Azerbaijan, Baku, 19 February / Trend corr. I.Alizadeh / Members of the Azerbaijani Parliamentary Commission on Science and Education Issues consider that the decree by the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is relevant for further development of this sphere.
" Azerbaijan has already joined the Bologna process. There is need to develop different programs on education in order to implement the process at a very high level. The decree issued by the Azerbaijani President will accelerate changing to the Bologna process of the country," MP Asaf Hajiyev, a member of the permanent Parliamentary Commission on Science and Education Issues, said to Trend.
The Azerbaijani President issued a decree on several events concerning integration of Azerbaijan to the higher education space of Europe. Under the decree, the Azerbaijani Education Ministry together with Universities must develop the project 'State program on reforms in higher education system of Azerbaijan from 2008 to 2012' until 30 March. Moreover, the Foreign Ministry is responsible for implementation of necessary events and signing international agreements in order to implement the Bologna process in the country. The Cabinet of Ministers was ordered to provide correspondence of a list of specialties of bachelor's degree with documents approved by UNESCO and other international structures.
The MP considers that concrete steps should be taken in order to settle problems in the educational system of the country. The key issue is to achieve recognition of Azerbaijani diplomas in Europe.
"Today, there is no country that can reach development in the educational sphere independently. Azerbaijan joining the Bologna process will provide for development of the educational system and its integration to Europe," the MP added.
The new Azerbaijani draft law on 'Education' must also meet the demands of the Bologna process.
Abel Maharramov, a member of the permanent Parliamentary Commission on Science and Education Issues and rector of Baku State University, considers that in spite of Azerbaijan being a participant of the Bologna process, there had been no concrete strategy in the country before the President's decree.