QAA signs Memorandum of Understanding with the Education Quality Assurance Agency, Azerbaijan

QAA is exploring new opportunities for collaboration in Azerbaijan through a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Education Quality Assurance Agency, Azerbaijan (TKTA), the agency responsible for ensuring the quality of education in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The agreement is signed in QAA’s capacity supporting the enhancement of higher education internationally, including activity to support QAA Members and collaboration with international partners.

Established in 2019 under the Ministry of Education, TKTA is in the process of developing a strategic roadmap for the assessment of all levels of education in the Republic of Azerbaijan. This will include the development of a strategy for enhancing the international recognition of Azerbaijani education, particularly for higher education.

As TKTA develops its approach to quality, the new agreement will provide numerous opportunities for collaboration with QAA, which will also lead to the development of International Insights resources for QAA Members wishing to develop partnership in Azerbaijan. QAA and TKTA will also explore opportunities for joint accreditation and higher education review activity of provision in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Information sharing will also form part of the agreement, ensuring both parties are up to date with developments in their respective countries’ higher education system, providing a useful foundation for strong UK-Azerbaijan higher education partnerships and the development of transnational education (TNE) arrangements in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Through this partnership, QAA International Insights Members will gain access to a country report, detailing the higher education landscape and context for TKTA, which QAA will be supported in producing by TKTA.

Speaking upon signing the agreement, QAA’s Chief Executive, Vicki Stott said: ‘We are delighted to be fostering a new partnership with TKTA, signaling the mutual importance of UK-Azerbaijan partnership for both organisations. We look forward to exploring the opportunities for collaboration, working to the benefit of our members and all higher education institutions in the UK and the Republic of Azerbaijan.’

Ulkar Sattarova, Chairperson of the Management Board, TKTA said: ‘The MoU that we have signed today is of great importance to us. I'm very optimistic that soon we will see the fruits of the memorandum we just signed. I believe it will open new horizons of cooperation and of course will enable us to learn from each other's expertise.’

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Baku at an International Forum on Quality Assurance in Higher Education, hosted by TKTA. The agreement will last for a period of three years, with the potential of an extension for a further three years upon the agreement of both parties.