Making capacity building events for educators in Azerbaijan

Roundtable Discussion on Education Policy research

The training is designed particularly for civil servants, NGOs and researchers working in the field of education. Photo by CIE.

The training is designed particularly for civil servants, NGOs and researchers working in the field of education. Photo by CIE.

On April 11, 2014 the Center for Innovations in Education (CIE) organized a roundtable meeting which targeted policymakers, education experts, NGO representatives, media and others interested. The goal of the roundtable was to launch Education Policy research carried out by the CIE Policy Unit (PU) team. The PU assists CIE in improving the policy making process in Azerbaijan by developing a consolidated approach to social research and focusing more explicitly on affecting large policy decisions.

The Center for Innovation in Education’s research paper on Early Childhood Education (ECE) that was presented during the event focuses mainly on access, quality and affordability of current ECED system in Azerbaijan while reviewing the gaps and barriers in legislative framework, policy strategies and underinvestment, which affect these issues. The research paper also includes data from international statistic materials comparing current indicators of Azerbaijan with past years and with similar-level countries (by GDP or region).

The research paper is available here.

On April 23, 2014 the policy paper based on the research was presented to the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan Republic. The policy paper focuses on the current situation of preschool education in Azerbaijan and presents alternative models of preschool education provision.

The 32 participants included representatives of the Ministry of Education of the Azerbaijan Republic, the National Assembly, the Institute of Educational Problems, the Ministry of Justice as well as many other NGO partners of CIE such as the Caucasus Research Resource Center, the United Aid for Azerbaijan and the Norwegian Humanitarian Enterprise, just to name a few.

After the presentations by CIE Executive Director Ulviyya Mikayilova, CIE Policy Unit Researcher Aynur Nabiyeva and UAFA Director Gwen Burchell, participants raised their questions and shared opinions on early childhood education problems in Azerbaijan, policy-making issues, pros and cons of different models of public service delivery.

This event proved to be successful in providing a common ground for effective communication between organization and its stakeholders.

Policy Making Trainings

On March 1, 2014 the Center for Innovations in Education in partnership with Caucasus Research Resource Center and Azerbaijan University of Languages and with support by Azerbaijan Ministry of Education started its new project “Capacity Building Trainings on Policy Making”. This training is designed particularly for civil servants – employees of the Ministry of Education, State Student Admission Committee (TQDK), NGOs and researchers working in the field of education. 23 participants were selected for the trainings after the application and interview processes. Sessions are held by Razim Aliyev (M.Ed. in Instructional Psychology and Technology) in form of interactive workshops that also involves teamwork component and learning-by-doing approach. Trainings are held every Saturday until May 3, 2014.

We expect that after the training the targeted civil servants will have a broader understanding of policy making and formulation. They will be better skilled to apply and contribute at the appropriate stages of policy-making and better prepared to respond to the specific issues in the education sector. The training is expected to contribute to strengthening partnership among all agencies presented by training participants.

 

Center for Innovations in Education (Policy Unit), Azerbaijan
 

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