Head of Tempus Office: Azerbaijani universities' great interest can help to use EU educational programs in full

The presence of great needs in Tempus from universities of Azerbaijan may increase the chances of funding of these projects by the European Union, the chairman of the National Tempus Office Parviz Bagirov said. 

Azerbaijan joined the Tempus program - one of the best-funded and long-term programs of the European Union - in 1995. Tempus supports the modernization of higher education and promotes interuniversity cooperation with EU partner countries and European countries.

The last phase of the program Tempus IV in Azerbaijan covers the period from 2008 to 2013. The EU allocates around 35-39 million euros per year for its funding.

The main reason for the lack of involvement of Azerbaijani universities in Tempus program Bagirov considers the fact that projects of this program, as well as main part of donor projects, are prepared in foreign languages - English, French or German.

"Those people in the universities, which can create projects, firstly teaching staff, that is the main generators of ideas, do not speak a foreign language," he said stressing also "general apathy".

So far, about 22 Tempus projects have been funded, Bagirov said.

All the projects of the program are divided into two main types:

- structural, that focus on structural changes in Azerbaijan's general education policy;

- joint European projects, implemented between universities to promote any programs within university.

According to Bagirov, practice of European higher education institutions shows that active students are involved for writing projects.

"Unfortunately, still there is a wall between teachers and students in Azerbaijan. Some time needed in order to overcome this negative tendency gradually,"  he noted.


/Trend/