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About EQAC

As a result of socio-economic policies of recent years the Azerbaijan has accomplished a noteworthy progress and social situation of people has developed considerably. Continuing reforms and major infrastructure projects have established fundaments for the sustainable development.  Developing the highly qualified human capacity is the core target of the national education system considering that the capacity building is the priority of the government for the successful integration to the demanding international competition. Therefore the country needs to implement new education reforms and strategies in order to advance in quality of education and meet international standards as well. Also the need of performance excellence obliges HEIs to develop Quality management and Business Excellence Models.

In order to improve the quality of education, it is important to reorganize governance of education, develop human resources in the sector and improve reputation of the teacher profession.

However those are top priorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan which was explicitly indicated in the Development Concept “Azerbaijan - 2020: the vision of the future” approved in 2012 by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The State Strategy on Education Development of 2013 and its Action Plan translates the tasks reflected within the Goal 4 of the SDGs to the national policy level.

Azerbaijan HEIs are highly heterogeneous in terms of the structure of being public and private. The need for strategy development with regard to quality assurance is among all other common problems for both type of the universities.  Traditional system of quality assurance in HEIs of Azerbaijan has 2 main directions: control of student’s knowledge on institutional level and control from the Ministry of Education or other relevant authority based on academic aspects. 

Most of the universities don't have Internal Quality Assurance System in terms of administration and effective control of the processes. Some of the universities have the Quality Assurance Centers but they are not functional or the functions are not appropriated with the common standards.   

First of all there is a lack of training of the staff involved, the low profile of QA culture and the low level of communication between the QA structures and the academic staff involved.  Even though Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan have several attemps to increase the Quality Assurance System of the universities to the international level, but the universities didn't absorbed the importance of these attemps. Taking into account the backwardness in this field, especially in the regions of Azerbaijan, this project is planned by BBU to contribute to the improvement of the situation.

Considering all of these issues them overall aims of the project is  to enhance the quality of higher education in Azerbaijan and to promote voluntary union with EU developments,  to  develope a model of principles, priorities, guidelines and procedures to improve and assess the quality.

The proposed project is the first wide-scale project in Azerbaijan dealing with the introduction and maintenance of Internal Quality Assurance in 11 Azerbaijan Universities in line with the EU standards. This project offers completely different and strategic approach to the Quality Assurance System of the Universities compare to previous attempts. The project will enhance the universities management structure as well. 

Considering all of these issues them overall aims of the project is  to enhance the quality of higher education in Azerbaijan and to promote voluntary union with EU developments,  to  develope a model of principles, priorities, guidelines and procedures to improve and assess the quality.

The specific objectives of the project are :

  • To make a comparative analysis of current QA practices 
  • To develop framework for quality assurance mechanisms in Azerbaijan higher education institutions. 
  • To increase awareness on modern quality assurance tools and policies 
  • To develop and establish common Quality Assurance System - ISO 9001. 
  • To create online platform and user service charter
  • To enhance Quality Assurance Culture
  • To train quality assurance related administrative and academic staff
  • Develop  a Model of Principles, Priorities, Guidelines and Procedures for internal management of QA for partner HEIs 

In order to achieve these objectives systematic activities and implementation strategy was designed. A strong and articulated quality assurance plan is needed, as the compliance with EU standards is key for the success of the project.

Taking up the wider objectives of Establishin and improving the Quality Assurance Centers in Azerbaijan HEIs , the project will support the exchange of knowledge and experience by increasing the exposure of the universties to European education standards, ESG.. Improving the qualification of  staff in Azerbaijan will raise the quality of administration at the universities by assuring the quality  on the one hand and the development of international cooperation in the larger society on the other.