendar year.

27/05/2016 14:16

“Book Quest” and “Azerbaijan – my Motherland” competitions for school communities have wrapped up. A ceremony to award the winners of the competitions was held at secondary school No. 18 in Baku on May 25. Participants in the event included employees of the Ministry of Education and Baku City Education Department, education experts, and media representatives. Organized by community.az portal, “Book Quest” competition aimed to encourage schoolchildren`s, teachers` and parents` interest in literature. “Azerbaijan – my Motherland” competition provided schoolchildren with the opportunity to show off their photography skills. More than 500 schoolchildren, their parents and teachers registered through community.az  portal for the competition. Teacher at secondary school No. 169 in Baku Albina Abubakirova, teacher at secondary school No. 23 in Sumgayit Eleonora Kairova and member of school community of secondary school No. 158 in Baku Naila Bukhlova became winners of “Book Quest” competition. Teacher at secondary school No. 46 in Baku Gullu Ahmadova won “Azerbaijan – my Motherland” competition. The winners were awarded certificates of recognition and valuable prizes. The competitions were held in partnership with Access Bank, Saglam Aile LLC, Standard Insurance and Allianz Consult companies. The competitions were designed to stimulate the activities of school communities, encourage members of school communities, and also increase teachers`, schoolchildren`s and parents` interest in community building.

27/05/2016 14:13

One hundred and twenty-four schools in five cities and 36 districts will have an extra emphasis in certain subjects starting from 2016-2017 academic year. Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov signed a decree approving the list of new pilot secondary education institutions, which will specialize in certain subjects, including in the cities of Baku, Ganja, Sumgayıt, Mingachevir and Shirvan, and Absheron, Lankaran, Guba, Barda, Tovuz, Ismayilli, Shaki, Aghjabadi, Yevlakh, Khachmaz, Samukh, Neftchala, Zagatala, Jalilabad, Shamakhi, Siyazan, Shabran, Gusar, Gabala, Balakan, Salyan, Masalli, Bilasuvar, Sabirabad, Saatli, Kurdamir, Goychay, Zardab, Beylagan, Aghdash, Goranboy, Goygol, Tartar, Shamkir, Gazakh, Aghstafa districts. Under the existing rules, specialized classes will have at least 20 children each. The pilot schools will be provided with special curriculums. Measures will also include enlightenment, staffing and equipping specialized classes, and conducting trainings for teachers. The pilot specialization project was launched in five schools in the city of Baku in 2011. The number of subjects on the curriculum in these schools was reduced, and they were supplied with special curriculums with an extra emphasis in certain subjects. In view of positive results of the pilot project, the Ministry of Education decided to expand the network of specialized schools. The 2015-2016 academic year saw 50 more schools (33 in Baku, 5 in Sumgayit, 4 in Mingachevir, 3 in Ganja, 1 in Shirvan, and 4 schools under the Ministry of Education) make an extra emphasis on four subjects (technical, mathematical-economic, humanitarian, nature). Nearly 3700 tenth grade schoolchildren in 176 classes in 58 schools were involved in the specialized education program in the 2015-2016 academic year. An analysis of the project results proves that given the fact that specialized schools meet schoolchildren`s tendencies and preferences, making an emphasis in certain subjects has increased their interest in education and had a positive impact on their performance.  

26/05/2016 14:09

The football team of Ganja branch of “Tahsil” Sport Center has won 2015/2016 season of Under-13 Azerbaijan championship, which was organized by the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA). Held on Bayil stadium on May 24, the final game pitted the team of Ganja branch of “Tahsil” SC against Inter. Ganja branch team sealed the title of Azerbaijani champion of 2015/2016 season with a narrow 1-0 win. The team`s striker Umid Samadov became the top scorer of the season with 67 goals.

26/05/2016 11:27

The 20th scientific conference of PhD students and young researchers opened on May 24, organized by the Ministry of Education. Participants in the opening ceremony included deputy Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov, academicians, heads of higher education institutions, intelligentsia, PhD students and young researchers. Held annually, the conference this time marked “The Year of Multiculturalism” in Azerbaijan. In his remarks, deputy Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov said this year`s conference occupied a special place in a series of events held under “The Year of Multiculturalism” and marking the 93rd anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev. “The conference creates good opportunities for youth to exchange their scientific ideas, which ensure sustainable development and prosperity of Azerbaijan. It also allows them to exchange views on theories and technologies that they introduced, and to enrich their scientific knowledge,” he said. The deputy Minister of Education said: “The role of science and education is rapidly growing today at a time when competition in the fields of politics, economy and information is strengthening, when natural resources are dramatically depleted and ecological balance is impaired. With human capital and intellectual resources lying at the heart of its development strategy, Azerbaijan is committed – as President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr Ilham Aliyev said – to turning oil capital into human capital,” he noted. Jeyhun Bayramov said education reforms conducted in Azerbaijan aimed “to raise a young generation with a new mindset and broad world view”. “Wide opportunities were created for students to conduct researches, master advanced technologies and learn foreign languages.” He underlined the importance of expanding the role of science and education. “Strategic tasks and goals set by the ‘State Strategy for Development of Education in the Republic of Azerbaijan’ define development trends in Azerbaijan`s education in accordance with the challenges of the 21st century. The average age of teaching and scientific staff at higher education institutions is high, and this prioritizes the training of young specialists,” said Jeyhun Bayramov. He highlighted the measures taken by the Ministry of Education to ensure development of science and education. The deputy Minister emphasized the necessity of building “such an education environment that will allow youth to fully realize their potential”. “Therefore the government pays special attention to highly intelligent young people, providing them with all the necessary opportunities so that they can fully realize their potential. In order to preserve the intellectual potential, the process of preparing highly qualified specialists is underway at leading higher education institutions both in the country and beyond.” Jeyhun Bayramov said: “Given the popularity of Thomson Reuters-indexed journals among the scientific community as well as in order to give Azerbaijani scientists and PhD students access to the company`s citation index and get scientometric data on the activity of Azerbaijani scientists, the Ministry of Education signed an agreement on cooperation with Thomson Reuters. Under the agreement, 40 higher education institutions in Azerbaijan received access to products and services of Thomson Reuters, including Web of Science®, the most comprehensive and versatile research platform available. In order to ensure recognition of Azerbaijan`s scientific achievements on an international scale and boost the research and publication activity of Azerbaijani scientists, the Ministry of Education plans to launch a competition to award authors whose papers are published in Thomson Reuters-indexed journals.” “Happy future of our independent Azerbaijan depends on the level of youth`s intelligence, and on their mastering national and universal values. Therefore I wish all of you success in addressing these important challenges.” The deputy Minister of Education also wished the conference success. Other speakers noted the significance of involving youth in researches, and hailed work done on this front in recent years. Twenty higher education institutions as well as Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences submitted a total of 650 theses to the two-day conference. Seventeen sections, including one on multiculturalism, headed by famous scientists were established to consider and discuss papers submitted by PhD students and young researchers. Materials of the conference will be published by Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry to be further circulated to participants. Materials of the scientific conference of PhD students and young researchers are on the list (of the Higher Attestation Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan) of papers whose scientific results are recommended to be published. After the plenary session, the conference featured panel sections.

25/05/2016 17:23

 “Museum week for school children” was held on May 18 on the occasion of International Museum Day. The event was organized by the Republican Ecological Education and Training Center in partnership with the Republican Center of Young Tourists and Local Lore of the Ministry of Education. Implemented from May 12 to May 18 by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in collaboration with the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve under the Cabinet of Ministers, the project was dedicated to the Year of Multiculturalism. The opening ceremony of the “Museum week” took place at Azerbaijan Carpet Museum on May 13. The program aimed to familiarize school children with collections of museums, exhibits reflecting different periods, and instill in them – through interactive excursions – respect for national and moral values as well as for representatives of different ethnicities, religions and cultures. Last year the project saw 7,000 pupils visit 15 museums in Baku. In view of high activity and interest of school children in museums this year excursions were organized for around 50,000 pupils to 25 museums in Baku and districts. May 18 is annually marked as International Museum Day. In 2016, the International Council of Museums marked this day under the slogan “Museums and cultural landscapes”.

25/05/2016 09:26

On May 23, Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov visited Doha in accordance with the “Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of education, higher education and scientific research between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the State of Qatar”, which was signed as part of the visit of the Emir of the State of Qatar to Azerbaijan this March. During the visit, Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov met with Qatari Minister of Education and Higher Education Mohammad bin Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi. They discussed the current state and prospects of educational cooperation between the two countries. Minister Mikayil Jabbarov highlighted educational reforms conducted in the country under “The State Strategy for the Development of Education in the Republic of Azerbaijan”. The Minister of Education visited Qatar University and Hamad bin Khalifa University and met with presidents of the two higher education institutions. They discussed cooperation in the field of education, and highlighted the importance of expanding collaboration and conducting joint researches. Minister Mikayil Jabbarov also visited Qatar Foundation and Education City, where he was informed of Qatar`s accomplishments and projects in the field of education. Mikayil Jabbarov signed the guest book.

25/05/2016 09:20

For the information of residents of Absheron, Gubadli, Zangilan districts and the city of Sumgayit. In accordance with May 2016 timetable of reception hours of government executives, Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov will receive residents of Absheron, Gubadli, Zangilan districts and the city of Sumgayit at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Khirdalan at 10.00 on May 26. IDPs with temporary residence in Absheron district and Sumgayit can also attend the reception. The citizens who want to attend may contact the Call Center of the Ministry of Education (hotline – 146) or register at http://edu.gov.az/az/contacts/request on May 23, 24, 25. Those registered are requested to present, upon their arrival, a written description of the issues they plan to raise during the reception.

24/05/2016 09:15

On May 20, a ceremony was held to award the winners of the Countrywide Performance Competition held among pupils and students of secondary and higher vocational schools. The main goal of the competition was to organize effective leisure of pupils and students of secondary and higher vocational schools, discover talented youth, and instill national and moral values in the younger generation. Launched on February 1, the competition featured three stages. The participants of the first stage were selected by the jury panels at secondary and higher vocational schools. The second, zonal stage, involved cities and districts across the country. Held in Ganja, Lankaran, Gabala, Aghjabadi, Shamakhi, Sumgait, Shirvan and Baku, this stage involved a total of 670 pupils and students representing 49 secondary vocational and 33 higher vocational schools. 61 pupils and students who ranked first in the zonal stage and finished as winners and runners-up in Baku qualified for the countrywide stage, which wrapped up on April 28. The countrywide stage saw 23 children rank first, 12 finish second and 18 take third place. The competition featured four nominations, including songs, tasnifs and folk songs, poems and dances. Jury panels consisting of renowned culture and arts figures were set up for every nomination in order to ensure transparency in the selection of winners. The winners were awarded certificates and valuable prizes by the Ministry of Education.

24/05/2016 09:12

Zonal competitions kicked off as part of the Countrywide School Chess Tournament. The main goal of the tournament is to promote the World Chess Olympiad, which will be held in Azerbaijan, among students, build close relations among school staff and effectively organize their leisure. This stage, which involves six zones (Baku, Ujar,Guba, Lankaran, Ganja, Oghuz), features winners of the regional competition. In general, 304 pupils in 76 teams compete in the zonal stage. Each team includes an 8th-grade schoolboy and schoolgirl, a parent and a teacher. The winners and runners-up in the zonal stage qualify for the final, which will be held in Baku on May 31.

23/05/2016 12:37