A joint meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Science and Education and the working group on the draft law "On Higher Education" was held on June 29.
Opening the meeting, chairman of the committee, head of the working group Bakhtiyar Aliyev said that today our country has a network of modern education systems that provide the basis for the transmission of scientific knowledge and experience from generation to generation. The foundation of a new modern education system that meets the challenges of the 21st century and can ensure the economic development of our independent state was laid by national leader Heydar Aliyev.
It was noted that President Ilham Aliyev is successfully pursuing a well-thought-out policy in this area. The Bologna Process is one of the important measures taken. In this regard, the President made an important decision to join the Bologna process in order to ensure the development of higher education in Azerbaijan, the training of specialists who will have free access to the European educational space.
Azerbaijan joined the Bologna Process on May 9, 2005, thus defining the direction and content of the reform in the field of higher education. In order to implement the provisions of the Bologna Declaration, the Ministry of Education and the Cabinet of Ministers have made numerous decisions and done a lot to restructure higher education.
In order to accelerate reforms in the field of higher education, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree dated January 31, 2008 "On some measures for the integration of higher education institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the European higher education space." Many issues envisaged in this document have already been implemented. In addition, a number of other important decisions were made. Thus, “State Program on informatization of the education system in the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2008-2012”, “State Program on education of Azerbaijani youth abroad in 2007-2015”, “Reforms in the higher education system of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2009-2013 State Program on "approved by the President of the country.
Approval of the state strategy for the development of education in Azerbaijan has identified new directions and accelerated reforms.
Noting the Presidential Decree dated November 16, 2018 on the approval of the "State Program to increase the international competitiveness of the higher education system in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2019-2023", the chairman of the committee said that the discussed law "On Higher Education" The project defines the range of issues directly addressed to higher education by the head of state, the establishment of competitive higher education institutions, the basis for staffing of rapid economic development in the country.
It was noted that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation also has great support for the development of education in Azerbaijan. Many projects have been implemented under the "New School for a Renewing Azerbaijan" and other programs initiated by the Foundation.
Bakhtiyar Aliyev said that within the framework of reforms in the field of education, as well as in each of the adopted state programs, the need to create a new regulatory framework for higher education is stated. It was noted that a working group to draft a law "On Higher Education" was established by the Parliamentary Committee on Science and Education in September 2019 to ensure the development of higher education and accelerate reforms in this area.
The working group includes members of the committee, employees of relevant departments of the Parliamentary Office, representatives of the Ministry of Education, rectors and education experts. Over the past period, the members of the working group have worked productively and held numerous discussions.
It was noted that a meeting of the working group was held in January this year on the initiative and with the participation of Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. The event was also attended by Minister of Education Emin Amrullayev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the State Examination Center Maleyka Abbaszade, members of the Parliamentary Committee on Science and Education, representatives of relevant government agencies and experts.
It was noted that the draft law "On Higher Education" submitted for discussion consists of 9 chapters and 54 articles. One of the main tasks ahead is to form an innovative, creative, independent-minded, patriotic personality. During the preparation of the project, the experience of our country, existing legal acts, laws of European countries in the field of higher education, the provisions of international conventions were widely studied and analyzed by the working group. This law creates a legal basis for the reconstruction of higher education in Azerbaijan and its full adaptation to the European educational space, taking into account the experience gained in our country, the protection of national and spiritual values, our national education system.
According to the project, higher education will define 4 levels. The transitions between these levels will allow for the collection of loans, the determination of study periods, the development of professional standards in accordance with the requirements of the labor market, and higher education programs based on professional standards.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Education Emin Amrullayev said that the bill is of great importance in terms of addressing the important challenges facing education in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has joined a number of international conventions in the field of higher education. The goal is to ensure the accessibility, quality and equality of higher education, and to address issues related to the management of higher education institutions. It was noted that Azerbaijani education has its own traditions, we have a 100-year-old higher education institution. At the same time, the world is changing rapidly. We want to bring these changes to Azerbaijani higher education. It is already planned to establish higher education within the qualifications, while maintaining the concepts of levels and levels. There are some issues that need to be addressed in terms of the quality of education in Azerbaijan and the development of science. At the same time, it is important to fulfill the international documents to which Azerbaijan is a party and the requirements arising from them.
The Minister said that a large part of the bill is based on traditions, there are a number of provisions where expert opinion, research is of great importance, as well as points on ensuring transparency in the admission process, the choice of profession.
In his speech, Emin Amrullayev shared his views on the accessibility of higher education, management in this area, the training process, as well as the establishment of education in Russian departments, the level of education in the regions and a number of other topical issues.
Musa Gasimli, deputy chairman of the committee and head of the working group, members of the group - MPs Jeyhun Mammadov, Anar Isgandarov, Etibar Aliyev, Eldar Guliyev, Shahin Seyidzade, rector of Azerbaijan State Economic University Adalat Muradov, vice-rector of ADA University Fariz Ismayilzade, MPs Mushfig Mammadov , Tamam Jafarova expressed their remarks and suggestions on the bill.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Science and Education Bakhtiyar Aliyev and Minister of Education Emin Amrullayev commented on the speeches. It was noted that work on the project will continue, taking into account the proposals received during the discussions. Extensive discussions on the project with the participation of NGOs and the public are also planned. The adopted law will serve to improve the quality of higher education.