The project “Encouraging University Academic Staff and Students to Take the IELTS Exam” has been implemented since 2022 in cooperation with the Education Quality Assurance Agency.
Within the framework of the project, in 2022–2023, the examination fees of 300 academic staff members and students who participated in the IELTS exam and scored 6.5 or higher were covered by the Fund. During these years, the project partners included Baku State University, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Azerbaijan Technical University, Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction, and Baku Slavic University.
In 2024, cooperation agreements under the project were signed with Baku Engineering University, Sumgayit State University, Nakhchivan State University, Lankaran State University, and Mingachevir State University.
To date, the Fund has reimbursed the IELTS examination fees of 511 participants (31 academic staff members and 480 students) who met the project requirements.
On October 11, with the cooperation of the State Committee on Family, Women and Children’s Affairs and the Education Development Fund under the Ministry of Science and Education, the event of “Support Young Girls’ Education-2022″ campaign dedicated to International Girls’ Day on October 11 – International Girls’ Day was held at the Institute of Manuscripts named after Muhammad Fuzuli of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
The meeting was attended by Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education, Bahar Muradova, Chairwoman of the State Committee on Family, Women and Children’s Affairs, MP Jeyhun Mammadov, Elnur Nasibov, Chairman of the Board of Education Development Fund, public and media representatives.
Within the framework of the “Support Young Girls’ Education” campaign, 25 girls from low-income families, as well as from vulnerable groups, who scored high points in the admission exams to higher schools from the regions, will be supported for their education.
The purpose of the campaign is to continue the historical traditions of philanthropy in Azerbaijan and to support the development of our state so that young people, especially girls, benefit from modern educational opportunities.
Before the start of the event, the National Anthem of Azerbaijan was played. The memory of our martyrs who gave their lives for the protection and restoration of the territorial integrity of our republic and the liberation of our lands from occupation was commemorated with a minute’s silence.
Bahar Muradova, chairwoman of the State Committee on Family, Women and Children’s Affairs, who opened the event, said that today the second event of the “Support Young Girls’ Education” project is being held in Azerbaijan. She said that within the framework of this project, the education of students, their successes, and achievements were monitored by the Committee and their needs were met.
The chairman of the Committee drew attention to the fact that our state pays special attention to the development of education and meets modern requirements in our country, and opportunities are created for everyone to benefit from it equally and grow up as worthy citizens of our country. “We will implement measures aimed at the participation of these girls in social processes, the formation of leadership qualities, their education in various directions, and their voluntary participation in these processes,” said B. Muradova.
Speaking at the event, Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education said that girls’ education has an impact on saving other people’s lives. The minister noted that the education of women means early marriages and the deaths of young children decrease. At the same time, the inclusion of girls in primary education around the world leads to several hundred million women’s access to the labor market and further increase in the gross domestic product.
“Almost all girls in Azerbaijan are provided with primary education. Recently, the number of girls applying for higher education has started to exceed the number of boys. If we look at the reports of the World Bank, one of the shortest ways for the economic growth of Azerbaijan is women’s participation in the economy. The education of girls is one of the main priorities for the Ministry of Science and Education,” said the minister.
Other speakers expressed the importance of holding such events. It was noted that attention should be paid to the education of girls and increasing their role in society.
Later, the protocol of intent was signed between the Ministry of Science and Education and the State Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Affairs regarding the joint implementation of the “Support Young Girls’ Education” project.
Thereafter, certificates were presented to 25 girls from low-income families and vulnerable groups who scored high marks in the admission exams to higher schools.
It should be noted that in 2021, the State Committee together with the Ministry of Science and Education implemented the “Support Young Girls’ Education-2021” campaign dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the “Girls’ School” founded by Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev and October 11 – International Girls’ Day. Within the framework of the campaign, 14 female students from low-income families who scored high points in the admission exam to higher education institutions were financially supported.
With the cooperation of the Education Development Fund and the State Committee for Family, Women’s and Children’s Affairs, within the framework of the “Support Girls’ Education” project, 25 girls from the regions who are socially vulnerable and who scored high points in the admission exams to higher education institutions are being supported.
The purpose of the project is to promote the role of youth, especially girls, in the development of our country, and to support them in benefiting from modern educational opportunities.
50 percent of the scholarship holders scored over 600 points during the admission exam to higher educational institutions are students of Baku State University, Azerbaijan Medical University, Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Academy of the State Customs Committee, ADA University, Khazar University, and Baku Higher Oil School.
On the eve of the International Teachers’ Day, the Education Development Fund welcomed in scientists who made great contributions to our education.
Elnur Nasibov, Chairman of the Board of the EDF, gave information about the Fund’s goals, activities and future goals. The guests welcomed the initiative of establishing the Education Development Fund very positively and presented important recommendations for the future activities of the Fund.
It was agreed that such productive meetings should be regularly organized to discuss and evaluate the programs and projects to be implemented.
We mentioned that we are pleased to see our experienced educators who have left a mark on our science and education in the Education Development Fund.
The founder and director of the Center for Career and Job Preparation Sahin Sardarli was a guest of the Education Development Fund.
It was reported that during this year, the center provided 200 students with practical training in more than 150 fields (Accounting, HR, pedagogy, IT, etc.) and contributed to the employment of more than 80 students.
To expand such positive experiences, the prospects of future cooperation between the Center for Career and Job Preparation and the Education Development Fund were discussed.
On September 30, 2022, a meeting dedicated to the discussion of “strategic directions of secondary education” was held by the Education Development Fund under the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The event was attended by Nijat Mammadli, Advisor to the Minister of Science and Education, Sabina Anvarli, an employee of the Department of Science, Higher and Secondary Education, and heads of 35 secondary education institutions.
Elnur Nasibov, Chairman of the Board of the Education Development Fund, welcomed the guests, brought the issues of the agenda to the attention of the participants, and declared the event open.
Nijat Mammadli, Advisor to the Minister of Science and Education thanked the Education Development Fund for organizing the meeting: “There is a serious need for discussions about the place of secondary education in the education system. Our goal is to determine in a short time whether the main direction of secondary education institutions is personnel training for the labor market or to ensure their transition to fundamental, higher education. The fact and the many issues we face show that sub-bachelor students who want to pursue a higher education face problems. These problems are because college graduates mostly enter the labor market as a next step, and then turn to distance education to obtain higher education. Another issue is the activities carried out in the direction of the operation of many secondary education institutions under the supervision of higher education institutions. Some secondary education institutions have been subordinated to universities. However, this subordination is relative, higher education institutions can rarely interfere with secondary education institutions. The main goal of transitioning secondary education institutions to higher education institutions is to facilitate the transition to university education. Unfortunately, many enrollees chose secondary education because they could not get enough points for higher education. We would certainly like enrollees to choose secondary education consciously, as they acquire any knowledge and skills for the labor market”.
Later, Elnur Nasibov, Chairman of the Board of the Education Development Fund presented a detailed presentation on the establishment, main purpose, and activities of the Fund: “The activities of the fund are the directions established in the charter: strengthening the integration of education and economy, implementation of public and socially important projects, adaptation of the material and technical base of educational institutions to modern requirements, and preparation of mechanisms that confirm the development of education”. Elnur Nasibov also stated that the Education Development Fund covers not only higher and secondary education but all levels of education except vocational education.
It was noted that as a result of discussions with the members of the advisory council of the Education Development Fund, 5 strategic directions of higher education were determined: implementation of academic mobility programs, institutional development of higher education institutions, support to universities in the preparation of scientific journals, publications and textbooks, participation in the development of the university-industry cooperation and support the development of students of higher education institutions. The participants were given detailed information and examples of all 5 strategic activities. “We have determined these strategic directions together with the heads of higher education institutions. After discussions with you, it will be clearer to us on which activities we can cooperate with secondary education institutions”, emphasized E. Nasibov. The event continued in an interactive form with questions, proposals, and discussions of the heads of secondary education institutions.
In the end, the Chairman invited the guests to the office of the Education Development Fund to continue the discussions and mentioned that he is always open to cooperation.
Sevinj Mammadova, Executive Director of Junior Achievement Azerbaijan(JAA) organization, was a guest of the Education Development Fund.
JAA has implemented various projects in the field of entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness with the participation of thousands of young people in 26 regions of the country.
Opportunities for partnership between Junior Achievement Azerbaijanand Education Development Fund were discussed to expand this positive experience.
Today, Gunel Safarova, the chairwoman of the Public Council under the Ministry of Science and Education, members of the Council, Gulmammad Mammadov, Parvana Mammadova, Rufat Asadzade, as well as the Sector Manager of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mujdat Hasanov, were welcomed in by Education Development Fund.
Elnur Nasibov, Chairman of the Board of Education Development Fund, welcomed the guests and gave information about the main goals, strategy, directions of action and plans of the Fund.
Later, Mujdat Hasanov made a wide presentation about various educational programs, including the Intergovernmental Scholarship Programmes (“ISPs”). M. Hasanov gave a detailed explanation of educational opportunities, application rules, general statistical information within the framework of HTP, and issues related to the education of foreigners in Azerbaijan.
During the meeting, the questions of the members of the Public Council under the Ministry of Science and Education were answered, discussions were held and proposals were put forward.
On September 15, the opening ceremony of the newly built educational building for Sumagalli village secondary school of Ismayilli district was held.
The opening ceromony was attended by Elnur Nasibov, Adviser to the Minister of Science and Education, Chairman of the Board of the Education Development Fund, Nahid Bagirov, head of the Executive Power of Ismayilli district, Rovshan Aliyev, acting head of the Nagorno-Shirvan Regional Education Department, and teaching staff of the school.
224 students in 12 classes are studying in Sumagalli village secondary school of Ismayilli district, and 20 teachers are engaged in their education. The school is equipped with necessary furniture and equipment, classrooms and laboratories with visual aids.
It should be noted that last year 2 graduates of this small village school were admitted to universities with scores above 650. One of them received presidential scholarship.
On September 13, 2022, a round table was held on “Strategic action directions for higher education” by Education Development Fund (EDF) under the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Science and Education, deputy ministers, rectors of higher education institutions and educational staff.
Elnur Nasibov, the Chairman of the Board of the EDF, gave a presentation about the Fund’s strategic activities on higher education. It was noted that the Fund’s activities consist of strengthening the integration of education and economy, implementing public and socially important projects, adapting the material and technical base of educational institutions to modern requirements, and preparing mechanisms that confirm the development of education. Elnur Nasibov also mentioned that the activities of the Education Development Fund will cover not only higher and secondary education, but all levels of education, except vocational education.
As a result of the discussions of the chairman of the Education Development Fund with the rectors, it was noted that 5 strategic directions of action on higher education, including the implementation of academic mobility programs, institutional development of higher education institutions, preparation of scientific journals, publications and textbooks, participation in the development of university-industry cooperation and support for the development of students of higher education institutions have been determined.
Yekunda, TİF İdarə Heyətinin sədri universitetlər arasında tərəfdaşlıq fəaliyyətlərinin əlaqələndirilməsi məqsədilə məsul şəxsin təyin olunmasını xahiş edib və yeni tədris ilində ali təhsil müəssisələri rəhbərlərinə uğurlar arzulayıb.
In the end, the Chairman of the Board of the EDF asked for the appointment of a person responsible for the coordination of partnership activities between universities and wished success to the heads of higher education institutions in the new academic year.
