The Azerbaijani capital, Baku, is developing rapidly with a sky-line filled with glass skyscrapers. However, as with most countries undergoing a phase of intense development, this country exhibits an array of contradictions. It is a place where impressive business districts are intertwined with infrastructural and administrative bottlenecks, and the complex Azeri history still affects relations with neighbouring states. While confronting the need for change, the young people - the students-to-be - are gaining in strength. They are the drivers of a tremendous openness and innovative approach.
Representatives from Poznan City Hall (Dr Eliza Kania), Poznan University of Economics (Maria Brendel) and the Higher School of Banking Poznan (Dorota Michor) dealt with many of the Azeri students' questions.
What do young people want the most?
For the young people of Azerbaijan the two most important issues are: the quality of the educational program and the cost of living. The most frequently asked questions referred to English-language studies in engineering, computer science, economics and business, as well as media and communication or international relations. Poznan is a welcoming city with a high standard of living, and lower living costs than in Warsaw or Western Europe, while at the same time presenting a highly attractive study program. The young Azerbaijanis also asked about employment opportunities in our city. A large number of international and domestic companies along with the low unemployment rate additionally boosted interest in studying in the capital of Greater Poland.
Some of the visitors to the fair were also impressed with highly developed sector of non-governmental organizations in Poznan. "We are glad that in Poznan the NGO sector is so wide-ranging and open to cooperation. Our organization is dedicated to the education of children and young people in the field of environmental awareness. Cooperation with foreign partners is the basis for improving the quality of our activities," said Firuta Sultanzada, representative of the Republican Center for Ecological Education and Experience, acting on behalf of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Education market specificity
In Azerbaijan with a population of over 10 million inhabitants, more than 2 million people live in the capital. This strong centralization has resulted in the flourishing of universities in Baku. The most prestigious universities are Baku State University, Azerbaijan State Economic University, Azerbaijan State Oil Academy (ASOA), Azerbaijan Technical University, and the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. At present some smaller academic centres outside the capital are opening up to foreign cooperation as well - such as Ganja State University, located in the second largest city in Azerbaijan. The total student population in Azerbaijan exceeds 110,000.
Some of the students who are already studying or deciding to go to university already have a relationship with Poland or Polish roots. Such people - numbering around about 120 - are mainly concentrated in Baku. At the Polish Embassy in Baku, the Poznan delegation had the opportunity to meet these representatives of the Azerbaijani Polish diaspora who would like to undertake their further education in Poland.
- dr Eliza Kania
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