A while ago, UNEC (Azerbaijan State University of Economics) achieved a first in the history of Azerbaijani education. For some reason, this success of UNEC did not become an educational event. Yet, this was a first in the South Caucasus.
One of the planet's most prestigious ranking agencies, “Times Higher Education” (“THE”), traditionally announced the results of the “World University Rankings 2026”. UNEC (801-1000th places), which entered the first TOP-1000 of world universities, became the first not only in Azerbaijan but also in the South Caucasus.
The most gratifying aspect is UNEC's achievement of a very high success rate in the research quality indicator (criterion). For the first time in the history of Azerbaijani education, UNEC also ranked in the TOP-500 for this criterion, securing the 481st place.
Currently, contemporary development trends of world universities place special emphasis on research quality. The success formula of a university is now increasingly measured by its research capabilities and the products it brings to the market through this method. Pure research quality closely links the university, and education in general, with innovation and the industrial environment. UNEC's development trajectory in recent years, specifically as a research university, has been reflected in its highest ranking indicators.
The second indicator contributing to this result and UNEC's significant advancement in the rankings is internationalization parameters. UNEC's progress in this criterion reflects the overall picture of the university's roadmap for the future. To keep pace with the world by transcending the boundaries of the spatial factor with its theoretical, practical, and research base, a university must necessarily build its activity program upon the requirements of this indicator. The primary characteristic of the world's leading universities lies precisely in their international functions, and in the Azerbaijani reality, UNEC acts as the higher education institution that best accomplishes this.
It should be noted that in the “Times Higher Education” ranking, three of our universities—Baku State University, ADNSU, and AzTU—are positioned only in the 1501+ range after UNEC.
(Main source for reference: //www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/latest/world-ranking?fbclid=IwY2xjawNufkxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFtNDJuc0dSeDlLUWkyNWVzAR4xmm2p5qZFZxLV97s-kGpbzQvt0edVNVU3YGd2yHO8OofTqvWUiFPQVRFwzg_aem_7WsPYWk5X26aRaZQPQoqcg)
It should also be emphasized that these indicators are not UNEC's only ranking success achieved during the year. Thus, a while ago, the ranking of “A-2026” (QS International Trade Rankings MBA/Masters 2026) was announced. In this indicator, UNEC once again rose to first place in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus, and 56th in the world.
QS International Trade Rankings MBA 2026 identifies the best Master's Programs in Global Business and Trade worldwide. These rankings primarily focus on trade-related curriculum content. In the trade program content indicator, UNEC surpassed leading universities such as LSE and Warwick and rose to be among the top 20 universities in the world for this indicator.
UNEC's indicator for graduate outcomes is also very strong - 82.8 points. The employment rate of graduates is 89.5%, which puts UNEC ahead of LSE and Warwick. In terms of innovative teaching - the “Experiential Learning” sub-indicator - UNEC is on par with world universities like Tsinghua and LSE in terms of teaching methodology. I congratulate the UNEC family on this latest success and thank everyone who contributed.
Source://www.topuniversities.com/international-trade...
UNEC brand
Operating under the “UNEC” brand name since 2016, the university has significantly increased its prestige not only in the national but also in the international scientific and higher education arena. It stands out for its quality education, beneficial science, innovation, and socially oriented activities.
We can list only a portion of the achievements, successes, and advantages gained by the university under the “UNEC” brand name as follows:
Advancement in scientometric databases - The number of citations to UNEC-related articles in the “Scopus” database has increased by more than 1000 times in the last 10 years, and by 310 times in the “Web of Science” database. Regarding the total number of articles, this indicator has increased by more than 200 times for both “Scopus” and “Web of Science”. The university is also in a leading position globally due to this growth rate;
High-ranking student selection – UNEC is among the top five in the selection indicator for applicants with the highest scores. Whereas almost more than half of the students studying at the university until 10 years ago were those pursuing education on a paid basis (indirectly, those with lower scores), this indicator is now only 20%. That is, students who achieve high scores and study at “UNEC” on a state-funded basis constitute 80% of the total student contingent. This is a very high indicator;
Social welfare of teachers - The university has a ranking system based on the performance results of its teachers. This means that teachers' salaries are determined differently based on performance results, rather than on a fixed position salary principle. This rule itself was a first in the Azerbaijani higher education system. This system, based on the teacher's research-oriented ability, also focused them on positive scientific competition.
In this system, the salaries of UNEC teachers who are in the top ten are increased by 2 times, while the salaries of teachers from 11th to 30th place are increased by 70%. We use more than 100 indicators for calculating the ranking, and 70% of these indicators are related to research activities;
Enhancing teachers' research skills - UNEC teachers are conditionally divided into two main groups: those engaged only in pedagogical activities and those conducting both pedagogical and research activities. The salaries of teachers belonging to the second group, i.e., those who acquire researcher status, are increased by 50%. This is also the greatest motivation that directs teachers towards research. The mechanism for professional researchers and beneficial research, considered one of the most serious problems in the local higher education environment, also finds its high-level solution at UNEC through this method.
To obtain researcher status, a UNEC teacher must meet a standard that complies with global criteria: The number of citations to their articles published in the last 5 years must exceed 100. Moreover, this mechanism has been implemented using the “Scopus” database for two years. The scientometric requirements of this database are excessively high compared to others. That is, the number of citations to articles published in “Scopus” in the last five years must not be less than 100, and the H-index must not be less than 8. Additionally, teachers who present a foreign language certificate receive an extra 15% payment from the salary fund.
“UNEC-100” Development Strategy
UNEC's future development mechanism is reflected in the “UNEC-100” Development Strategy.
The “UNEC-100” Development Strategy defines the strategic objective, goals, and activity directions related to the transformation of Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) into a research university.
According to the strategy, in its endeavor to become a research university, UNEC has set as its main goal to adapt master's and doctoral education to progressive global practices, create a highly-ranked “think tank” at national and international levels, and annually increase the number of research projects carried out based on orders and grants to reach 20% of the university's budget.
Furthermore, increasing the number of articles published in the most prestigious publications included in the “Web of Science” and “Scopus” scientific platforms year by year until 2030, owning 3 scientific journals included in these databases, establishing and organizing international scientific events where scientific reports are included in prestigious databases, including organizing an international student scientific conference for economics students every year, have been defined as targets in UNEC's Development Strategy.
Currently, UNEC operates 17 research centers, an Economic Clinic, an Insurance School, and a Development Economics Laboratory focusing on specific research areas. For the purpose of stimulating scientific research, UNEC has a Research Fund, a Differential Salary System, and a reward mechanism for publishing articles in prestigious journals. UNEC also operates an International Master's and Doctoral Center, where modern teaching and training methods meeting international standards are applied for master's and doctoral levels of higher education, offering instruction in 4 languages across 11 specialties and 39 specializations within the “Economics and Management” group of specialties.
(Source: //news.unec.edu.az/xeber/125-universitet/4856-unec-100-inkishaf-strategiyasi-tedgigat-universiteti)
UNEC's advanced management approaches, student and research-centered education model, multifaceted international cooperation, startup and innovation initiatives, and achievements related to the green economy have transformed it into one of the leading higher education institutions in our country. The objectives and goals defined by the “UNEC-100” Development Strategy clearly express the university's responsible vision for the future and its determination for comprehensive development.
UNEC and distance learning
When discussing the uniqueness and advantages of the UNEC brand, an important criterion to emphasize is its work based on a distance education activity mechanism, a first in the country. The most prominent example of this mechanism is the distance education center.
The university has the capacity to provide distance education to 20,000 students through UNEC Extern (Distance Education Center). 80% of the classrooms are hybrid classrooms. This means that the organization of hybrid classes is technically fully possible at any time.
Let's consider that the most optimal education model of the future is hybrid education. The dominance of the hybrid education model is simply inevitable in both general and higher education environments. Because 21st-century education, based on artificial intelligence requirements, will never be confined to university spaces or classrooms. It will not sacrifice the university entirely to the virtual world by departing from classical values. This is simply not possible. Hybrid education is the most unique teaching format of the future. UNEC's recognition of this as one of its main development tendencies demonstrates great professionalism.
UNEC Rector, Professor Adalat Muradov: “One of the biggest projects we are currently working on is the application of artificial intelligence in education. I believe that we will complete our work in this direction in the near future and provide detailed information to the public. Since our university is already digitized, the application of artificial intelligence poses no technical or infrastructural difficulties. From this perspective, implementing the system at UNEC is quite easy and realistic. I believe that after the integration of artificial intelligence into the educational process, our university will advance more rapidly towards its strategic goals.”
(Source://azedu.az/musahibe-ve-reportajlar/91848/azerbaycan-kimi-lke-uchun-51-universitet-choxdur-rektorla-musahibe-i-hisse/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNuhs9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHk7gAITJG4sNyN5_9dq2xm49mPmZvKGJeY4ieKuMaqBBfESTI_XcPAhQX1Qo_aem_dY4DcLN9n3UnPfNpZ-pyPQ )
According to Azerbaijani legislation, as distance education is not yet considered valid, diplomas obtained through this format also lack any legal basis. For both this and other reasons, almost no steps have been taken in the Azerbaijani higher education segment towards the teaching and organization of distance education.
Only UNEC established UNEC Extern-I, a distance education center, even before the pandemic, thereby achieving a first.
It should be noted that bachelor's students studying full-time across all faculties and specialties are involved in the distance classes taught at UNEC Extern. Classes are taught in shifts from 08:00 to 20:20. Classes organized in a distance format at UNEC Extern replace the lessons stipulated by the relevant program. A student who joins the system is automatically registered as “participating” in the electronic journal. Every student has the opportunity to ask the teacher questions during a distance lesson. The implemented model is an alternative to full-time education, utilizing the most modern technologies. The only difference from full-time education is that teachers and students are
in different locations. Its advantages are numerous. One of its biggest advantages is the students' ability to watch the teacher's lecture without limitation after class
is the possibility.
(continued)
Elmin Nuri
Education Researcher
