I toured to Estonia together with 6 of my colleagues in spring of 2007. The aim of the visit was to become familiar with the education reforms held in the education system of the country, especially with the experience of assessment of the students’ knowledge and skills. We got acquainted with the process both theoretically and in practice in the seminar at the University of Tartu organized in the highest level. Beginning with the students’ attendance, to the assessment of their knowledge, making relations between the academic staff and the students, improving the pedagogical staff’s professional level and using Information and Communication facilities in a high level astonished us very much. “We wished we had had such a university”, but it was only a desire that we said to each other on that day. We were told that the University achieved all these by the young and promising management staff’s efforts. This is a very important factor. Because the observations show that the implementation of the reform programs in either a secondary schools or higher schools are highly dependent on those who manage these education institution. Recently, reforms carried out in the education system of our country and renewal of their managers has entered a new phase with the appointment of leading cadres. The personnel reforms have already derived its benefit both in the secondary or higher schools. I came to this conclusion after I became familiar with the organization and progress of the winter exam session at Azerbaijan State University of Economics as a member of a group of representatives of Non- Government Organizations. I will not mention about the negative factors happened at the university 2 or 3 years ago, the press provided enough information about at that time. Currently the university is taking steps of its successful new leaders and a new way. While walking the lecture- rooms, talking to the student the achievements gained attract attention. The university in fact has been placed in the first in the ranking of the high schools. Creation of the sustainable cooperation between the teaching and studying staffs, personnel training and positive impact on the direction of defining principles of integrative vision, initiatives and approaches to effectively unify the course of discussion and exchanges, implementation of educational development for young teachers, organization of workshops and trainings, all resources optimally directed to the assessment of the students’ knowledge are those I saw within the two day’s period at the university. I can say with certainty in the example of the University of Economics that there is the kind of university in Azerbaijan. Just like the University I saw in Tartu nine years ago… I think the university’s experience should be studied and disseminated by the Ministry of Education.
Malahat Murshudlu, Chairwoman of the Union of “Independent Teachers”
Source: www.moderator.az/news/115222.html