Azerbaijan’s Education Ministry is planning to increase funds for Azerbaijani students who study abroad by 30 percent. In parallel, the number of foreign students studying in Azerbaijan has increased thanks to programs such as oil studies.
Novosti Azerbaiajn reports that Education Minister Mr. Misir Mardanov has announced that the funds allocated to Azerbaijani students studying abroad will be increased from 7 million AZM (8.7 million USD) to 10 million AZM this year.
According to the Minister, currently over 10,000 Azerbaijani students are studying abroad, only 500 of whom on presidential scholarships. Azerbaijanis study mainly in the United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey, France, Russia, South Korea, the Netherlands, the U.S., Canada and Sweden. There are plans to develop ties with Japan, Malaysia and other countries.
The Ministry is also working on a new program that will allow these students to familiarize themselves with the employment market in Azerbaijan to ease their repatriation upon completion of their studies.
Mr. Mardanov has also announced that the ministry has considered and rejected the idea of a property pledge that would be confiscated if a student on state scholarship did not return to Azerbaijan.
On the same subject, according to Trend Azerbaijani news agency, Vice-minister of Education Mr. Elmar Gasimov has told journalists that by 2015 up to 5,000 students will study at foreign universities with the support of the State.
The Language Barrier
In an interview that Today.az Azerbaijani online magazine, Mr. Elmar Gasimov has provided additional interesting information. Excerpts follow:
Q: Do students have to return back to Azerbaijan once they complete studies?
A: According to the state program, the candidates are required to fulfill a number of conditions. One of them is a contract under which every young man studying abroad should return home after graduation and work at the government’s appointment for 5 years.
Q: Education experts argue that young people wishing to continue their education abroad do not always meet parameters of the state program. Is it true?
A: Not all individuals may further their education abroad for several reasons. Not only high exam scores, but also knowledge of foreign language at the academic level is very important. This is a prerequisite for all candidates.
In other words, only students with high scores are eligible to participate in the contest. The candidate is required to know the language of the country he/she is going to study. Unfortunately, many students cannot pass the competition because they do not have proper command of a foreign language.
Ministry of Education intends to solve this problem. The ministry will organize training courses for students to study English and German languages.
Q: Which country accounts for largest number of students in Azerbaijan?
A: Nearly 7,000 students study in Azerbaijan at the moment. Up to 1,200 foreign students studied in Azerbaijan in 1999-2000 while the same number of foreign students study only in the Baku State University at present.
Vast majority of student are educated on a fee basis in the BSU, Economic, Medical, Pedagogical universities and the Oil Academy. Turkish citizens make up majority. But in recent years Azerbaijan has hosted students also from China, India, Russia and Pakistan.
Q: What is the reason for inflow of foreign students to Azerbaijan?
A: This points to a stable economic and political situation in Azerbaijan. The country’s image has increased in the world in recent years and young people from other countries now are more interested in Azerbaijan. Moreover, they can learn specializations in Azerbaijan’s colleges and universities that enjoy great popularity abroad. In particular, it concerns the oil sector.
Q: Are diplomas issued by Azerbaijan to foreign students recognized back in their countries?
A: Azerbaijan has an agreement with Russia, Iran and Turkey on mutual recognition of diplomas. Now we are working to reach agreement with other countries. Relevant centers have been launched in those states with which the contracts have been signed to verify foreign diplomas and their recognition. We also operate this center.
Azerbaijan has ratified the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European region. Recognition of qualifications is carried out by internal regulations of each country on the basis of the convention.
Novosti Azerbaiajn reports that Education Minister Mr. Misir Mardanov has announced that the funds allocated to Azerbaijani students studying abroad will be increased from 7 million AZM (8.7 million USD) to 10 million AZM this year.
According to the Minister, currently over 10,000 Azerbaijani students are studying abroad, only 500 of whom on presidential scholarships. Azerbaijanis study mainly in the United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey, France, Russia, South Korea, the Netherlands, the U.S., Canada and Sweden. There are plans to develop ties with Japan, Malaysia and other countries.
The Ministry is also working on a new program that will allow these students to familiarize themselves with the employment market in Azerbaijan to ease their repatriation upon completion of their studies.
Mr. Mardanov has also announced that the ministry has considered and rejected the idea of a property pledge that would be confiscated if a student on state scholarship did not return to Azerbaijan.
On the same subject, according to Trend Azerbaijani news agency, Vice-minister of Education Mr. Elmar Gasimov has told journalists that by 2015 up to 5,000 students will study at foreign universities with the support of the State.
The Language Barrier
In an interview that Today.az Azerbaijani online magazine, Mr. Elmar Gasimov has provided additional interesting information. Excerpts follow:
Q: Do students have to return back to Azerbaijan once they complete studies?
A: According to the state program, the candidates are required to fulfill a number of conditions. One of them is a contract under which every young man studying abroad should return home after graduation and work at the government’s appointment for 5 years.
Q: Education experts argue that young people wishing to continue their education abroad do not always meet parameters of the state program. Is it true?
A: Not all individuals may further their education abroad for several reasons. Not only high exam scores, but also knowledge of foreign language at the academic level is very important. This is a prerequisite for all candidates.
In other words, only students with high scores are eligible to participate in the contest. The candidate is required to know the language of the country he/she is going to study. Unfortunately, many students cannot pass the competition because they do not have proper command of a foreign language.
Ministry of Education intends to solve this problem. The ministry will organize training courses for students to study English and German languages.
Q: Which country accounts for largest number of students in Azerbaijan?
A: Nearly 7,000 students study in Azerbaijan at the moment. Up to 1,200 foreign students studied in Azerbaijan in 1999-2000 while the same number of foreign students study only in the Baku State University at present.
Vast majority of student are educated on a fee basis in the BSU, Economic, Medical, Pedagogical universities and the Oil Academy. Turkish citizens make up majority. But in recent years Azerbaijan has hosted students also from China, India, Russia and Pakistan.
Q: What is the reason for inflow of foreign students to Azerbaijan?
A: This points to a stable economic and political situation in Azerbaijan. The country’s image has increased in the world in recent years and young people from other countries now are more interested in Azerbaijan. Moreover, they can learn specializations in Azerbaijan’s colleges and universities that enjoy great popularity abroad. In particular, it concerns the oil sector.
Q: Are diplomas issued by Azerbaijan to foreign students recognized back in their countries?
A: Azerbaijan has an agreement with Russia, Iran and Turkey on mutual recognition of diplomas. Now we are working to reach agreement with other countries. Relevant centers have been launched in those states with which the contracts have been signed to verify foreign diplomas and their recognition. We also operate this center.
Azerbaijan has ratified the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European region. Recognition of qualifications is carried out by internal regulations of each country on the basis of the convention.
