Today, our country has become an equal member of the European Higher Education Area and the activities of our higher education institutions have been fully adapted to the requirements of the Bologna process. The introduction of the European Credit Transfer System has allowed the development of the educational process in higher education in terms of form and content by bringing to our country the positive experience of leading universities of Europe and the world.

Significant progress has been made in applying new approaches and methodologies in the training of highly qualified personnel, improving student admission rules, establishing quality assurance centers in universities, increasing the efficiency of career centers serving graduates, and increasing the effectiveness of scientific activities in higher education.

The “SABAH” project was launched in 2014 for the first time in the field of higher education based on the principles of training competent and skilled specialists, applying new content and teaching technologies. Currently, “SABAH” groups operate in 12 higher education institutions, cover 39 programs, and have more than 2,300 students.

The dual degree programs implemented jointly with the leading universities of European countries have played an important role in improving the content and increasing the international prestige of our higher education institutions. Programs between ADA University and the Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands, Baku State University and the University of Würzburg in Germany, the Azerbaijan State University of Economics and the University of London / London School of Economics in the UK, the Azerbaijan University of Tourism and Management and the IMC Krems University of Applied Sciences in Austria, Baku Higher Oil School and Heriot-Watt University in the UK are particularly noteworthy.

Moreover, several agreements have been signed for the implementation of dual degree programs under the "State Program for Increasing the International Competitiveness of the Higher Education System in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2019-2023". Currently, preparations are underway for the implementation of those programs. They are as following:

•    Dual degree program in “Master of Arts in Education Management” between the George Washington University (GW University) and Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University;
•    Dual degree program in “Master of Science in Computer Science and Data Analytics” between the George Washington University (GW University) and ADA University;
•    Dual degree programs at the bachelor’s level in engineering programs between INHA University of South Korea and Baku Engineering University;
•    Dual degree programs at the bachelor's level in "agrarian sciences" programs between the Ege University of Turkey and Azerbaijan State Agrarian University.

The French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ), established on the initiative of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and France and operating since 2016, is exemplary cooperation in the dual degree program. Implemented between the Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry and the University of Strasbourg, this program has gained the status of a successful cooperation platform in the field of education between the two countries. At present, UFAZ trains highly qualified personnel in 4 programs at the bachelor's level and 3 programs at the master's level.

The launch of the Baku branch of the Moscow State University named after Lomonosov in 2009 and the Baku branch of the Moscow State Medical University named after Sechenov in 2015 at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan has significantly changed the overall picture of our higher education. At present, the Baku branch of the Moscow State University named after Lomonosov provides education in 9 programs, and the Baku branch of the Moscow State Medical University named after Sechenov provides education in 1 program.

The "State Program on Education of Azerbaijani Youth Abroad for 2007-2015" approved by the relevant decree of President Ilham Aliyev can be assessed as one of the most important events in the field of education. As part of this successfully implemented program, 3 558 young Azerbaijanis had the opportunity to study at the most prestigious universities in the world at the bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral levels. The vast majority of these young people have already completed their education and began to contribute to the future development of our country.

As another example of the continuing work in this direction and the high importance attached by our state to the development of higher education, the “State Program on Increasing the International Competitiveness of the Higher Education System in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2019-2023”, approved by the Presidential Decree dated November 16, 2018, sets new tasks according to the requirements of modern times. The successful implementation of this program will play an important role in raising the prestige of our higher education as a whole.