Azerbaijan
Peace agreement is close: Finally, after more than 30 years Nagorni-Karabakh conflict is almost done (Azerbaijan got back its territories) and countries (Azerbaijan and Armenia) are very close to the peace agreement signature.
Azerbaijan career development concept: group of several governmental bodies has development a document where they agreed on several vital notions – current situation, future vision and roles delegation (who will do what).
Career Centers’ development: Higher Ed institutions started their competition on having the best Career Center and there is a bigger interest on having more competent team and services.
Certification: State Employment Agency has suggested to assess:
- university career center’s current situation
- help with its’ development
- final certification (or assessment)
Legislation: We are waiting to update current legislation, particularly Employment law’s part related to our field. Particularly, adding such notions as “career consultant”, “career center” as well as updating spheres of work.
Books and guideline: State employment agency worked on new books for career consultants, printed and shared it for free throughout the country.
July 2023 Azerbaijan Report
Reintegration to Karabakh region: after 30 years war big part of the territory is back and native population (which was IDP) is going back to their historical territories.
War in Ukraine and it’s influence on migration: we have immigrants both from Russia and Ukraine particularly from IT backgrounds
Growing demand on Career consulting services: adults are more interested in getting professional help.
Nakhchivan Career Forum: for the first time Career forum is planned to be held in Nakhchivan, part of Azerbaijan which doesn’t have a physical border with mainland
Parents Development Platform: the project which aims to raise awareness about career development related topics among parents in rural Azerbaijan.
January 2023 Azerbaijan Report
- COVİD restrictions are almost gone (no mask restriction)
- Uncertainty is felt in the business sphere. Growing interest in working for government (higher stability).
- University rectors’ forum:
State Employment Agency organized first ever Rectors and Vice-rectors forum related to career development topics. More than 20 university representatives attended this event.
Main aim was to raise awareness about career centers’ importance, job market, skills etc.
- Second Azerbaijan Career Development Forum
State Employment Agency organized ACDF for the second time. Main topics:
Importance of university career centers
Employer value and job market
Employees’ career development at workplace
Brian Hutchison was one of our speakers!
- Growing accent on vocational education from different governmental bodies
- Growing interest in international experience (IAEVG, WAPES, NACE etc)
August 2022 Azerbaijan Report
- Ministry of Education and Academy of Sciences were emerged and Ministry of Education and Sciences was established.
- Central Career branch of State Employment Agency was established. This is the first career oriental governmental body.
- It’s major selection time for high school graduates. State Employment Agency is organizing Major Guide project where awareness raising seminars are being organized in 52 regions of Azerbaijan.
5. European Union is supporting the research paper on current situation of Career Development system of Azerbaijan. The draft paper is ready, and final is being prepared.
Feb 2022 Azerbaijan Report
Azerbaijan Career Development Forum 2021:
In early December 2021 for the first time in Azerbaijan history, Career Development Forum was organized. Forum gathered together more than 10 local and international speakers and more than 300 participants (due to COVID restrictions). Main topics – Future job trends, employability, career development, after-COVID realities.
Creation of Central Career Branch of State Employment Agency:
This governmental body is planning to launch its Career Branch, which will assist it in several directions:
- capacity building and development of current and future career consultants
development of new career-related products
monitoring and quality control of current products
- delivery of products to end-users (career consulting (online & offline), webinars, training etc).
- cooperation with various state and business entities in the field of career development
Changes in career consultants’ position in State Employment Agency:
Starting from March 2022 majority of State Employment Agency changes their approach. If in the past they had just aprx. 30 career consultants, now they plan to develop every second employee as a consultant and strengthen their capacity.
Development of career consultants’ at State Agency on Vocational Education:
More than 25 career consultants of the State Agency on Vocational Education were involved in the career development courses (November 2021-January 2022). After 2 months’ course consultants also got a chance of having a 1-month one-to-one mentorship service.
May 2021 Azerbaijan Report
- New initiatives on recruiting and development of career consultants. Particularly, GIZ (German Development Agency) in Azerbaijan and European Union supported the re-establishment of Career Center and capacity development of career consultants at Barda Vocational School.
- “Alo, Career” support service established by State Employment Service has started to provide career consulting services via Zoom.
3. Several local universities including Azerbaijan State Economic University included Career Planning and Soft Skills lessons to their freshmen syllabus
4. Ministry of Education is planning some structural changes particularly in the field of career guidance and vocation education.
February 2021 Azerbaijan Report
- New initiatives on recruiting and development of career consultants:
- US Embassy in Azerbaijan supported Career Consultants’ Course project where more than 50 participants joined 3 month’ capacity building course on career consulting topics;
- GIZ (German Development Agency) in Azerbaijan supported the re-establishment of Career Center and capacity development of career consultants at Mingechaur State University and ASAN Peshe Vocational School in North-West of Azerbaijan;
2. Activization of State Employment Agency in the field of Career Consulting.
- Establishment of “Alo, Career” support service which will provide career consulting services via phone or Zoom
- First meeting with the representatives of more than 25 university Career Centers’ of Azerbaijan. Agency initiated the establishment of Career Centers’ Council which will coordinate and support the work of all Career Centers in Azerbaijan.
- Establishment of Career Guidance Governmental Working Group, which includes the representatives of Ministry of Education, State Employment Agency, State Examination Center and other relevant bodies.
October 2020 Azerbaijan Report
- COVID-19: we were over with the first cycle reducing daily infected number down to 60-100, but recently observe rise and seems like the further limitations will be imposed by the Government. Official special quarantine regime continue up until November 2, 2020.
- Education is online for all levels including HEd
- Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict: all attention is focused and around that situation over NK territories of Azerbaijan. We are officially in a state of war with the neighbouring country
5. Currently group of a newly recruits is undergoing trainings to become a professional career experts in the field and be able to conduct career guidance sessions
April 2020 Country report
1. Outbreak of pandemic
- Quarantine regime as of March 3rd, 2020
- Total lock down as of April 4th, 2020 (borders and state to state travels)
- More than 400 recorded cases, 7 deaths, more than 5000 ppl in quarantine zones
2. Virtual Job Fairs, Online career counseling, Online company meet ups, Webinars
3. Social and Economic implications
- All educational institutions moved to online education
- Government educational TV and Internet programs have been launched to cover K12
- Public and Private Universities moved to online course deliveries, including some student support activities (careers support)
- Internships/Job applications are paused
- Government decrees: 40 mln manat allocated to support families with low income, income taxes for SMEs will be reimbursed, special fund established to fight COVID-19.
- Government decrees: 40 mln manat allocated to support families with low income, income taxes for SMEs will be reimbursed, special fund established to fight COVID-19.
November 2019 Country report
British Council, Graduate Employability Conference, November 2019
- Each year, BC brings in educational institutions , government agencies and private sector to speak about issues with graduate employability and how all parties can tackle it united. This year it was a Forum of opinions intended to develop common approach and giving feedback on major specializations taught in the Universities.
Career counselor occupation, November 2019
Under the Twinning project in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Education several occupational standards are being developed. Among them are career counselor and career coach.
Creative Spark, September 2019
- UK based project where ADA University together with the University of Kent, UK and Azerbaijan State University of Arts jointly applied for funding to develop entrepreneurship hubs within Universities to cultivate young start-upers and help them developing their business ideas through creativity and innovative approach.
ADA University: A Model of Higher Education Institution-Business Cooperation
by Gulnur Ismayil
- Let the Job Market Speak: Survey major employers and assess their hiring needs, preferences, requirements, and expectations of candidates for hire
- Bring Employers On Campus: Create an engaging environment for employers on campus via presentations, a speaker series, career fairs, networking events and industry panels
- Give a Say: Allow industry leaders to take ownership for curriculum through setting up advisory boards and engaging them in program development, mentorship programs and promotion
- Encourage Experiential Learning environment: Establish partnership agreements with employers to offer regular volunteering, internship, projects, capstone and employment opportunities for students
- Mentoring Opportunities: Bring prominent executives and ambassadors for a professional mentorship program where students may be coached by an experienced practitioner
- Teaching and In-Class Engagement: Invite qualified business and public sector representatives to offer courses or co-instruct with professors
- Engage in Professional Development Programs: Recruit industry experts to participate in career seminars and workshops as well as individual career planning sessions
Ms. Gulnur Ismayil: is a qualified Global Career Development Facilitator with more than 10 years of experience in career development and guidance. Ms. Ismayil is currently holding position of Career Management Center Director at ADA University, Baku, Azerbaijan. Before joining ADA University, Gulnur worked for the international executive recruitment agency, Michael Page International, in Moscow, Russia. There, she facilitated establishment of a new business line in Sales and Marketing for the Healthcare and Government sectors with the extensive personnel match and development for the relevant businesses. She holds a degree in Area Studies from Volgograd State University, Russia, and a Master’s degree in Diplomacy from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. Alongside the active membership in NACE and NCDA associations, Ms. Ismayil has obtained a postgraduate certificate in Talent and Career Management from the Charted Institute for Personnel and Development, UK.