Page 43 - Azerbaijan State University of Economics

Turan Suleymanov: Transformation of Higher Education in Azerbaijan: Reforms, Policies and Current Trends

independent Azerbaijan had to completely rebuild the education system away from the
ideology of the former Soviet Union and carry out major reforms. There was a need to
direct these reforms toward the creation of an independent education system, the
formation of management mechanisms, staff training, improving the quality of
education, and the internationalisation of education.
During the transition from the Soviet education system to the modern education
system, one of the most important reforms in the Azerbaijani higher education
system was the introduction of a two-tier higher education system in the country in
1993, with bachelor's and master's degrees. The introduction of the transition to a
master's degree, which is the second tier of higher education, began in 1997 after the
first graduation with the bachelor's degree.

However, the systemic nature of the reforms in the higher education system of
Azerbaijan began in 1999 with the approval of the “Education Reform Program of the
Republic of Azerbaijan”. Major structural reforms in the education system, including
the higher education system, began in 1999 with the "Education Reform Programmes of
the Republic of Azerbaijan" and the transition to a modern education system was carried
out through this programme. Through this programme, structural changes have been
made in higher education, new specialties have been added to the education structure,
and the network of institutions has been optimised. Educational institutions have been
given additional powers and increased their independence. Under this programme, they
gained independence in determining the composition of state attestation commissions
and their internal structure in higher education institutions, as well as the development
of curricula for specialties in accordance with relevant state standards. The programme
also included the granting of certain independence and self-government mechanisms to
6 higher education institutions in the country. Financing of the state budget of the
mentioned higher education institutions was carried out since 2001 by a separate item
(E-qanun, 1999).
One of the main partners in the implementation of education reforms in Azerbaijan
was the World Bank. In 1998, there was a loan agreement between the Government
of Azerbaijan and the World Bank's International Development Association for the
implementation of education reforms. A special State Commission was set up to
implement the reforms. The reforms implemented in cooperation with the World
Bank were divided into several stages. The first stage lasted until 2003. The post-
2003 phase was called the second phase, in which the essence and content of the
reforms were further expanded. The Education Sector Development Project,
implemented in 2004-2009, played a major role in the 2003 loan agreement between
the World Bank and the Ministry of Education. Under this programme, funded by
the Government of Azerbaijan and the World Bank, significant reforms were
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