Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov met Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Azerbaijan Tsuguo Takahashi on February 13. Ambassador Takahashi said he is completing his diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan. Minister Jabbarov hailed the ambassador`s role in expanding educational ties between Azerbaijan and Japan. They discussed the current state and prospects of Azerbaijan-Japan relations in the field of education.

14/02/2017 09:30

SABAH Career Academy was presented at the Ministry of Education on February 9. Participants in the event included deputy Minister of Education Firudin Qurbanov, employees of SABAH Groups project, official partners of the academy and media representatives. SABAH Career Academy aims to help SABAH alumni with career exploration. Head of SABAH Groups Executive Committee Shahin Seyidzade said the academy will provide services in four areas: professional career, master`s study, entrepreneurship, and research. He said SABAH Groups students have gained experience in a variety of areas. Shahin Seyidzade said last academic year saw more than 600 SABAH students in 44 specializations have practical experience in 38 public and private organizations. Deputy Minister of Education Firudin Qurbanov said: “SABAH Groups project contributes to building the content of personality-centered education and improving the quality of higher education, the priorities set by the State Education Development Strategy.” He highlighted individual and professional development opportunities created in order to help young people build successful careers. Firudin Qurbanov also noted the role of cooperation with public and private organizations in preparation of highly-educated, skilled and well-prepared specialists. President of Azercell Telecom Vahid Mursaliyev and head of Science and Education Department of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Aminagha Sadiqov drew the audience`s attention to their organizations` contribution to the development of Azerbaijani youth, preparation of specialists meeting labour market requirements, and the organization of practical experience for SABAH students. SABAH Career Academy program will feature SABAH Career Winter School in Quba on February 17-20. The project aims to improve skills of last year SABAH students needed to start a successful career. Winter School will involve nearly 100 students who will receive trainings on career planning, personal branding, CV and resume writing, interviewing and presentation skills, etc. The event featured the awarding of certificates to partner companies and SABAH students – recipients of Azercell scholarships and residents of Barama Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center. SABAH project is designed to improve quality in higher education and prepare specialists meetings modern standards. SABAH groups now enroll more than 2300 students in 45 specializations in 11 higher education institutions. More than 740 SABAH students will graduate this academic year.

10/02/2017 09:27

“Maarifçi” Student Loan Fund, Ministry of Education and World Bank co-organized “Activity of “Maarifçi” Student Loan Fund and student loan program in Azerbaijan” event on February 8. Participants in the event included Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov, parliament members, heads of higher education institutions, representatives of state and private organizations, local and international education experts, and media representatives. The event aimed to study the international experience in student loan provision and encourage cooperation in the field. Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov said that launched last year, “Maarifçi” Student Loan Fund is Azerbaijan`s first experience in providing loans for students, noting the importance of cooperation with international organizations. The minister said this initiative contributed to the establishment of the first student loan mechanism in the country. Mikayil Jabbarov hailed activity of “Maarifçi” Student Loan Fund as a success, saying the number of partner universities is growing. He also emphasized the importance of the event, saying it paves the way for new experience. The World Bank Country Manager for Azerbaijan Naveed Hassan, education expert Christian Aedo said student loans promote access to higher education. They said the World Bank hails Azerbaijan`s experience in this field as innovative. Executive Director of “Maarifçi” Student Loan Fund Rufat Mahmud said loan agreements were signed with 103 students last year. He said the fund already announced its third loan session. Experts of the World Bank and International Finance Corporation Bruce Chapman and Alejandro Caballero highlighted different models in the field of student loan provision. They expressed the readiness of the World Bank and International Finance Corporation for cooperation with Azerbaijan in this area. Other speakers hailed the role of “Maarifçi” Student Loan Fund in broadening access to higher education. An initiative of the Ministry of Education, “Maarifçi” Student Loan Fund was founded by 10 state higher education institutions. The fund aims to create equal higher education opportunities for students from low-income families, who experience problems with paying their tuition fees, through granting long-term low-interest loans to them. The fund maintains cooperation with 14 universities in Azerbaijan.

09/02/2017 11:21

Electronic applications opened on February 6 for transfer of students and change of their specialization in higher education institutions both in the country and abroad. This academic year saw the introduction of a novelty in student transfer system as starting from February 7 students at vocational education institutions can also apply for transfer through transfer.edu.az portal. Applications close on February 14. A joint project of the Ministry of Education and State Examination Center, transfer.edu.az portal aims to facilitate and ensure transparency of student transfer. Transfer.edu.az gives students the opportunity to choose an educational institution they want to transfer to. Students should first check if they meet transfer criteria. Student transfer takes place during winter and summer vacations by consent of the Ministry of Education. To be eligible for transfer, students` score at the entrance exam held by the State Examination Center must not be lower that the passing mark for their discipline at the university they intend to transfer to. Students` disciplines at their current university and the university they want to transfer to must be in the same specialization group. Students at non-accredited foreign higher education institutions are not allowed to apply for transfer. Students will be at an advantage if their higher education institution is among the world`s top-ranking universities. Foreigners and stateless people are not eligible for student transfer. Launched in August 2016, transfer.edu.az has processed a total of 241 applications, with 83 of them approved.

08/02/2017 10:08

Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov received residents of Khizi, Siyazan, Shabran, Quba, Qusar and Khachmaz districts at the Heydar Aliyev Center in the city of Shabran on February 6. In accordance with February 2017 timetable of reception hours of government executives, internally displaced persons with temporary residence in Khizi, Siyazan, Shabran, Quba, Qusar and Khachmaz districts also attended the reception. The issues raised by citizens at the reception included recruitment and transfer of teachers from one school (district) to another, reinstatement, application of encouraging measures for young teachers, construction, repair and heating supply of school buildings, and other issues. The minister listened to citizens` requests, 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.

07/02/2017 15:26

Head office of the Baku City Circuit (BCC) Operations Company hosted the opening of a newly established academy for volunteer activities on February 2. Addressing the opening ceremony, head of Human Resources Department at BCC, director of the new academy Irana Ahmadova said the main goal of the project is to provide professional training for volunteers who will be involved in the organization of Formula 1 race due to take place in Azerbaijan. She said personal growth of volunteers has always been the focus of attention. Irana Ahmadova said the academy will provide trainings for developing volunteers` goal setting capabilities, improving their communication, leadership and project management skills. Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov said only local specialists are involved in the volunteer training program. Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov said the main goal set is to raise a highly-qualified young generation in the country. “The main task facing us is to raise a knowledgeable and innovative young generation that would preserve national values and be ready for global integration.

03/02/2017 14:19

The Institute of Education has held “School self-evaluation and quality assurance in education” workshop for school principals under the European Union` TAIEX program. The workshop aimed to ensure quality of education in schools, discuss the system and process of school self-evaluation, and share successful experience. The two-day workshop was attended by employees of the Ministry of Education, more than 40 Baku school principals, and education managers from a number of districts. The workshop was conducted by Donald Rolls from the United Kingdom, John Vierda from the Netherlands, and Charlotte Cassar from Malta. The workshop featured the exchange of views with international education experts on several aspects of school self-evaluation, including leadership and management, teaching and learning, quality assurance and inspection. The workshop also saw the discussion in working groups of professional standards for school principals and teachers, performance evaluation tools, development of school development plan, inspection, and data collection.

03/02/2017 14:18

For the attention of citizens! The Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan does not maintain cooperation with and is not responsible for activity of any Hungary-funded educational company under “The 2015-2017 Working Program between the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Human Capacities of Hungary”, which was signed on 11 November, 2014. We also note that any promise given to applicants by any company or person will not matter during selection. Those who face such a problem are requested to report to the Ministry of Education through its 146 hot line. Given the reports on scholarship programs spread by different media and social networks, we advise pupils and students who want to get higher education in Hungary as well as their parents to refer to the website of the Ministry of Education as the main and authoritative source of information.

30/01/2017 13:56

STEP IT Academy will organize “Golden Byte-2017” international IT championship. The championship aims to encourage the development of the information technologies sector, discover talented youth, help them come into direct contact with acclaimed specialists, and support projects of creative youth. Supported by the Ministry of Education, this year Azerbaijani youth will compete in the championship for the first time. The championship will feature the following nominations: software design, system administrators, mobile applications, innovative projects, creation of video games, creation of game characters, web-design, short film, databases, and a competition for children aged 10-17.  The championship will include three stages. Applications can be submitted at http://goldenbyte.org/ru/ starting from February 15. Partners of “Golden Byte” championship are Microsoft, InterSystems, Intel, Dell, Stearling Studio companies. Held nine times, the championship has seen 24,000 participants from countries like Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Estonia submit more than 6000 works so far.

24/01/2017 09:32

A meeting was held at the Ministry of Education with employees of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Agency for Development of Professional Communities and Skilled Workers, and Azerbaijan office of the Russian Information and Culture Center. The meeting focused on the development of vocational and secondary education as well as WorldSkills movement. Participants of the meeting discussed vocational and secondary education system in Azerbaijan and Russia, and prospects for its development. The event featured presentations on the monitoring and evaluation of the quality of the development of skilled workers in accordance with WorldSkills movement and WorldSkills Russia standards. The participants also discussed the exchange of experience and knowledge between specialists of the two countries. A group of students at Azerbaijani vocational education institutions were invited to WorldSkills Russia championship to be held on May 17-19. The sides reached agreement, under which Azerbaijan will benefit from Russia`s experience with the aim of joining WorldSkills movement and competing in WorldSkills championship.

23/01/2017 09:29