Revisiting Digital Transformation of Azerbaijan Higher Education in the New Digital Era

Year 2024, , 72 - 83, 28.06.2024

Murad Aliyev , Sadagat Aliyeva

https://doi.org/10.51803/yssr.1441943

Abstract

This study explores digital transformation of Azerbaijan higher education institutions in teaching and learning process as well as administrative issues, highlighting the complexities and multifaceted approach. As a result of this critical analysis, we intend to propose a multifaceted approach to digital transformation of Azerbaijan higher education that includes key components such as promoting and aspiring to improve digital literacy among faculty members, incorporating technology into education through utilising digital tools and online resources, and driving innovation through research and development activities. Moreover, the study analyses the key concerns in the digital transformation of Azerbaijan modern higher education and proposes an approach that describes the driving factors of transformational changes as well as their effects. Based on the existing literature, we consider the processes of change in the contexts of globalisation, regionalization, the information society, the Internet revolution, government reforms, downsizing and restructuring, management practices, and the establishment of new funds. In addition, we view increased competition between universities as a dynamic factor influencing the transformation process. The purpose of this study is to shed light on the impact of global and local dynamics on digital transformation and therefore provide information on the growing higher education ecosystem in Azerbaijan.

Keywords

Azerbaijan higher education, digital transformation in higher education, digitalisation

Yeni Dijital Çağda Azerbaycan Yükseköğretiminin Dijital Dönüşümünün Yeniden Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Azerbaycanın yükseköğretim kurumlarının dijital dönüşümünü hem eğitimsel hem de idari yönleri kapsayacak şekilde incelemektedir. Araştırmada, öğretim üyeleri arasında dijital okuryazarlığın arttırılması, teknolojinin dijital araçlarla eğitime entegre edilmesi, araştırma ve geliştirme yoluyla yenilikçiliğin teşvik edilmesi gibi temel bileşenleri ve bu süreçte yeni çağın mevcut zorluklarını belirleyen kapsamlı bir yaklaşımın altı çizilmişdir. Ayrıca çalışma, Azerbaycan modern yüksek öğretiminin dijital dönüşümünün temel sorunlarını analiz ediyor ve dönüşümsel değişimlerin itici faktörlerini ve bunların sonuçlarını açıklayan bir yaklaşım öneriyor. Mevcut literatürden yararlanarak değişim süreçlerini küreselleşme, bölgeselleşme, bilgi toplumu, İnternet devrimi, hükümet reformu, küçülme ve yeniden yapılanma, yönetim uygulamaları ve yeni temellerin oluşturulması bağlamında inceliyoruz. Ayrıca üniversiteler arasında artan rekabetin de dönüşüm sürecini etkileyen dinamik bir faktör olduğunu düşünüyoruz. Bu çalışma, yeni dijital çağda Azerbaycanın yükseköğretim kurumlarının küresel ve yerel anlamda dijital dönüşümünü harakete geçiren faktörler ve onların etkileri hakkında bilgi sağlamış ve bu dönüşümün Azerbaycan yükseköğretim ekosistemi için ana bileşenleri bulmuşdur.

Keywords

Azerbaycan yüksek öğretimi, yükseköğretimde dijital dönüşüm, dijitalleşme

References

• References Aliyeva, Y. (2020). Science, technology, and innovation (STI) gap assessment of Azerbaijan. In the framework of the UNECE project Strengthening innovation policies for SPECA countries in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2021-03/STI%20gap%20analysis_Azerbaijan_Report_Yulia%20Alieva.pdf
• Azərbaycan Respublikasının 2022-2026-cı illərdə sosial-iqtisadi inkişaf Strategiyası (2022). Retrieved from: https://president.az/az/articles/view/56725
• Abad-Segura, E., González-Zamar, M-D., Infante Moro, J.C., Ruipérez García, G. (2020). Sustainable management of digital transformation in higher education: global research trends. Sustainability, 12(5), 2107. [CrossRef]
• Adedoyin, O.B., & Soykan, E. (2020). Covid-19 pandemic and online learning: the challenges and opportunities. Interact Learn Env. 31(2), 863–875. doi:
• Ahmadov, H. H. (2022). The education funding system in Azerbaijan as one of the main directions of the state strategy for the development of education. Universidad y Sociedad, 14(6), 333–339.
• Altbach, P. (2005). Patterns in higher education development. In P. Altbach, R. Berdahl, P. Gumport (Eds.). American Higher Education in the Twenty-First Century: Social, Political, and Economic Challenges (pp. 15–37). The Johns Hopkins University Press. [CrossRef]
• Bayramova, U. & Aliyev, A. (2019). Innovations in higher education: MOODLE in Azerbaijan universities. In 1st International Informatics and Software Engineering Conference (UBMYK) (pp. 1¬–7), Ankara, Turkey. [CrossRef]
• Bukar, M., & Mustafa, A. S. (2020). Integrating ICT and education for administrative purposes: Analysis of access to information at Khazar University, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan Journal of Educational Studies, 2(2), 27–43.
• Bresinsky, M., & Von Reusner, F. (2018). GLOBE – Learn and innovate digitization by a virtual collaboration exercise and living lab. 6th EAI International Conference on Interactivity and Game Creation, ArtsIT 2017 and the International Conference on Design, Learning and Innovation, DLI 2017, 229 (pp. 273–281). Springer Verlag.
• Brown, P., & Lauder, H. (2006). Globalisation, knowledge and the myth of the magnet economy. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 4 (1), 25–57. [CrossRef]
• Bond, M., Marín, V. I., Dolch, C., Bedenlier, S., & Zawacki-Richter, O. (2018). Digital transformation in German higher education: student and teacher perceptions and usage of digital media. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 15(1), 48.
• Ergun, A., & Kondakci, Y. (2021). The internationalisation of higher education and identity construction in Azerbaijan. Europe-Asia Studies, 73(7), 1330–1354.
• EU4 Digital (2020). New organisational forms in support of ICT innovation: policy recommendations: Azerbaijan. EU4Digital - supporting digital economy and society in the Eastern Partnership, pp. 50. https://eufordigital.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Policy-recommendation-for-Azerbaijan-in-the-area-of-New-organisational-forms-in-support-of-ICT-innovation.pdf
• Fitzgerald, M., Kruschwitz, N., Bonnet, D., & Welch, M. (2014). Embracing digital technology: a new strategic imperative. MIT sloan management review, 55 (2), 1.
• Gama, P. J. A. (2019). Intelligent educational dual architecture for university digital transformation. 48th Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE 2018. [CrossRef]
• Gənclərin xarici ölkələrin nüfuzlu ali təhsil müəssisələrində təhsil almalarına dair 2022–2026- cı illər üçün Dövlət Proqramı (2022). “Gənclərin xarici ölkələrin nüfuzlu ali təhsil müəssisələrində təhsil almalarına dair 2022–2026-cı illər üçün Dövlət Proqramı”nın təsdiq edilməsi haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikası Prezidentinin Sərəncamı, № 3163.
• Grosseck, G., Maliţa, L., & Bunoiu, M. (2020). Higher education institutions towards digital transformation—The WUT case. In: Curaj, A., Deca, L., Pricopie, R. (eds) European Higher Education Area: Challenges for a new decade (pp. 565¬–581). Springer, Cham,.
• Gümüşoğlu, E.K. (2017). Yükseköğretimde dijital dönüşüm. Açıköğretim Uygulamaları ve Araştırmaları Dergisi, 3(4), 30–42.
• Hanelt, A., Bohnsack, R., Marz, D., & Antunes Marante, C. (2021). A systematic review of the literature on digital transformation: Insights and implications for strategy and organizational change. Journal of Management Studies, 58(5), 1159–1197. [CrossRef]
• Hulla, M., Karre, H., Hammer, M., & Ramsauer, C. (2019). A teaching concept towards digitalization at the LEAD factory of Graz University of Technology. 21st International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Lear¬ning, ICL 2018, 917 (pp. 393–402). Springer Verlag. h
• Hajiyeva, L. (2020). Digital education in the context of new economy. Economic and Social Development: Book of Proceedings, 3, 290–297.
• Hasanoglu, M., & Zeynalli, L. (2022). Priorities for improving distance education and human capital in Azerbaijan Public Administration. In Public Affairs Education and Training in the 21st Century (pp. 358–379). IGI Global.
• Ilyasov, A., Imanova, S., Mushtagov, A., & Sadigova, Z. (2023). Modernization of quality assurance system in higher education of Azerbaijan. Quality in Higher Education, 29(1).
• Isaxanli, H. (2018). Education facing globalization in post-communist country: Azerbaijan. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd’18). http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12323/3952
• Isakhanli, H., & Pashayeva, A. (2018). Higher education transformation, institutional diversity and typology of higher education institutions in Azerbaijan. In 25 Years of Transformations of Higher Education Systems in Post-Soviet Countries: Reform and Continuity (pp. 97–121). [CrossRef]
• Isaeva, R., & Aliyev, R. (2023). Excellence in teaching at Azerbaijani universities: a conceptualisation. Quality in Higher Education, 29(1), 60–76. [CrossRef]
• Kazimli, F. (2023). On the normative legal framework in the field of higher education in Azerbaijan since the period of independence. Universidad y Sociedad, 15(6), 121–126.
• Lepisto, E. (2015). Azerbaijan. In: Hörner W., Döbert H., Reuter L., von Kopp B. (eds), The Education Systems of Europe. Global Education Systems. Springer, Cham. [CrossRef]
• Medvedeva, T. A. (2015). University education: the challenges of 21st century. Procedia- Social and Behavioral Sciences, 166, 422–426. [CrossRef]
• OECD. (2016). Innovating Education and Educating for Innovation: The Power of Digital Technologies and Skills. OECD Publishing, Paris.
• O’Neill, A. (2022, January 5). Youth unemployment rate in Azerbaijan in 2019. https://www.statista.com/statistics/811652/youth-unemployment-rate-in-azerbaijan/
• Peterson, M. (2012). EFL learner collaborative interaction in Second Life. ReCALL, 24(1), 20–39. [CrossRef]
• Rampelt F., Orr D., & Knoth A. (2019). Bologna Digital 2020 - White paper on digitalisation in the European higher education area. Retrieved January 14, 2024 from: https://hochschulforumdigitalisierung.de/de/news/white-paper-bologna-digital-2020.
• Rodríguez-Abitia, G., & Bribiesca-Correa, G. (2021). Assessing digital transformation in universities. Future Internet, 13 (2), Article 52.
• Rzayev, A., & Suleymanov, T. (2018). Application of ICTs in teaching, learning and management at state university in Azerbaijan case of Azerbaijan State University of Economics. Retrieved January 23, 2024 from https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3160286
• State program on increasing the international competitiveness of the higher education system in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2019-2023. (November, 2018). Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Approval of “State Program on Increasing the International Competitiveness of Higher Education System in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2019-2023”, Presidential Decree No. 711.
• Strategic Roadmap for National Economy Perspective of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2016). https://monitoring.az/assets/upload/files/15075d6928310402cd152c96db0d6835.pdf
• Singh, K. K., & Asif, M. (2019). Emerging trends and technologies for digital transformation of libraries. IP Indian Journal of Library Science and Information Technology, 4 (2), 41–43.
• Suleymanov, T. (2020). Transformation of Higher Education in Azerbaijan: Reforms,
• Policies and Current Trends. The Journal of Economic Sciences: Theory and Practice, 77(2), 40–60.
• Valehov, J., & Streitwieser, B. (2022). The “Entrepreneurial university”: A catalyst for the redevelopment of the Azerbaijani higher education system. Journal of Comparative and International Higher Education, 14(2), 26–46. [CrossRef]
• Valiyev, A., & Babayev, A. (2021). Azerbaijani youth in transition: Is the state youth policy effective enough?. Journal of Eurasian Studies, 12(2), 145–154. [CrossRef]
• World Bank. (2018). Azerbaijan: The role of higher education in innovation. World Bank,
• Washington, DC. Retrieved March 28th, 2024 from:
• Zhao, Y., & Watterston, J. (2021). The changes we need: Education post COVID-19. J Educ Change, 22, 3–12. [CrossRef]