Speaking at the opening of the "Science Days" held at UNEC, the university's rector, Professor Adalat Muradov, shared his strategic views on the future development directions of higher education, the balance between teaching and research, as well as the transformation of the modern university model:
“The higher education system as a whole is at a historical turning point. This idea can also be applied to scientific activities in universities. This is primarily related to the science development model applied until now. Thus, the development of science no longer depends solely on the classical research model. Especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a significant role in fundamentally changing the rules of the game in this process.
We must build the future of scientific activity in Azerbaijan on the conceptual ideas voiced by Mr. President Ilham Aliyev at the 80th anniversary of ANAS. As the head of state noted, "Science must be closely linked with the economy and industry".
The university's supreme mission is to educate the citizens and leaders of the future. The vast majority of students come to university precisely for this purpose, but unfortunately, in the modern approach, teaching, which is the fundamental activity of the university, is seemingly regarded as a secondary task. Today, the reward systems applied in many prestigious higher education institutions, including UNEC, are practically indifferent to teaching activities. The existing system sometimes presents even the most dedicated and professional teacher as "unsuccessful" based solely on research indicators.
Sometimes the impact created by one teacher is greater than the impact created by dozens of articles. Thus, in the modern university model, the balance between teaching and research seems to be disrupted.
Shaping the future is a very significant and highly responsible mission. The teacher stands at the center of this mission and will continue to do so in the future. The university stands at the center of society's transformation and will continue to stand there in the future.
Does the above mean that we have measured the wrong things, applied the wrong approach for years? No! We have not measured the wrong things! We have not applied the wrong approach. The approach is correct!
We have simply increased attention to research, but the same approach has not been applied to teaching. While researchers have received extensive support, teachers have been deprived of this support. The balance between teaching and research must be restored. UNEC will implement this new approach in the near future, and preparations for the new model are already nearing completion.
Universities were initially established as educational institutions; subsequently, the research function was added to this mission, followed by entrepreneurial activity. Now, the mission of universities as a whole to perform useful work for society has also been added. Does this mean that the same teacher must be a pedagogue, a researcher, an entrepreneur, and a bearer of a social mission? Of course not! This requirement should be attributed not to individual teachers, but to the university as a whole.
This, in turn, brings to the forefront a new management, academic, financial, and organizational model for universities. In this regard, the current situation once again confirms the relevance of the task of "granting management, academic, financial, and organizational autonomy to educational institutions" defined by President Ilham Aliyev 13 years ago in the "State Strategy for the Development of Education in the Republic of Azerbaijan," and the foresight of Mr. President's education policy.
