The eighth mission under the Activity 1.5 Provide recommendations for improvement of education standards for qualification for programmes in the priority areas (incl. legislative arrangements) with a view to describing achievements based on competences and skills, considering the AzQF of Twinning project was implemented from 8 to 14 October 2019.

The mission was implemented by Ms. Dace Namsone, Director of Interdisciplinary Centre for Educational Innovation at the University of Latvia, Ms. Zaiga Krišjāne, Professor at Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences at the University of Latvia, Ms. Francoise Robin-Le Guen, Full Professor at the University of Rennes 1 of France and Mr. Aigars Vītols, Lead researcher at Department of Industrial Electronics and Electrical Technology at the University of Latvia. 

The purpose of the mission was to revise the state standards for the study programmes in the field of Chemistry teacher, Geography, Oil and Gas Engineering and Electrical Engineering respectively.

As part of the mission, the experts met with the academic staff representing the above-mentioned study programmes from Baku State University, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Azerbaijan Technical University and Sumgait State University to collect views and suggestions of the academic staff regarding the revision of those three study programmes selected as pilots as part of the Twinning project.  

The experts also visited the relevant faculties in pilot above-said universities to hold discussions with wider community of academic staff and to see the infrastructure used for teaching of the relevant study programmes.

As a result of discussions with relevant academic staff, as well as Ministry of Education representatives, the experts revised professional competences, the list of disciplines and defined the minimum requirements for infrastructure and the possible areas of employment for graduates in the relevant state standards based on the new format of study programmes developed by Twinning experts based on a competence-based approach.

In the mission report written by the experts they also provided recommendations on improvements in the teaching of respective study programmes.