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Adalat Muradov: “Students should be independent, to be prepared to perform their duties”

Baku. Farid Mizayev- APA. Azerbaijan State University of Economics’ Rector Dr Adalat Muradov’s interview

– Muradov, how do you evaluate the totals of 2014/2016 academic year?

– Azerbaijan State University of Economics Scientific Council’s last session took place some days ago and we discussed the totals of 2014/2015 academic year. There is a State Strategy on the Development of Education and the Actions Plan on its execution was proved. The task set in front of us and personally me is to bring Azerbaijan State University of Economics to the list of the world- class universities. Here people who provide teaching and who get trained should be in the level of competing with the world’s prestigious universities’ teaching and studying staffs. The quality of education should first be increased. Three key factors are standing in the execution of this task. First important factor is a teaching staff. The implement the system of measures to improve the instructors’ skills level. Affairs on increasing their skills and retraining are being conducted and we try to involve young professionals to our university. The number of the American, European and Canadian Universities’ alumni are 68 now. They studied abroad within the State Program on Education Abroad and returned to Azerbaijan. In addition, I want to add the graduates of the Russian, Ukrainian and Turkish Universities. We have recently launched the project of “Young Professors”. Doctors of Philosophy in Economy under 40 were enrolled to the Doctoral Studies of the University. They are 6. We sent them to different universities of Turkey for a month. Currently they are making a research there. Besides, we started the launch the project of young instructors and the project finish on July 17. 411 young instructors applied to be recruited to Azerbaijan State University of Economics. Nearly, one- quarter of them studied abroad. This is gratifying. I make an appointment with each of them. We shall make a decision after we determine their potential. SABAH Groups are also available in our university. Approximately half of them are freelancers.

– What about the jointly implemented Projects with the National Research University “Higher School of Economics” of Russia, Montpellier of France and the Western Macedonian Institute Technological Education of Greece? What stage are they at?

– The National Research University “Higher School of Economics” is enough prestigious educational institution. Rector of the University Yaroslav Kuzminov will trip to Baku and we invited him to visit our University. We achieved this agreement when we met with him in Moscow on April 17. 20% of our students study in Russian. We suppose that to develop them together with the “Higher School of Economics” and to award them a dual diploma. On the other hand, we cooperate with the most prestigious higher education institution of France- the University of Montpellier. In accordance with the agreement achieved with the University of Montpellier our students will be able to study the fourth course there in English and to receive its diploma. We achieved a dual diploma program with 3 prestigious universities within 3 years. I can absolutely note with assurance that Azerbaijan State University of Economics has joined to the education abroad process. We also signed a contract with the Western Macedonian Institute of Technological Education of Greece 30 credits of 120 of the Graduate Program will be provided by the teaching staff of Azerbaijan State University of Economics. We shall realize the program this year; I think in August. Azerbaijan State University of Economics was accredited in Greece which is the member of the European Union. We also re- established the MBA Program. Today our MBA Program meets the most influenced universities’ standards. The most reputable 5 universities of the globe gave the program positive feedback in terms of compliance with international standards. We think on creating new majors. Currently we analyze the labor market to see how the cadres developed meet its requirements. I think there will be serious changes. We pretend to create new specialties. One of the priority majors is the economic engineering. The field needs innovations in cadres’ development in Azerbaijan. We understand it and continue affairs in this direction.

– What kinds of affairs are done to increase the welfare of the university employees?

– We always keep in control the social welfare of the University employees. We increased the salaries two times. In accordance with the latest decision of the Scientific Council the pedagogical staff’s average salaries will be 985AZN. I think it is enough high figures. Our Deans earn 2000, Heads of the Chairs 1500, Professors 1300AZN. This is our priority. I suppose, we shall provide additional affairs in improving the social status of our employees in case of the expanding the financial opportunities of our university.

– Do the students’ activeness and their indicators during the exam session satisfy you?

– The most important and essential direction of the work done in the university is the students affairs. Students make sense of our work, is the result of our work. That’s why we think that students should be independent to be prepared to execute the obligations on them. We did this way. We adopted the students’ and the personnel’s internal disciplinary guidelines and gave them independence within the framework of these rules. If someone violates the rules, accordingly, penalties will be applied. We implemented the project of Student Rector. Last year the project of Students Rector initially became within a day in April, May and June. But since February of this year the Student- Rector was elected for a whole year. The project aims that the students could acquire the experience of administrating themselves. Next will be the projects of student- parliament, student- audit. We think that students should award and penalty themselves. We founded the Social Association “Support to Economist Students”. It is one of the most important structures in affairs with the students. The project is carried out successfully. Some social ads have been prepared by the Association. Our affairs in the direction of involving the students to the research are being continued successfully.

– How effective will 100 AZN of Scholarship to be awarded to the students with more than 600 points be?

– We want Azerbaijan State University of Economics to be chosen by very intelligent students. That’s why we implement the stimulating measures. As you mentioned we decided to grant 100 AZN of Scholarship for the first year undergraduates with more than 600 points. We also decided to pay the second scholarship to the most successful students in accordance with their exam session’s indicators. Another decision of the Scientific Council is that the intelligent students will be able to pay their tuition fee two times. Previously students ought to pay the fee at the beginning of the term. Most students requested for that reason. So we decided to give them an opportunity to do payment twice- half of the tuition at the beginning of the first term, another half at the beginning of the second term.

– What kinds of claims are appealed by the students often?

– I naturally welcome the students’ dissatisfaction. Each student goes to exam with the desire of getting better mark. But in most cases it is not approved. So they appeal. Every year our university establishes the Appeal Commission. This year we provided the online- appeal of the students’ claims. E- appeal was set up and the results were received online. It is successful in terms of efficiency. We looked through the statistics. You cannot believe that the number of the students to appeal is increased 50 %. Our University has got 4 training buildings in different parts of the city. But the students could only appeal in one point. Not every student could appeal. Online- appeal was developed by our student as a start-up project. The Innovative Business Incubator was founded in our University. The Innovative Business Incubator’s essence is that our students put forward their ideas and turn them into the projects. We create the conditions for them to execute their projects. Currently 7 students implement their projects. One of the start-up projects developed by our students at the university was honored a second place in the contest of NETTY. This is the “Test Yourself” Project. We provide students with the exam questions on the program before the session. Student tests himself (herself). Students assume the examination process and passes exam. I think it is also the better way of getting prepared for the exam.

– What kind of affairs is done to ensure the transparency of the exam session?

– We invited the journalists to the session. At the same time we invited there educational experts, NGO Coalition, Shahlar Askerov, Etibar Aliyev, Alimammad Nuriyev and the others. I received them. Please, follow the session. Don’t hesitate to say what you saw. I asked them to say the positive and the negative truly. We do not say that we have no negatives. No doubt, there can be tactical misunderstandings. If there is, we react against and try to correct it. We have no chance. If someone sees a problem we ask to inform us. I announced an “Open Door” every Saturday of the week. Anyone who require, can observe the exam session.