Up to 2015 Traditional system of quality assurance in HEIs of Azerbaijan has 2 main directions: The control of student’s knowledge on institutional level and control from the Ministry of Education or other relevant authority based on academic aspects. Most of the universities didn't have Internal Quality Assurance System in terms of administration and effective control of the processes. Some of the universities had the Quality Assurance Centers but they were not functional or the functions were not appropriated with the international standards. The most important thing, there were no demand for Internal Quality Assurance in HEIs on national level. Even though the universities had to be accredited every 5 years, but the external quality assurance was not aligned with international standards as well. It was somehow was similar with giving the license for providing services with appropriate equipment. The universities were seriously lacking of low level performance management, quality of the programs, quality of the staff and most important the QUALITY CULTURE. Therefor EQAC project aimed to enhance the quality of higher education in Azerbaijan and to promote voluntary union with EU developments and to develop a model of principles, priorities, guidelines and procedures to improve and assess the quality.The specific objectives of the project were:•Make a comparative analysis of current QA practices (and identify the needs of the universities) •To increase awareness on modern quality assurance tools and policies •To develop framework for quality assurance mechanisms in Azerbaijan higher education institutions. •To develop and establish common Quality Assurance System – (in line with ESG) •To create online platform and user service charter•To enhance Quality Assurance Culture•To train quality assurance related administrative and academic staff• Develop a Model of Principles, Priorities, Guidelines and Procedures for internal management of QA for partner HEIs 8 Work packages implemented In order to reach these objectives WP 1: Scoping and Analysis of Quality Assurance in Azerbaijan UniversitiesWP-2: Creation of a framework for the QA implementationWP-3: System-building: Shaping systems of quality assurance in AZ universities.WP-4: Field tripsWP-5: Preparing Guidelines and Standards for QA at institutional levelWP-6: Quality AssuranceWP-7: Dissemination of the projectWP-8: Management

The project “Green and sustainable global economic improvement at Azerbaijani Universities: renewable energy and climate change mitigation” (REFRESH) has been created by analyzing international and national country reports of Azerbaijan, where transition into green economy is inevitable. Thus, various international organizations have reported the huge potential of wind and solar energy in Azerbaijan, which are under utilization. In addition, national policy documents of Azerbaijani government also urges for transition into green economy where green skillsets are critical. The pleminary needs assessment with the main industry players revealed the lack of technical experts in renewable energies field and the pressing demand to stimulate local human capital in the market. These analysis took the project team to universities, where the education on renewable energies is behind the industry needs. Therefore, the REFRESH project aims to increase capacity at the universities by enrolling the teaching staff at Training of Trainers (ToT) programme to improve the teaching methodologies, course syllabi and launching pilot courses at each partner HEI. Simultaneously, Virtual Learning Simulation (VLS) labs also will be part of new curriculum. These changes to curriculum will improve the quality of teaching at local HEIs. This in turn will stimulate green skillets in Azerbaijan, which ultimately contributes to successful green transition of economy. The consortium is set up from 5 regional universities, 1 university (the applicant) located in the capital city, a State Agency for Renewable Energy Sources and 4 EU universities. All EU universities are specialized in the field of renewable energies education. The national and EU universities have active participation at various phases of the project during the implementation certain activities. Furthermore, 4 associate partners will be actively participating either during the student internships enrollment or in the disseminati

PETRA project's wider objective is to promote teaching and learning excellence in Azerbaijan. Specific objectives are: (1) Building Capacity for Developing Teaching and Learning Processes to meet pedagogical and technological needs and (2) Improving and Providing Quality Teaching and Learning through innovative technology, promoting research, improving active learning, and establishing long-term partnerships with European universities. The project targets two private, two public universities and four state universities in Azerbaijan with a key objective to improve their quality of teaching and learning.It aims to build human resource capacity in teaching, research, and developing/improving necessary infrastructure to provide an environment for effective learning. The most up-do-date planning, development and management resources have been utilized for these activities and adapted to the needs of the student body.8 Teaching and Learning Centres (TLCs) aimed at guiding and enhancing the teaching and learning process have been established at each member university in Azerbaijan, because one of the main aims of this project is to assure the quality of education, teaching and learning processes. Building on the Project objective to enhance the quality of teaching and research towards excellence, the TLC's updated equipment are used to incorporate last generation teaching tools and advanced technology, by developing human resource capacity and international partnerships, and developing students' learning skills through on-line active learning.The project results also include the development of a 3-year strategy plan, with a detailed structure and activity plan designed as a result of learning experience in European countries. The trainers and pilots incorporated the necessary skills for training selected faculty for the final purpose of promoting on-line education as a key element in professional development. A broad assortment of trainings and workshops on enhancing research competence have been provided to the selected trainers, and students of target universities participating on the pilots which have been replicated to selected faculty (and students) included on the TLC plans.Last but not least, new collaboration agreements are in place between EU Universities and Azerbaijan partners for the initial team development of credit courses and research activities.

Joint project for the modernization of educational programs in climate engineering, regional priority for Russia and China, national priority for Azerbaijan.3 AIMS IN EACH COUNTRY:Reduce skills gaps on intermediate levels (construction site coordinator, design technician) by improving the employability of students and by perfecting corporate executives.Professionalize teaching programs in line with the Bologna Process and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and relocate them partly into companies.Create a professional Bachelor accessible in distance learning for the energy and environmental performance of buildings and a lifelong training program.ACADEMIC KEY PARTNERS:- CNAM Paris- GIPFIPAG - CRVEP - UNINETTUNO- AGCNAM - Universidad de Sevilla- HTWK Leipzig - Azerbaijan Technical University- Harbin Institute of Technology- North-Eastern Federal University - POLITECNICO DI TORINO- UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PAVIA- Siberian Transport University- Tuvan State University- Irkutsk State Technical University - Far Eastern Federal University- The state institution of vocational education Yakut Municipal Civil Engineering- Dalian University of Technology - BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY- Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction- Sumgayit State University- Ural State Mining UniversityEXPECTED RESULTS:3 regional strategic action plans.25 teachers professionalized in the EU.3 job descriptions, 3 professional Bachelors, programs, course content and digitized teaching resources available for distance learning.3 poles of excellence, resource centers and three technology platforms for energy efficiency in buildings.3 didactic cyberspaces.480 students and 150 employees trained on site or by distance learning.3 double diplomas or joint degrees.An action plan for sustainability.