In recent years, discussions regarding increasing efficiency in public administration, optimizing expenditures, and deepening institutional reforms have become more intensive. In this context, issues such as the merger of individual ministries and agencies, the elimination of functional duplication, and the reduction of the budget burden are periodically brought to the agenda. Naturally, these discussions also bring other strategically important areas for society, especially the spheres of science and higher education, into focus.
It is against this backdrop that the question arises: to what extent does the existing structure of higher education institutions meet the demands of the day, and can optimization policies also be applied to universities? Issues such as the possibility of reducing or merging universities, the impact of their large number on the state budget, the quality of personnel training, and the efficient management of scientific potential become subjects of current discussion. Specifically, does the existence of higher education institutions operating with the same profile and similar specializations lead to the fragmentation of resources, or does it strengthen the competitive environment? These questions demand an unequivocal answer.
In a statement to Modern.az regarding the topic, **Elchin Mirzabayli**, a member of the Science and Education Committee of the Milli Majlis, noted that against the backdrop of ongoing discussions on optimization and efficient use of resources in public administration, it seems unrealistic for the fields of science and higher education to remain outside these processes.
“However, the main issue here is not to approach the direct meaning of reduction mechanically. Higher education is a strategic field, and the goal should not be to reduce the number of universities, but to increase their quality, effectiveness, and tangible results. From this perspective, I believe that the merger of higher education institutions with functional duplication, weak scientific and academic indicators, and material-technical bases and human resource potential that do not meet requirements, could be a subject for discussion.
Structural reforms in the field of higher education have actually been on the agenda for several years now. This aims not only at reducing costs but also at making management more flexible, strengthening scientific activity, and increasing international competitiveness. In my opinion, not the reduction of universities, but their rational merger and specialization appears to be a more realistic and appropriate scenario. I believe that higher education institutions with the same profile, located in the same city, and offering similar curricula can be transformed into unified academic centers”.
According to the deputy, regarding the issue of the number of universities, the problem lies not in quantity but in effectiveness:
“If a university does not produce scientific output, if its graduates do not meet the demands of the labor market, and if it only serves to maintain an administrative structure, then this is, of course, an additional burden on the state budget. However, efficiently managed universities that conduct research and participate in international projects create intellectual and economic value in addition to incurring costs. Therefore, the issue is not the multitude of universities, but their actual utility coefficient”.
The MP noted that discussions regarding the reduction and merger of universities are also possible at the parliamentary level:
“This could also take place in the format of public hearings. This is my subjective assumption. There is a mechanism for making decisions on such matters, and the issues mentioned can be evaluated within the framework of that mechanism. Because higher education is simultaneously an issue of national security, economic development, and human capital. Such discussions should be conducted not emotionally, but based on statistical indicators, international experience, and long-term strategic goals. Parliament can play an important role here in terms of improving the regulatory and legal framework”.
E. Mirzabayli believes that optimization should in no case be perceived as "cutting" or "closing":
“Optimization is the establishment of the process on optimal and beneficial grounds. I believe that, first and foremost, universities in the regions should be strengthened, capital-centricity should be reduced, consolidation should be carried out among higher education institutions that duplicate the same specializations, and universities should transition to the principle of specialization, meaning they should operate as research universities, applied universities, and pedagogical and technical profile higher education institutions. And primarily, the evaluation of academic staff and scientific results should become the main criterion.
In my opinion, the essence of the educational reforms being implemented in our country also consists of the points I have mentioned. Of course, all these are my subjective opinions, and I have come to this conclusion based on my observations," the deputy concluded his remarks.
Education expert Elchin Afandi stated that structural changes currently underway in some ministries, committees, municipalities, and local executive authorities primarily aim at optimization.
“If we look at the mechanism of this process's impact on universities, it can be said that such an impact is possible only in certain cases. For example, if a university's specializations are not accredited by the Quality Assurance Agency in Education, meaning qualifications are not granted and those specializations are not licensed, then restrictions may be imposed on the university's activities. In such cases, students studying in those specializations may be transferred to other universities”.
According to the expert, regarding the direct merger of universities, this is possible under certain conditions:
“Firstly, the universities to be merged must be geographically close to each other. For example, the merger of Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction with Azerbaijan Technical University might seem theoretically possible. However, such an option is not currently on the agenda, and there is no real need for it. Because each of these higher education institutions has its unique profile. Although certain similar specializations exist, their overall areas of activity are different.
At the same time, each university has a sufficient student contingent and faculty staff, and there is no threat of any higher education institution being closed. All of these are state universities. If we look at the regions, almost every region has one university operating. In some cases, in addition to a university corresponding to the name of that region, there is also a branch of the Pedagogical University. If the student contingent in such branches is small, theoretically, their merger with regional universities is possible. However, to my knowledge, there is no such fact currently”.
E. Afandi added that only in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic could the possibility of merging Nakhchivan State University and Nakhchivan Teachers' Institute be discussed:
However, at the current stage, this also does not seem realistic. Overall, I do not believe that the current optimization process will have a significant impact on universities.
As for the impact of university mergers on the quality of education, this depends on the specific situation. If a university with higher educational quality merges with another university and the curricula of the superior quality university are implemented, this could lead to an overall improvement in educational quality. Such examples also exist in international practice. For instance, in some cases, students from one university are transferred to another, while the former ceases its operations, resulting in the provision of higher quality personnel training”.
The education expert stated that the issue of merging or closing universities within the framework of optimization might be more related to some private universities:
“Thus, the student contingent could be transferred to state universities, and optimization could be carried out in the overall system. However, there is an important point here: private universities operate as private entrepreneurial entities, and they have their student contingent and faculty staff. For this reason, their closure is more related to the activities of the private sector, and frankly, it is difficult to see a realistic mechanism for this.
At the current stage, the main priority is to increase the number of universities and ensure the accessibility of higher education for the country's citizens. For this purpose, the establishment of new higher education institutions is considered more relevant. Precisely for this reason, I do not consider the closure or merger of any university to be realistic or possible at present”.
