According to the report on the activities of the Cabinet of Ministers in 2025, the issue of relocating universities in Baku and opening new universities in the regions will be reflected in the “Socio-Economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2027–2030”. The issue envisages certain measures to be taken for the respective years in the draft "Socio-Economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2027-2030”, which is currently under discussion. At the same time, the issue of constructing new universities in the regions will be considered on a priority basis within the budget capabilities, in accordance with the requirements of the "Rules for the Preparation, Implementation Monitoring, and Evaluation of the State Investment Program of the Republic of Azerbaijan" approved by Decree No. 257 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated December 20, 2024, provided that substantiated proposals are submitted by the relevant client organizations.
In this context, the question arises as to which higher education institutions located in the capital need to be relocated to the regions and what profile new universities should have.
In a statement to Modern.az regarding the topic, Mehriban Vəliyeva, a member of the Science and Education Committee of the Milli Majlis, assessed this approach as a highly relevant and strategically important issue.
Within the framework of the “Socio-Economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2027-2030”, the deconcentration of higher education institutions (relocation outside the capital) is an important step both in terms of reducing the burden on Baku and revitalizing the regions.
Within the framework of the “Socio-Economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2027-2030”, the transfer of higher education to the regions is extremely important for the balanced development of our country. This is not only an educational policy but also a comprehensive approach aimed at the development of the regional economy, employment, and human capital”.
According to the deputy, it would not be correct to mechanically relocate every university:
“The relocation process should be carried out based on the parallelism of “specialization and regional potential”, i.e., according to the principle of strategic alignment. Each higher education institution should align with the economic profile of the region where it will be located. Thus, technical and industrial universities – for example, the placement of some faculties of the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University or technical profile institutions in general near the Sumgayit industrial zone or future industrial centers of Karabakh (e.g., Aghdam) may be expedient. Agricultural and agrarian profile institutions should be located in the regions. These institutions should be more closely integrated with Ganja, as well as Lankaran, Guba-Khachmaz, and other zones. Transport and logistics: It is expedient to establish specialized higher education campuses for logistics and transport around the Alat Free Economic Zone and the Baku International Sea Trade Port. The name and relocation of the Slavic University can also be a separate subject of discussion”.
M. Valiyeva also added that the new universities to be established should be built on a “results-oriented and innovative” approach rather than a “classic” model:
"The number of modern centers specializing in renewable energy, “smart city” technologies, and tourism management should be increased in Karabakh University and the East Zangazur economic region. There is a need for new educational institutions that will serve as regional centers for high technologies, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and software engineering. Within the framework of logistics and transit management, considering Azerbaijan's transformation into a transit hub, specialized centers that deeply teach this field should be established, especially along the southern and western corridors”.
The member of the Milli Majlis emphasized that merely relocating the university building is not enough; at the same time, for a successful transition, this process must be implemented with a full ecosystem approach:
“Within the framework of the campus model, modern university towns – dormitories, laboratories, startup centers, and social infrastructure – should be built together. Incentives should be provided for academic staff, and additional salaries, housing, and social security packages should be applied for teachers relocating to the regions. Integration with industry should be ensured; universities should cooperate directly with economic entities in their respective regions, and students should gain experience in a real production environment. In general, it should be noted that if this initiative is properly planned, it will reduce the demographic and transport burden on Baku, increase economic activity in the regions, and bring the quality of education closer to practice. This is not only an educational reform but also a strategic project that will be one of the main pillars of Azerbaijan's future development model”.
However, Vasif Qafarov, a member of the Parliament's Science and Education Committee, believes that the relocation of some universities to the regions and the establishment of new higher education institutions can be considered an important step in terms of accelerating regional development and achieving a more balanced distribution of scientific potential in the country:
“The main objective of this process is not merely the physical relocation of universities, but also the stimulation of economic, social, and scientific development in the regions. According to this approach, the capital should remain the country's main academic center, and the relocation of all universities is neither realistic nor expedient. However, placing the main campuses or large branches of some higher education institutions operating in applied and practice-oriented specialties in the regions can yield more effective results. Such steps can expand educational opportunities in the regions, more closely link education with local economic activities, and adapt personnel training to local needs”.
The deputy noted that criteria such as population size, economic potential, and transport accessibility play a key role in the selection of regions:
“From this perspective, large cities with industrial and economic opportunities, regions with developed energy and industrial infrastructure, as well as regions with high tourism and agrarian potential, are considered more favorable for the formation of higher education centers. At the same time, the establishment of universities in reconstructed areas can also make a significant contribution to the social and economic revival of those regions”.
V. Qafarov also brought to attention that the principle of regional specialization holds particular importance in the establishment of new universities:
“The establishment of specialized higher education institutions in various regions in fields such as technology, energy, logistics, agriculture, tourism, and the food industry can contribute both to the development of the local economy and the expansion of the country's scientific potential.
Consequently, the relocation of universities to the regions and the establishment of new higher education institutions should be regarded not only as an educational policy but also as an important component of the regional development strategy. As a result of a properly planned approach, while the capital remains the main scientific center, new academic centers can also be formed in the regions, which will contribute to a more balanced development of the higher education system in the country”, the deputy concluded.
