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Gubad Ibadoghlu
1. Overview of the national higher education system
At the beginning of the 2017/18 academic year, 167,677 thousand students were studying at
higher education institutions (HEIs) of the Republic of Azerbaijan (with the exception of foreign
students). This is 3,898 fewer students as compared to the 2016/17 academic year. In the
2017/18 academic year, 38.5 thousand students were registered for bachelor studies; 6.5
thousand students were registered for master studies. According to the State Statistics
Committee (SSC) data, in the last ten years
–2008 to 2018 – the number of students in the Republic of Azerbaijan increased by 37.2
thousand: in 2007/08, around 130 thousand students were studying at the HEIs all over the
country. As compared to 10 years ago, in the 2017/18 academic year, the number of students at
the HEIs increased by 25.8 percent.
In 2017/2018, the number of students in the public education institutions was 153.3 thousand
persons (in 2008/09, this figure was 108.2 thousand accounting for 82.9%) or 91.5% of the total
number of students. The remaining 14.3 thousand (8.5%) are students studying at private
institutions (in 2008/2009, their number was almost 20.6 thousand accounting for 15.1%).
Thus, in 2017/18, there were 171 students of higher education institutions per ten thousand
inhabitants on average with a decrease of two students as compared to the 2016/17
academic year.
The HEI network consists of 59 establishments, including 39 state-owned and 12 private ones.
The majority of the universities are situated in Baku, the country capital. In the 2017/18
academic year, 14.5 thousand teachers conducted their work at the higher education
institutions, 0.5% or 569 persons fewer as compared to the 2016/17 academic year. Out of this
staff, 6.7 thousand persons have an academic degree out of which 83.1% are doctors of science
and 16.9% are honoured doctors. The share of women in the total number of teachers is 51.8%.
In the current year, the budget for the education sector will be 2,285.9 million Azerbaijani
manats (AZN) (1.19 billion EUR), which represented 9.1% of the state budget expenditures
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; in
201 8 , this figure was 2,002 million AZN (1.02 billion EUR) representing 9.5% of the state
budget expenditures
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. Over the last 5 years – starting from 2015, – the budget for the education
sector varied between 8.1-9.1 of the state budget expenditures increasing each year in the
monetary terms by approx. 7%. In 2013 and 2014, the expenditures for the education sector
were in the amount of around 7.5-8.3% of the state budget expenditures.
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http://maliyye.gov.az/static/112/dovlet-ve-icmal-budceleri-uzre-vetendasin-budce-beledcisi
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http://budget.az/main?content=331
Higher Education System of Azerbaijan: Country Report
Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3458560
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2. Academic freedom
2.1. Legal aspects
The legal regulation of the Azerbaijani education system is carried out by the following laws and
regulations:
–
The Azerbaijan's Constitution of 1995 with the amendments as of 26 September 2016
–
Azerbaijan 2020: Look into the Future Development Roadmap (approved by a decree of the
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 29 December 2012)
–
The State Strategy for Development of Education in the Republic of Azerbaijan (signed by the
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Decree No. 24 of October 2013)
–
The Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Law (signed by the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan on 19 June 2009)
–
The State Standard and Programme of the Higher Education Level (approved by the Cabinet
of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, resolution No. 75 of 23 April 2010)
–
The Model Charter of Higher Education Institutions (approved by a resolution of the Cabinet
of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, resolution No. 9 of 21 January 2011)
–
The State Programme to Increase the International Competitiveness of the Higher Education
System in the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2019-2023 (approved by a decree of the President of
the Republic of Azerbaijan on 16 November 2018
In accordance with Article 42 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan everyone shall
have the right to education. Besides, Azerbaijan 2020: Look into the Future Development
Roadmap and the Strategy for Development of Education in Azerbaijan determine the purpose,
objectives, directions, instruments, and mechanisms of development of the education system in
the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The Strategy for Development of Education in Azerbaijan determines the objectives and
measures for the management of the education system in the framework of establishing an
efficient and transparent management model in education institutions, including:
–
administration of education institutions, academic, financial and organisational autonomy;
–
establishment of mechanisms for applying strategic management in education institutions;
–
ensuring that education institutions are administered publicly and with the participation of
stakeholders (Parent Teacher Association, Board of Governors, Board of Trustees etc.).
The legal analysis shows that the Azerbaijani legislation does not guarantee academic freedom.
The authorities have long linked academic freedom to political activity.
2.2. Political aspects
According to Article 4 (Educational Process and Public and Political Activity) of the Education of
the Republic of Azerbaijan Law, establishment and operation of the organisational structures of
political parties, socio-political movements at education institutions is not allowed. Despite the
fact that the Education Law clearly states that political activities at education institutions are
prohibited, branch offices of the ruling party (New Azerbaijan Party) are active at numerous state
higher education institutions.
Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3458560
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Deteriorating the general political situation, especially personal, civil, and political freedoms
have a negative impact on the academic freedom in Azerbaijan. According to the Freedom in the
World 2017 report, “the Aliyev regime continued to aggressively consolidate power at the
expense of citizens' political rights and civil liberties. The authorities have long linked academic
freedom to political activity. Some educators have reported being dismissed for links to
opposition groups, and students have faced expulsion and other punishments for similar
reasons. In July, the Education Ministry announced that Baku's Qafqaz University, founded by
Gülenists, would be closed and that its management would be transferred to the state-run Baku
Higher Oil School. The contracts of fifty Turkish academics from the institution were not
renewed”
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. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), a national teachers' union, raised its
concern over the crackdown against teachers in Azerbaijan
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due to their political affiliation.
Educators in Azerbaijan, along with many activists, are at the centre of a crackdown with several
teachers reportedly suspended for attending an opposition rally.
Loretta Johnson, the secretary and treasurer of the AFT, wrote in a letter to Azerbaijan's
President Ilham Aliyev on behalf of the 1.6 million members of the AFT. She wrote to express her
shock at learning about the Azerbaijani educators who were threatened with dismissal – and
then fired – for their political party affiliation.
3. Institutional autonomy
3.1. Organizational autonomy
Higher education institutions of all levels of education may be state (public) and private.
Education institutions have an equal status, regardless of ownership or founder's identity. The
government ensures development of all education institutions, including the private education
institutions, by providing them with credits, allocating grants, and granting concessions to state
education institutions in accordance with the laws.
Establishment and operation of education institutions, both state and private ones, is monitored
by the Ministry of Education and by the competent authorities. Any education institution should
receive a special permit (license) from the respective executive authority (Ministry of Economy)
under the current laws to provide education services. The state education institutions are issued
special permanent permits (license). Private education institutions founded by individuals and
legal entities of the Republic of Azerbaijan are issued special permits (licenses) for 5-year
periods.
Higher education is governed by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the
Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The Cabinet of Ministers determines the education strategy, supervises implementation of the
Education Law and the relevant legislative acts and documents as well as defines the regulations
for the establishment, restructuring and liquidation of higher education institutions. Moreover,
the Cabinet of Ministers establishes, restructures and closes vocational institutions as well as
51
http://www.refworld.org/docid/5936a46c13.html
U.S. teacher's union "shocked" by dismissal of educators for political views in Azerbaijan.
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http://www.turannews.info/ext/news/2017/5/free/Social/en/62187.htm
Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3458560
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approves the list of qualifications, education regulations and rules. It also makes certain
proposals on the development of the budget and funds for the development of education and
defines state standards for education funding as well as regulations for scholarship and salary
payment.
The Ministry of Education is the central executive body governing the education system of the
country. It participates in the development and implementation of the state policy for education.
19 out of 39 public higher education institutions of Azerbaijan are under the control of other
ministries and executive bodies of the government (Presidential Administration, Ministry of
Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Youth and
Sport, Ministry of Health, Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) State
Concern, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Emergency Situations,
State Border Service, State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), State Customs
Committee).
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According to Article 24 (İndependence of HEIs) of the Education in the Republic of Azerbaijan
Law, HEIs implement curricula that are fully relevant to the global standards and are registered
at the Ministry of Education. They independently apply effective and advanced methods of
teaching as well as research. Below 20% of the time provided for in the curriculum is freely used.
Taking into account the human potential, material and technical base, educational and research
achievements, autonomy is given to higher schools based on the rule. Universities with
autonomy have the following additional rights: to define the content of education, not below the
global standards; to define the student's (bachelor, master) and doctoral degree plans, taking
into account the state order; to freely provide academic degrees; the right of ownership to the
premises, material and technical base, land and other property in which the education
institution is located; to exercise the powers assigned to public administration bodies in
accordance with the statute. A higher education institution with autonomy may delegate its
individual powers to the governmental education authorities.
According to the Action Plans on implementation of the state programme on reforms in the
higher education system of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2009-2013, the Ministry of Education,
Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Economy, ministries which have
subordinate higher education institutions, universities should establish bodies (the board of
trustees, alumni association, development fund etc.) which facilitate development of higher
education institutions in 2010.⁶ However, this measure of the implementation plan has not been
carried out yet.
In accordance with Article 30.2 of the Education Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the head of
the state education institution is appointed by the relevant executive authority. The supreme
governing body of the state education institution is an academic and pedagogical council.
Establishment and operation of the academic and pedagogical councils shall be determined on
the basis of the statute approved by the relevant executive authority and the charter of the
education institution.
Public higher education institutions are governed by a rector appointed by the President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan upon recommendation by the Ministry of Education. Private higher
education institutions are governed by a rector appointed by the Board of Founders the
members of which may include the founders, trustees etc. of the institution. The Ministry of
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https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/sites/eacea-site/files/countryfiches_azerbaijan_2017.pdf
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Education directly appoints the vice rectors of the state universities upon recommendation by
the rector (except one)
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. Regularly, vice rectors at the state universities are appointed in the
following areas:
●
The vice rector for teaching and training technologies
●
The vice rector for research and innovations
●
The vice rector for administrative and organizational issues
●
The vice rector for work with students
●
The vice rector for economic affairs
●
The vice rector for general affairs
The management bodies of the state HEIs consists of the Rector, Rectorate, Departments,
Centres, Branches, Trade Union and Academic Council. The key decision-making institution of
the HEI is the rectorate which is presided over by the rector assisted by vice rectors, adviser(s)
and scientific secretary.
Heads of departments, centres, branches, the trade union are appointed by the rectors of the
HEIs. The Academic Council is governed by the Statute on the Academic Council of the Higher
Education Institution approved by the order of the Minister of Education of 10 November 1997
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.
According to article 1 of the Statute, the general management of the HEIs is carried out by the
Academic Council. According to Article 2, the Academic Council consists of the rector
(chairman) of the higher education institution, the vice rector for academic affairs, vice rectors,
academic secretaries, deans, directors of research institutes operating within the higher
education institution, the chair of collegiums (employees and students), department heads and
the chair of the Student Academic Society. The other members of the Academic Council amount
to 3-10% of the total number of the professors and teachers of higher education institutions. This
number is determined by the rector depending on the number of professors and teachers.
Candidates for the Academic Council are elected by secret ballot by the faculty members and
professors of each faculty. Additionally, up to 10% of the Academic Council's members may be
appointed by the head of the higher education institution (by the Rector).
Rectors, vice rectors, and deans are permanent and non-elected members of the Academic
Council. The term of the mandate is three years and is usually synchronized with that of the
rector. The term of the mandate of the Academic Council members from among students is one
year with the possibility of renewing it.
The head of a private higher education institution is appointed and dismissed by the founder.
Branches, faculties, departments, academic departments, libraries, research and testing
laboratories, relevant divisions for doctorate, additional education, registration offices, teaching
practice offices, sports facilities, educational theatres and studios, concert halls, exhibition halls,
catering institutions, servicing and other units of the HEIs are allowed to function.
Manufacturing, clinical, scientific-research, artistic institutions and organizations may be
established as part of the HEIs.
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The vice rector in charge of general affairs at the university is appointed by the National Security Service. One of his/her main
responsibilities is to conduct surveillance over all courses and research activities of teachers having independent and critical
thoughts like me, and based on these findings to prepare reports for the Service.
55
https://edu.gov.az/az/page/299/873
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3.2. Financial autonomy
The sources of income of the HEIs are as follows:
●
Public funds;
●
Income received from the fee-based education;
●
Profit gained by the universities from the services
●
Annual subsidies allocated by the foundations established by the university (only for private
HEIs);
●
Grants by legal entities and individuals, including foreign legal entities and individuals, as
well as international organisations, inherited resources, donations, sponsorship and other
aids;
●
Resources obtained from the sale or leasing of the physically and morally depreciated
equipment, vehicles and other property not suitable for education purposes in the ownership of
the university;
●
Other legal resources.
Public funds are allocated from the state budget directly to the HEIs. The Cabinet of Ministers of
the Republic of Azerbaijan governs the report on drafting and implementation of the state
budget. The drafting of the state budget and the budget discussions are conducted by the
Ministry of Finance of the Cabinet of Ministers while mid-term (for three years) macroeconomic
forecasts and the state investment programme are conducted by the Ministry of Economy.
Participation of the Ministry of Education in drafting the revenue section of the budget is
ensured. The budget is spent by the General Treasury Office of the Ministry of Finance. The state
budget is implemented by the relevant executive authorities, and organizations of these
authorities through the state treasury.
The authority to approve and amend the budget is at the discretion of the Parliament. In addition
to adoption of the budget for the next year, the Parliament also examines and approves the report
on implementation of the budget of the previous year. Financial control over appropriate use of
the budget funds is conducted by the Accounting Chamber of the Parliament.
The state budget comes into force and its implementation is started as of 1 January and ends on
31 December of each year. The leading role in preparing and spending of the budget is assigned to
the Ministry of Finance. The process of discussion and approval of the budget at the Parliament
in Azerbaijan is formal. The Parliament generally does not make any considerable amendments
to the budget drafted by the Ministry of Finance, discussed by the Cabinet of Ministers, and
submitted by the President. Minor amendments which are made in the course of the discussion
at the Parliament have the characteristics of imitation.
Participation of the Cabinet of Ministers in the budget process is also nominal but not real. The
key real authority in the budget process is at the discretion of the Presidential Administration
and the Ministry of Finance.
According to the Single Budget Classification of the Cabinet of Ministers, the functional
structure of the education budget is as follows:
●
Expenditures for pre-school and primary school education
●
Expenditures for incomplete and complete secondary education
●
Expenditures for boarding schools and special schools
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4
●
Expenditures for technical vocational training, high school and specialised secondary
education
●
Higher education expenditures
●
Expenditures for programmes and services in relation to education
●
Other services in the field of education.
Azerbaijan's public spending on education is very low. The education expenditures will
constitute 9.1% of the total expenditures which is 1.3 percent higher in comparison with the
current year. Hence, the education expenditures in 2019 will amount to 1.34 billion US dollars or
2.286 billion AZN. The main expenditure growth is observed in the general education
expenditures. 52.8% of the total education expenditures overall are allocated to general
education. Higher education expenditures continue to decline. At present, higher education
institutions shift to the self-financing scheme; hence, only 2% of the total education
expenditures or 27.1 million US dollars (46.1 million AZN) will be allocated to the HEIs.
According to the Model Charter of Higher Education Institutions, income and resources
obtained by the university are allocated to the development of research and education,
establishment of a permanent fund, libraries, library facilities, student scholarships,
professional development and monetary incentives of the academic, pedagogical and
administrative staff.
Financing of the HEIs is implemented in accordance with financial norms defined for each
education level. These norms are determined by considering the amount of cost defined for each
student and in accordance with resolution of the Cabinet of Ministries of the Republic of
Azerbaijan No. 120 of 25 June 2010 to approve implementation of the new financing mechanism
at the higher education institutions. However, at the same time, the university independently
determines the areas for expenditure of the income and resources it has obtained, defines the
specific weight of the allocations for monetary incentives of the university employees and can
establish foundation for the social security of its employees.
İn accordance with the model charter, the university is a legal entity; it has its own independent
balance sheet, property in its ownership and disposal, treasury and bank accounts.
Currently, two public legal entities of the Ministry of Education (Baku State University and
Azerbaijan State University of Economics), the HEIs under the control of other ministries and
executive bodies of the government and private HEIs have the right and freedom to accumulate,
transfer, and distribute financial resources in the internal level according to their responsibility
to ensure the quality of education in line with the statutory principles. Over the last years, the
financial sources of the higher education system (HES) were diversified, thus reducing the
dependence on public financing. Also, the universities were allowed to open bank accounts so
that the management of financial resources is done via bank accounts and not via the Treasury.
Buildings and properties in/on which the public higher education institutions carry out their
activities are part of the public domain and may not be transferred and privatised. However, the
public HEIs have the right to buy using their own resources or other legal resources immovable
and movable assets, properties or any other assets necessary for their work. Once bought, they
become the property of the public HEIs. The assets of the public HEIs may be leased, rented out
or may be sold provided that the revenue obtained will be used for development of the
institution.
Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3458560
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3.3. Staffing autonomy
The teaching staff can be hired in the HES based on Article 50 (Regulation of Labour Relations
concerning Positions Occupied by Competition) of the Code of Labour of the Republic of
Azerbaijan.
According to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan of 21 June 2017, two
HEIs – Baku State University and Azerbaijan State University of Economics – have been granted
the status of a public legal entity of the Ministry of Education. Only public legal entities (Baku
State University and Azerbaijan State University of Economics) and private HEIs determine
their own number of teachers with whom they may sign short-term or long-term contracts.
In the case of other state HEIs, the number of staff and any change in the number of staff should
be approved by the Ministry of Finance.
There are no special programmes for the initial education of future academic staff in the higher
education system. Likewise, there are no requirements concerning particular subjects during
studies, such as psychology, pedagogy, teaching methodology or other education related
subjects. Admission criteria to the higher education institutions for those planning to pursue an
academic career are equivalent to those anticipated for any other student applying for a higher
education programme. Typically, a PhD degree is required for those applying for academic staff
positions, although persons with master degree may apply for some positions. Research work
and the publication of research papers are highly valued for students aiming for academic career.
According to these regulations, every five years, all teaching positions (assistant professor;
university lecturer; senior university lecturer; associate professor; university professor) are
declared vacant and should be occupied on the competitive basis. Nevertheless, the HEIs are
very limited in setting staff salaries and should comply with the existing legal framework. Most
often, the institution's own income is spent on infrastructure and salaries. The ratio between
self-provided income and that coming from the state budget largely varies from one higher
education institution to another. No freedom exists in establishing incentive payments and
awards.
The requirement system at both private and public HEIs is based on the interview and
competition procedures. The HEIs sign contracts for the appointed period of traineeship with
the academic staff who pass the interview. Upon successful completion of this period, the
academic staff has the right to participate in the competition to fill in vacant positions at
the HEIs.
Professors and doctors of science may take part in the competition to fill in the positions of
professors, associate professors, doctors of science and candidates of science may take part in the
competition to fill in the positions of associate professors. A doctor of science having years of
research and pedagogical experience or highly qualified specialists with higher education
(master degree) with five years of research and pedagogical or work experience and published
research and methodology works may generally take part in the competition to fill in the
positions of senior lecturers. Candidates of science with at least one year of the research and
pedagogical or the work experience in their major as well as highly-qualified specialists with
higher education (master degree) with three years of research and pedagogical or work
experience and published research and methodology works may take part in the competition to
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fill in the positions of teachers and assistants. Specialists who graduated from full-time doctoral
studies who successfully completed assistantship internship, graduated from a higher education
institution with distinction and are research-oriented as well as trainee teachers may be
appointed for the period of three years maximum. The positions are filled in by competition in
accordance with these regulations upon expiration of the term.
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Positions of deans and heads of departments are elective and can be filled in by competition for a
five-year period. A resolution on employment and filling in teaching positions is passed by open
vote by the Academic Council of the education institution and is announced publicly.
Execution or termination of contracts with the teachers is done based on the provisions of the
Labour Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan
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. According to the Code, employees with doctor of
science degrees, directors and their research assistants, academic secretaries at research
institutes, and the research departments of higher education institutions shall be eligible to a
vacation of 56 calendar days per year and employees with academic degrees of candidates of
science, directors, and their research assistants, academic secretaries of research institutes, and
the research departments of higher educational institutions shall be eligible to a vacation of 56
calendar days per year.
3.4. Academic autonomy
The Education Law formally introduced the European Credit Transfer System, a three-cycle
system of study and a diploma supplement. As a result, from the 2009/2010 academic year, all
newly admitted students have studied under the reformed study programmes at all higher
education institutions.
The Rules on Organizing the Credit System Education at Bachelor and Master Levels of Higher
Education Institutions were approved by decree of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 348 of 24
December 2013. The authority responsible for certification is the higher education institution.
Upon completion of the first level of higher education, the student receives a diploma with
his/her relevant professional title, average degree and the number of ECTS earned. The Ministry
of Education provides the forms of the diploma and the academic transcripts to the HEIs. The
student also receives a diploma supplement, which contains information regarding the level,
type and content of the studies successfully finished.
Higher education is divided into three levels: the first level (bachelor studies), the second level
(master studies), and the third level (PhD studies). All those who have obtained a secondary
education certificate have the right to apply for an admission to the higher education
institutions. No privileges are given to students for an admission to the higher education
institutions (with the exception of the winners of international Olympiads and other similar
high-level competitions). Graduates of the secondary and/or vocational schools or colleges who
have been awarded the relevant diploma of completion (or the certificate of secondary
education) may also apply for admission to the universities (for bachelor studies). Admission
is carried out on the basis of the central examinations set by the State Student Admission
Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Students applying for programmes requiring
special talents (such as sports, arts) have to take an additional examination in relevant areas.
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Overview of the Higher Education System Azerbaijan, https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/sites/eacea-
site/files/countryfiches_azerbaijan_2017.pdf
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The Labour Code has been approved by the Approval, Enforcement and Related Legal Regulation Issues
of the Labour Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 618-IQ of 1 February 1999.
Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3458560
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The admission plan is drawn up by the Ministry of Education. However, the relevant
procedures and requirements for admission are prepared by the State Student Admission
Commission. This Commission also sets forth the admission procedures and structure and
implements the admission of Azerbaijani students to the different levels of higher education
based on their results at the centralised entrance examinations. It also makes a decision
on the admission regulations and rules for entrance examinations, monitors application
procedures, submits regular reports on admission to the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, issues statistical data on the admission results etc.
The Government is the agency establishing annually the enrolment plans which include the
places subsidized from the state budget for all cycles of studies, and the maximum number of
enrolment for commercial places. Still, the number of places for enrolment is proposed by each
HEI, beginning with the capacity of the institution, which further is modified to a certain extent
following the examination carried out by the Government.
Upon completion of the undergraduate studies, students may apply for admission to the
postgraduate studies. Examinations are set by the State Student Admission Commission of the
Republic of Azerbaijan. The further studies to which a student applies should correspond to
his/her educational background at Bachelor level.
Self-evaluation and internal quality assurance of academic programmes, teaching and work
conditions are defined by the general act of each higher education institution. Only some HEIs in
Azerbaijan have quality assurance departments. The higher education institution defines its own
internal documents and procedures required for internal quality assurance.
The curriculum in Azerbaijan is set forth at the national level. The curriculum is designed by the
experts of the specialties who are selected by the Ministry of Education for the working groups at
the national level. The authority responsible for approval of the curricula is the Ministry of
Education as well. The curricula include compulsory and optional subjects. Optional subjects are
defined by the higher education institutions concerned. They include academic disciplines,
research methodologies and techniques. There are also a number of international curricula
implemented upon the approval of the Ministry of Education.
4. Academic integrity
There is no comprehensive research, no studies or surveys to establish or examine the extent of
plagiarism and academic integrity at the HEIs of Azerbaijan. Despite the academic integrity
plays an essential part in maintaining the integrity of the university, only some universities
approved a policy in this regard. These universities struggle with them because they do not
wantthe name of the university to be associated with dubious personalities. Other universities
close their eyes to this, claiming that there is no plagiarism at their university.
The first policy in the fight against plagiarism was implemented by the Azerbaijan University of
Tourism and Management, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Azerbaijan State
Economic University, Azerbaijan Technical University, Khazar University and others.
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They
implement anti-plagiarism procedures for checking and evaluating student and research papers
58
https://plagiat.pl/en/blog/2018/01/29/azerbaijan-begins-the-fight-against-plagiarism-in-the-education-system/
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as to presence of plagiarism. According to the university policy on academic honesty
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, students'
rights are accompanied by certain duties and responsibilities which should be respected by
them. Students are expected to recognize and uphold high standards of intellectual and
academic integrity. As a basic standard of conduct in academic matters, the university assumes
that students submit for credit only the products of their own efforts. All dishonest work is
rejected. Any of the following kinds of infringement is strictly forbidden and will, if proven, be
penalised: plagiarism, cheating, unauthorised collaboration, falsification, and multiple
submissions. The university policy is to retain ownership and any rights to discoveries,
innovations, and inventions, including computer software made by students, faculty, and staff
with the use of the university facilities. Following the standards of academic conduct, rights and
responsibilities are essential for all the members of the university academic community,
including the faculty.
In general, the main issue is the absence of an appropriate legal framework. Azerbaijan has
appropriate laws in the field of intellectual property protection. The Copyright Agency of the
Republic of Azerbaijan is active in the country, highly qualified specialists work there. In April
2016, the Agency hosted a “roundtable” on academic plagiarism where there was an open
discussion, and the university rectors shared the experience and technologies used in the fight
against plagiarism. In spite of the existence of intellectual property protection in Azerbaijan, the
concept of plagiarism has recently entered the Education Law of Azerbaijan. An amendment was
adopted to the Education Law requiring to begin the universal verification of student works on
plagiarism while using the information technology corresponding to certain minimum
standards.
It means that Azerbaijan requires appropriate bylaws, decrees, resolutions on which the rectors
could rely. Another important factor is the lack of a code of academic integrity, not the use of
disciplinary measures, and the insufficient use of information technology in the academic
process.
In the CIS countries, there was a wave of reforming science and cleansing it from bureaucracy
and Soviet practices, providing a broad autonomy and responsibility to the universities
themselves to decide who to award academic degrees to and who not. Unfortunately, this process
didn't happen in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has not moved to the PhD system although this would
solve many problems. So far confirmation and justification of the doctoral degree is centralised
by the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
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.
This organisation is the governmental agency specialising in the field of attestation of high
research and research and pedagogical personnel and in charge of the governmental policy in
this field. The HAC implements expertise of works received from the research (research,
research and production) companies (organisations, associations) and higher education school
related to the research degree (PhD, DPhil) in all areas of science, technology, education, culture
and art and conferring of academic titles (associate professor and professor). The relevant
research degrees and titles are conferred to the candidates whose works meet the requirements
of the academic degrees and titles as well as the relevant diplomas and certificates are provided
by the HAC.
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http://www.khazar.org/en/menus/173/academic_honesty
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http://www.aak.gov.az/
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The Higher Attestation Commission should implement the complex measures to fight against
plagiarism, the creation of a depository of doctoral dissertations, the integration into a common
network with university repositories. It would also be correct if the HAC published dissertations
on its website. But the HAC of Azerbaijan uses an anti-plagiarism system that in effect is
engaged in rewriting, copies the papers of some authors and sells them to others doing it openly
on their website.
5. Corruption in higher education
Corruption in Azerbaijan is endemic and systematic: it is present at all levels and areas of the
society, including the education system. Endemic corruption and bribery in the education
system is another factor leading to strengthening of central administration and strictly
diminishing the autonomy of higher education institutions. The government recognises the
existence of corrupt practices in the management of human resources in education, namely
bribing and nepotism in selection, hiring and promotion, arbitrary dismissals, and violation of
labour rights of education employees.
There are several issues related to the widespread corruption in the education system.
Azerbaijan's public spending on education is very low. Insufficient public expenditures on
education translate into inadequate salaries for teachers. The average monthly salary for
employees in the education system was 307 AZN ($ 108.6) in 2016. These low salaries for
teachers and faculty make them disinterested in the quality of the education and lead to
corruption. Teachers are inclined to accept bribes to pay for their costs. A common public
tutoring phenomenon is for example that teachers ask additional payment for the materials they
are supposed to teach them in class. As a result, the quality of public education deteriorates.
Another consequence of the low salaries is that most of the students of state universities,
especially of the medical university, pay bribes for good grades.
Low public expenditures on education also create issues regarding access to education services.
As public spending on education declines, families must supplement educational expenses
themselves, a burden that is greatest for low income and poor families. According to a World
Bank report
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, the richest 20% of the population consistently spend nearly 40% of their private
spending on education while the poorest 20% spends only approximately 10% on education.
Lastly, there is lack of transparency and accountability in the education system. An example of
this is the sale of school uniforms for too high prices by school managers, a practice which occurs
regularly in Azerbaijan.
Corrupt practices at universities which had roots in the later years of the Soviet period became
more common during the early years of independence. Bribery was often practiced in student
admission to universities and in obtaining diplomas. Four branches of the Azerbaijan Institute of
Teachers were closed due to the alleged corrupt practices in 2014-2015. Hence, newly emerging
private universities became alternatives for corrupt state institutions. Limited funds also urged
universities to start charging student fees and establishing new educational programmes. To
fight corruption, Azerbaijan was the first former Soviet Union country to introduce standardized
testing in the university admission process in 1992 The State Commission for Student
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Admission (SSAC) was established as the major administrative body for these tests. The SSAC
operates independently from the Ministry of Education (MoE) and reports directly to the
President. Currently, the SSAC administers school graduation exams, organises bachelor and
master admission examinations for both private and public HEIs, and implements student
placement at the HEIs.
A report of the international transparency organisation published on January 29 indicates that
in 2018 Azerbaijan was ranked 152 among 180 (down 30) in the Corruption Perceptions Index-
2018. Previous reports of Transparency International noted that in 2017 Azerbaijan was ranked
122; 123 in 2016; 119 in 2015.
According to the report of the OECD on the Fourth Round of Monitoring of the Istanbul Anti-
Corruption Action Plan 2016
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, in Azerbaijan, the education sector is perceived to be vulnerable
to integrity violations. The recent anticorruption reforms represent a positive step forward in
responding to the integrity challenges. The development, implementation, monitoring, and
assessment of anti-corruption policies should be more transparent and evidence-based, and
provide for broader civil society engagement.
According to the alternative reports by the NGOs, awareness raising and education are
insufficient in Azerbaijan
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. TI Azerbaijan notes that a more comprehensive and targeted
approach is needed, cooperation with the civil society should be broadened and businesses
should be one of the target groups
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. Anti-corruption is not part of the education curriculum in
Azerbaijan. The alternative monitoring report concludes that although anti-corruption
education in higher and secondary education is crucial from the point of view of developing a
culture against corruption, this has not been accomplished by Azerbaijan
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.
6. Inclusiveness in higher education
According to Article 5 (Guarantee of the Right to Education by State) of the Education in the
Republic of Azerbaijan Law, the state secures creation of equal opportunities for each citizen
and doesn't tolerate any discrimination, regardless of the individual's gender, race, language,
religion, political views, nationality, social status, background, and state of health. The state
guarantees equal opportunities for men and women in recruitment to all education institutions,
regardless of their type of ownership, appointing to or election to positions, stimulating and
awarding the labour, admission of the learners to education institutions, providing them with
scholarships, selection of curricula and majors, assessment of knowledge, providing the
graduates with jobs, continuing education at the next level, furthering the major etc.
Currently, there are no programmes and/or strategies at the national level to regulate and/or
promote increasing of access to higher education for persons from socially vulnerable groups or
for national minorities.
Over the last 10 years, during the 2007/08-2017/18 academic years, female students in the
gender structure of the students increased from 61,172 to 80,827. In the 2017/18 academic year,
the share of the female students in the total number of students accounted for 48.2 percent.
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http://www.oecd.org/corruption/anti-bribery/OECD-ACN-Azerbaijan-Round-4-Monitoring-Report-ENG.pdf
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http://transparency.az/alac/files/ENG%20%20A5.pdf
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TI National Integrity System (2014) available at: http://goo.gl/aRWHSE
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Constitution Research Foundation (2015) Implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan for 2012- 2015,
September 2013 – December 2014 available at: http://goo.gl/CG3WMe
Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3458560
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The female students are a majority in the field of humanities: in the 2017/18 academic year, 41
percent of 80,827 female students studied education, 14.2 percent humanities, 14.1 percent
economics and management, 11 percent technics and technology. While the male students are a
majority in the field of science: architecture and construction (~70%), engineering (~80%),
information and communication technologies (~85%). It is impossible to make a comparative
analysis with 2009, as there is no aggregate data in this respect.
In the 2017/18 academic year, 14,569 thousand persons were employed at the higher education
institutions (key staff). The share of women in the total staff number was 51.8%, 51.1% at public
HEIs and 48.9 % at private HEIs.
In all other teaching and research positions – university professor, senior researcher etc. – men
are a majority. The administrative and governing positions at the HEIs are occupied mostly by
men. For instance, out of 59 rectors of higher education institutions, only 8 are women, the
remaining 51 are men.
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7. Conclusions
In the last decade, the HEIs in the Republic of Azerbaijan face some major challenges and issues.
The most important issues include: a) significant centralisation; b) the Soviet-style management
system, c) low salaries in the education system; d) corruption and lack of transparency; e) and,
last but not least, slow and poor reforms in the field.
Although the whole education system of Azerbaijan was left broken after the collapse of the
Soviet Union and its official Communist ideology, harmonisation of the national system with the
European one has not been finalised yet; still the authorities have long linked academic freedom
to political activity; institutional autonomy and integrity has not been fully consolidated yet,
academic freedom at higher education institutions, including private universities, is at a very low
level or almost absent. Academic freedom as well as the autonomy of universities should not be
directly proportional to their quality in research and education. Unfortunately, no higher
education institution in Azerbaijan has been able to incorporate academic freedom into its
education policy.
Azerbaijan's education system is inherited from the Soviet Union. A majority of teachers,
especially at the university level, are of the old generation, trained during the Soviet period and
lacking any knowledge other than the one provided by the outdated Soviet literature. Since there
is no option to choose or drop a course, as is the case in Western education systems, students end
up sitting and listening to outdated lectures, and then have to pass irrelevant examinations.
Some representatives of the younger generation who studied in Western countries currently
teach at the university level. However, in most cases, they are overwhelmed by the workload and
are often marginalised, especially at public universities. The deans are not selected but
appointed, and not for their educational credentials, but for their loyalty to the corrupt system of
which they are ardent representatives themselves. Even the student unions should be loyal to
this system, thus instead of representing the students, they become the representatives of this
corrupt system.
The HEIs are not sufficiently adapted either to modern learning or to responding to the demands
of people with special education needs. The availability of books and other educational materials
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Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3458560
is still a big problem. Because of the language barrier, books in English or other Western
languages stay inaccessible to a majority of students.
Finally, due to the low quality of higher education, Azerbaijan does not currently have any
universities in the overall Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
8. Recommendations
A. Strengthen the de-centralisation of the fiscal, curricula and administrative regulatory
system, develop corporate governance in university management, involve various stakeholders
(civil society, think tanks, business, media etc.) in the HEIs' governance system and increase
student participation in the decision-making process.
B. Enhance the transparency and accountability of the university budget and the higher
education institutions' financial management system
C. Organise vocational training for university teachers regularly, increase the salary, social
security benefits, health and safety for higher-education teaching personnel through an increase
of the budget for education.
D. Enhance the freedom of teaching and discussion, freedom in carrying out research and
disseminating and publishing the results thereof, freedom to express freely their opinion about
the institution or system.
E. Improve the legal and regulatory base of the management of higher education
institutions to consider the Lima Declaration on Academic Freedom and Autonomy of
Institutions of Higher Education adopted by the World University Service in September 1988
and Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel adopted
by the UNESCO on 11 November 1997.
F. Struggle corruption, bribery, nepotism and kinship at the HEIs
G. Strengthen fighting against plagiarism by creating a database of dissertations and a
comprehensive examination of dissertations for plagiarism.
H. Develop and affirm policies and values by the standard inclusion of the academic integrity
policy on all syllabi and education programmes.
Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3458560