"In the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Education", the types of higher education institutions are clearly defined: university, academy, and institute. According to the Law, each of these concepts has a different function and mission. The Law states that a university is a multi-profile leading higher education institution that trains a wide range of specialists at all levels of higher education and conducts fundamental and applied scientific research.
An academy operates as a higher education institution specialized in a specific field. An institute, on the other hand, is intended as a higher education institution that trains specialists in specific specialization areas and primarily conducts applied research".
These words were noted by Zahid Məmmədov, Doctor of Economic Sciences and Professor from Azerbaijan, Russia, and Turkey, to AzEdu.az, adding that in practice, however, this legal distinction appears to be almost entirely formal:
"In Azerbaijan, the vast majority of higher education institutions have acquired university status. As a result, the structural differences envisaged in the law have practically disappeared, and the concepts of institute and academy have turned into formal terms. In reality, however, “university” status is not just a matter of name, but a matter of content and responsibility. A university must have broad scientific directions, conduct fundamental research, and integrate various faculties and scientific schools. If a higher education institution operates only in one or a few narrow specializations, automatically calling it a university is not in line with the spirit of the law and academic logic.
This trend leads to several negative consequences. Firstly, institutional differences in the higher education system are lost. Secondly, the academic weight of the “university” concept weakens, and the name itself is devalued. Thirdly, the development strategy of higher education institutions is built on the name, not on the content.
In international practice, university status is determined by strict criteria. In many countries, being a university requires broad scientific directions, doctoral programs, serious research infrastructure, and international scientific activity. In Azerbaijan, however, sometimes even institutions operating at the institute level being called universities weakens the structural logic of the higher education system.
If the concepts of university, academy, and institute are separately defined in the law, this distinction should also function in reality. Otherwise, a serious contradiction arises between the concepts written in the law and the actual higher education system.
A simple question arises: If all higher education institutions are universities, then what is the difference and value of the university concept? Without answering this question, it will be difficult to talk about serious reforms regarding quality and structure in the higher education system".
