525th newspaper” wrote about the Exam Process of UNEC
Yesterday the representatives of Mass Media controlled the progress of winter exam session of Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC).
More than 20 journalists of the prestigious media agencies have taken part in the event held under the motto “Knowledge should be assessed transparently and objective”.
Director of the Center for Assessment of the Quality of Education and Management Ragif Gasimov has made “public inspectors” familiar with the progress of exams and the instructions during the meeting realized on the basis of the Minister of Education’s order about the “Organization and implementation of exam session”. Afterwards the “public controllers” checked exams held in all academic buildings of UNEC.
The Director of the Center for the Assessment and Management of the Quality of Education Ragif Gasimov who informed the representatives of mass media observing the process of exams in the Schools of “Technology and Design” and “Commerce” said that students were provided with generally 700 questions and their answers in advance: “After the students answer all questions they push on the button “finish” and become familiar with the result of the exam immediately. He added that exams are held in all academic buildings of the university in 5 shifts. “Minimum 150 students take exam in each shift. Students are provided with 1hour and 20 min. on humanitarian subjects, but on mathematics and econometrics 2 hours. Because these subjects require calculations and they need extra time”.
After the exams journalists met with UNEC Rector, Professor Adalat Muradov. Rector spoke about the reforms carried out, targets of the university and problems encountered in the process of work; he responded the journalists’ questions.
During the meeting Rector Adalat Muradov said that the only force to provide quality is the teaching staff. “We have involved 147 young teachers to Azerbaijan State University of Economics within a year and eight months. We involved 121 young teachers to university the last academic year, 68 of them are the alumni of the universities of Europe, the US and Canada.
We do not think it right to have some departments on the same major. Therefore we decided to combine the departments performing on the same major. 10 departments have already been combined. 4 departments are carrying out the activity instead of them. Rector said currently 45 departments are carrying out the activity at the University. Education is conducted on 21 majors. There also might be about 10 non-major departments. Rector has pointed out that increasing tuition fees is not on the agenda. It is not our intention to increase the tuition fees”.
A.Muradov said that the teaching staff’s salaries were increased in three stages. “The Deans’ salaries are 2000 AZN. In addition they get 500 manats for their pedagogical activity. Heads of Departments get 500 manats and Professors get 1300 manats. Teaching staff members’ average salary is 961 manats. If we do not take into account the devaluation it is enough high indicator of salary of dollar equivalent. The university has reserves to increase salaries in future.
According to the Rector who considers it necessary to increase the teaching staff’s teaching load, there number might be reduced. This way, other teachers’ salaries can be increased. 25 percent of the teaching staff members are older than 69. The oldest teacher of the university is 88 years old. 917 teachers are carrying out activity in the University of Economics. This is a huge figure. We think about the dismissal of the teachers who has no scientific degree and are more than 70, however the Assistant Professors who are more than 75. Only Professors will be able to work as much as they require”.
Rector noted that the registers of the university are digitalized: “Teachers spend 15 minutes to check the students’ attendance. Students’ attendance will be checked by fingerprints since September of this year. Thus, the time spent for checking the attendance will be spent for the lesson. The system is now applying to “SABAH” Groups performing in the university. The issue of teachers’ replacement by another teacher will soon be solved. To put an end to this problem, teachers will be able to open e-register only by fingerprints. They will be replaced only by permission”.
Vafa MAMMADLI