(MENAFN- AzerNews) By Fatima Hasanova
Many remember with nostalgia the times when higher education was
completely free and available to anyone who had the necessary
knowledge and was ready to work hard. Now, despite the growth in
the state-funded quota, most students go to fee-based
universities.
As figures of the State Examination Centre for 2021-2022 reveal,
21,856 school leavers (including 920 sub-bachelors) received the
right to education under the state quotas, and 23,005 (including
5,890 sub-bachelors) - on a paid basis.
As part of the state program for studying abroad, over 500
students currently study at foreign universities. Students study
mainly in priority specialties for the country. In total, over
10,000 students study outside of Azerbaijan under state and
intergovernmental quotas.
Today in Azerbaijan, under the state quota, there are two forms
of education abroad. The first type of study abroad is carried out
by the Ministry of Education, i.e. at the expense of scholarships
allocated to citizens of Azerbaijan on the basis of bilateral
agreements on cooperation in the field of education. The second
form is education abroad within the framework of the 'State Program
for the Education of Azerbaijani Youth in 2022-2026', approved by a
presidential decree.
Currently, under this quota, over 572 Azerbaijani students study
abroad. In addition, 789 students study on the basis of bilateral
agreements on cooperation in education. Azerbaijani students study
in such countries as Turkiye, China, Russia, the UK, Germany,
France, Canada, Netherlands, Korea, Sweden, Australia, the Czech
Republic, Italy, Austria, Singapore, etc.
The reason why Azerbaijanis prefer to study abroad is not only
the desire limited to our compatriots but universal one to get
competitive knowledge to define his/her future and be conducive to
their countries. However, it is believed that if some
representatives of Azerbaijani youth prefer to study abroad, this
is not a consequence of the supposedly low level of education in
the country.
Today Azerbaijan has a significant number of universities where
education is carried out at the European level. The interest of
Azerbaijani students in going to foreign universities is caused by
simple curiosity, that is, they want to get acquainted with the
living conditions of foreigners, their customs, and traditions. We
can say that this is purely human psychology. On the other hand,
parents of students often complain that the cost of education in
Azerbaijan is too high, while in some other countries, it is more
affordable, which motivates students to study abroad.
Speaking about faculties Azerbaijani students, who prefer to
study abroad, the options are very different. We must bear in mind
that there is the desire of the students themselves coupled with
plans and plans of the state. If we refer to the preferences of the
state, the Education Commission under the President of Azerbaijan
stated that those students, who chose specialties in the fields of
medicine, chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics, will have
an advantage in admission to foreign universities.
As for the desire of representatives of the Azerbaijani youth,
80 percent of students prefer to study humanities and social
sciences. Basically, 26.9 percent of Azerbaijani students study
medicine abroad, 15 percent study humanities and social sciences,
8.6 percent study information technology, 5.6 percent study
science, 2.4 percent study in the service sector, two percent in
agriculture and construction. It should be noted that when entering
foreign universities within the framework of bilateral agreements
on cooperation in the field of education, Azerbaijani students are
allocated a hostel for living, they receive a scholarship, and once
a year they can use air transport for free in order to fly to their
homeland. The cost of food is covered by the students themselves at
the expense of the scholarships they receive.
As for students studying under the 'State Program for the
Education of Azerbaijani Youth in 2022-2026, all their expenses are
covered by the Azerbaijani Oil Fund (free education, accommodation,
insurance, etc.)
Some 6,100 foreign students study at universities. They are
citizens from 47 countries - Turkiye, Russia, Iran, China,
Turkmenistan, Pakistan, India, Georgia, Egypt, South Korea,
Afghanistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Finland, the Philippines, Japan,
Croatia, and Saudi Arabia. Foreign students study in Azerbaijani,
English, or Russian languages.
The largest contingent of foreign students is at the Azerbaijani
Medical University. 1,142 foreign students study at this
educational institution, 920 students at the Institute of
Construction and Architecture, 831 students at the Baku State
University, about 600 students at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy,
and over 500 students at the Azerbaijani State Economy University.
At the same time, it should be noted that foreign students do not
show interest in technical specialties.
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