With the dissolution of the USSR, the system of quality education also broke down. Then the harsh times came, which were aggravated by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Many qualified specialists left, while many others, in order to feed their families, were forced to leave their work places moving into trade and other types of entrepreneurship, which were altogether new for the post-Soviet states.
After some time, it became clear that for the full involvement of a country into the global economy, it is necessary to continually introduce new technologies, learn foreign languages and develop communication skills.
To do this, a country needs highly qualified personnel. Despite the fact that the quality of education has improved significantly compared to the mid-90s, thanks to the large-scale state programs adopted over the years, this task is still quite critical for the country.
So, as Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Bocharnikov recently told reporters, branches of three more Russian universities will be opened in Azerbaijan.
“These will be branches of MGIMO, the Higher School of Economics and the Russian State University of Humanities and Economics," the ambassador said.
They will open in Azerbaijan within the framework of humanitarian cooperation on the basis of the road map, which was agreed by the presidents of the two countries, he said.
Two of them – the Higher School of Economics (HSE University) and Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University) – are among the top 500 universities of the world, according to QS World University Rankings 2019.
The third one – Moscow State University of Humanities and Economics (MGGEU) – is a unique higher education institution providing inclusive education for young people with disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Consistently ranked as one of Russia’s top universities, the Higher School of Economics (HSE University) is the leading example in Russian education and one of the preeminent economics and social sciences universities in Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Its faculty, researchers, and students represent over 50 countries, and are dedicated to maintaining the highest academic standards.
HSE is a leader in combining Russian education traditions with the best international teaching and research practices. The university offers 72 undergraduate and 151 graduate programs in 33 areas of study, with courses taught in English and Russian.
MGIMO is Russia's most prestigious educational institution for young people with international interests. It is a modern and intellectually stimulating place to study.
MGIMO offers a broad range of courses at undergraduate and graduate levels—from international law, political science, and economics, to journalism, business management, and energy policy.
The university has a reputation as Russia’s most advanced place for understanding international affairs. Many outstanding figures graduated MGIMO including Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
In Azerbaijan there are people with disabilities, who need special schools and universities. MGGEU, which is adapted for the disabled, can give them an opportunity to get higher education.
The mission of the university is to provide students with disabilities with social assistance, enabling them to adapt to life in society.
The university has 7 faculties: Faculty of Book Publishing and Editing, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Sociology and Psychology and Faculty of Correspondence Education.
Currently in Azerbaijan there are branches of the Moscow State University (MGU), which is among the world’s top 100 universities, and the First Moscow State Medical University.
If we look at the 10-year history of the MGU branch in Baku, we will see that the quality of education has allowed many University graduates to get a well-paid job in the leading companies and organizations of the country.
As well, many graduates continue their education in master's and doctoral studies at famous universities of the world.
At the time, President Ilham Aliyev signed the state Program on education of Azerbaijani students abroad.
There are many talented children in the country who cannot afford to study abroad. The opening of branches of leading Moscow universities in Baku may give them a good chance to get high-quality education.
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