Afət Ziyadqızı
Each year, the start of the new academic year brings increased traffic congestion and a larger student flow in Baku. This has renewed debate over relocating some higher education institutions to the regions. Experts say that establishing new campuses and specialized faculties in the regions may be more realistic than moving entire universities.
Education expert Mazahir Mammadli told the "Operative Information Center-OMM" that relocating universities from Baku to the regions within a short period would not be easy. He said this would require building new material and technical infrastructure, establishing campuses and ensuring the relocation of academic staff.
“Building the material and technical infrastructure of a university, establishing campuses for it and relocating it together with the entire academic staff requires substantial funding and time.”
According to the expert, one way to reduce the burden on Baku would be to expand the capacity of universities and branches already operating in the regions.
Which universities and branches could be expanded?
Mammadli said converting branches of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University in various districts into independent universities could be one possible option. He believes the same approach could be applied to the Gazakh branch of Baku State University.
He also said the capacity of the Zagatala branch of UNEC could be expanded and transformed into a multidisciplinary higher education institution offering a wider range of specialties.
The expert said Lankaran State University had developed in recent years and that expanding higher education opportunities in the region was important. Universities operating in Ganja and Qarabağ University were also cited as examples of regional higher education development.
Mammadli said a special state program could increase private universities’ interest in operating in the regions. He proposed mechanisms such as allocating land, providing preferential loans and offering financial support.
Should universities be relocated in their entirety?
Vasif Gafarov, a member of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly), proposed a broader approach to relocating higher education institutions to the regions.
In his view, the issue should not be assessed solely as the geographical transfer of a university from Baku to another city. The specialization of higher education institutions could be aligned with the economic profile of the regions.
For example, the operation of Azerbaijan State Agricultural University in Ganja could serve as a model.
Gafarov said the industrial, engineering and logistics specialties of Azerbaijan Technological University could be linked to regions with strong industrial potential.
He added that the engineering, energy, industrial and oil and gas specialties of Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University could also be linked to suitable regions.
The model proposed by the MP envisages establishing individual faculties and campuses in the regions rather than relocating universities in full.
Tourism university campuses could be established in the regions
Gafarov also proposed establishing regional campuses of Azerbaijan Tourism and Management University.
He said campuses in areas with strong tourism potential, including Lankaran, Astara, Gabala, Shaki-Zagatala and Qarabağ, could enable students to connect their theoretical knowledge with real tourism infrastructure.
For teacher training, the MP considers expanding the existing branch network of Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University and establishing new regional centers more feasible than relocating the university in its entirety.
He proposed increasing admissions in priority specialties, particularly in districts where teacher shortages are more acute.
How can teachers be attracted to the regions?
One of the main issues in ensuring that universities or their individual faculties operate in the regions is persuading academic staff to work there.
Gafarov proposed additional salaries, official housing or rental compensation, transportation opportunities, social benefits for family members and educational opportunities for children.
The MP also suggested creating a special academic contract model under which teachers would work in the regions for three to five years.
New academic centers could be established in Qarabağ
Various proposals have also been put forward concerning the liberated territories.
According to the MP, Qarabağ University could become one of the main regional higher education centers, while cooperation with specialized universities in Baku could be expanded.
Under this framework, the establishment in Qarabağ of branches or joint academic centers of Azerbaijan Technical University and Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University for engineering, Azerbaijan State Agricultural University for agricultural technologies, Azerbaijan Tourism and Management University for tourism, and Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University for teacher training has been proposed.
Thus, two main approaches have emerged regarding the relocation of higher education institutions to the regions: moving universities entirely from Baku or establishing new campuses, faculties and academic centers tailored to regional needs.
According to Gafarov, the main principle is not simply to move a university to a region, but to create higher education and research potential suited to the region’s needs.
Supporters of this approach believe such a model could redirect the student flow from Baku to the regions, develop human capital locally and increase employment opportunities.
