The Chamber of Accounts conducted an external state financial control measure in the form of a performance audit to assess the efficiency of the organization and outcomes of the Education Quality Assurance Agency’s (TKTA) activities from 2023 to 2025. The agency operates under the Ministry of Science and Education.
“Operative Information Center-OMM” reports this, citing the Chamber.
According to the information, steps taken during the agency’s operations have helped strengthen quality assurance in higher education and positively affect graduates’ employment prospects in Azerbaijan and abroad. Measures to recognize foreign qualifications have led to the identification of a number of fake diplomas. The fact that most court rulings concerning the recognition of qualifications have upheld TKTA’s position indicates that its decisions have generally had a legal basis. International best practice recognizes that, alongside the independence of education quality assurance bodies, state budget funding should be one of their main sources of financing. This principle is also applied in Azerbaijan.
The audit’s main findings were as follows:
Systemic problems were identified in TKTA’s management, legal regulation, financial management, quality assurance and institutional development. The shortcomings negatively affected the agency’s effectiveness and financial sustainability, and hindered efforts to strengthen the reliability of quality assurance mechanisms.
TKTA’s subordination to the ministry and the fact that the head of the executive body chairs the Accreditation Council created risks of conflicts of interest in the accreditation process. Inconsistency with domestic and international standards on independence limited TKTA’s opportunities for international accreditation. The audit also found shortcomings in strategic planning, the setting of performance targets and accountability mechanisms.
The regulatory framework and accreditation criteria did not cover all levels of education; accreditation schedules were not followed, electronic systems had not been established, and shortcomings were found in documentation and expert work. Some educational institutions operated without accreditation.
Alternative mechanisms permitted by law were not fully applied in the recognition of qualifications, while the need to improve regulations led to longer application review periods. The failure to update some assessment criteria showed that measures to strengthen the recognition of foreign qualifications were needed.
The audit findings also indicated a need to improve the organizational model for the recognition of non-formal and informal education, the management of expert capacity, the modernization of state education standards, the results orientation of analytical work and methodological support.
In some cases, public funds were not used for their intended purposes. Public procurement was conducted almost exclusively through single-source procurement, preventing the establishment of a competitive environment. Inadequate oversight of procurement contracts led to discrepancies between funds paid and results delivered, and accounting and reporting deficiencies were identified. Income from operational activities did not cover costs, particularly payroll expenses, and the agency did not fully use its revenue potential from program accreditation, recognition of foreign qualifications and other services.
Overall, the audit results showed that comprehensive reforms are needed to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of TKTA’s operations. These should align its management model, legal framework, financial management, and accreditation and qualification-recognition mechanisms with international standards, while strengthening transparency, efficiency and institutional independence.
A Collegium decision adopted on the audit findings provided for the audit report to be sent to the Ministry of Science and Education and TKTA to address the identified shortcomings. It also ordered that the Ministry of Finance be informed of deficiencies in fund management and the Ministry of Health of cases identified involving the recognition of diplomas held by students who studied abroad in medical specialties without equivalent programs in Azerbaijan.
