Employment Pattern Pressure for Pragmatic Change in Universities: Azerbaijan Case Study

Abstract

This work reflects the results of a student survey and focus‐group discussions and in‐depth interviews with educators and policy practitioners to examine the connections between the higher education system and labour market demands in Azerbaijan. A notion of an Index of Students’ Optimism regarding employment prospects has been introduced in this study. It is found that private university students are much more optimistic about employment opportunities as compared with their public university fellows. Available options are considered for the Azerbaijan state policy modernization in the higher education area that would promote students’ capacity to cope with competitive challenges in the job market.

Notes

¹ This article is based on a research entitled “Employment of University Graduates and Pragmatic Transformation of Higher Education”, which was funded by the Caucasus Research Resource Centers (CRRC) Azerbaijan – a programme of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation with funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The statements and views expressed are solely the responsibility of the author. The author appreciates Anna Bushmann and Nana Papiashvili for their helpful suggestions and comments.

² See The State Committee of Statistics: http://www.azstat.org/macroeconomy/indexen.php or UNDP Azerbaijan Development Bulletin: http://www.un-az.org/undp/bulnews53/en3.php

³ In Azerbaijan, among a few studies relevant to this subject, it is worth mentioning a work of F. Rzayev carried out by the grant of the Caucasus Research Resource Center; this study (in Azerbaijani) is characterized by saturated information material, including relevant statistics. At the same time, a few critical and analytical articles published in local newspapers reflect and analyze various problems that hinder the development of competitiveness in higher education in Azerbaijan. (see Information in Brief: http://www.crrc.az/index.php/lo/17/20)

⁴ See also, “Towards the European Higher Education Area. Bologna Process. Reports from New Members of the Bologna Process. Country”, http://www.bologna-bergen2005.no/EN/natio-nal_impl/New/041130_Azerbaijan.pdf; or Bologna Process and “Template For National Reports: 2005–2007: Republic of Azerbaijan”, http://www.ond.vlaanderen.be/hogeronderwijs/bologna/links/Nationalreports007/National_Report_Azerbaijan2007.pdf

⁵ The State Committee of Statistics: http://www.azstat.org/publications/azfigures/2007/en/007.shtml#t7_7

⁶ The following methodology was used by author to carry out this research:

•	The quantitative analyses have been prepared on the basis of a survey applied at eight universities located in Baku (totalling 463 questionnaires at 4 state and 4 private universities) in order to obtain first‐hand information about students’ assumptions, needs and visions of their future employment. Being a part of the team consisting of members of the US‐educated Azerbaijani Alumni Association that conducted the survey in 2006, the author had a leading role in the process of the questionnaire development and analysis of the obtained results.
•	Two focus groups were formed by the author in Baku in order to identify and discuss issues impacting graduates of 2004–2006, and prioritize demands stated by the representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population, the Ministry of Education, NGOs, employers and employment agencies.
•	A round‐table was held by the author with the participation of experts from universities, NGOs, and the World Bank‐Azerbaijan, aimed at strengthening the practical component of the university education policy in condition when there is no real opportunity for value occupational training or internship for students.
•	Six qualitative/individual interviews were conducted by the author with heads of three universities (two private and one state), chiefs of departments from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population, Ministry of Economic Development, and the Director of the Azerbaijan Bank Training Center to discuss current circumstances concerning the practical orientation of the higher education strategy in Azerbaijan and its adaptation to the requirements of the market economy.

⁷ In framework of questions (1)–(3), average calculates as a weighted average, where weight is a number of questioned students from corresponding university.

⁸ Round‐table participants: Murad Bagirzade (Professor, PhD, Head of Chair “Public Administration and Management”, State Public Administration University), Tair Faradov (PhD, Senior Research Fellow, International Center for Social Research), Magomed Nuriyev (Professor, Doctor of Sciences, Vice‐rector and Dean of Business School, Khazar University), Ibrahim Ismayilov (Expert on education programmes, Odlar Yurdu University), Saida Bagirly (Operation Officer/External Affairs, the World Bank), Elvira Anadolu (Expert, Human Development Unit, the World Bank Group), Bahar Haji‐zadeh (Director, Baku Education Information Center),) Ismail Ismailov (PhD, Assistant Professor, University Azerbaijan).