ADA University was excited to welcome more than 100 local and international education experts, practitioners, policymakers and other interested parties at the 4th International Education Conference held on June 19-20. The topic of this year's conference was under the title, "Towards Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education: Opportunities for Action".
The Education Conference started with the opening address and welcoming remarks of the Vice Rector of Academic Affairs, Dr. Vafa Kazdal. "One of the main goals of the conference is to promote the youth's active participation in international educational research, to reinforce research-based reforms in the education sphere and also to combine local and international experiences and skill set." said Dr. Kazdal.
Following Dr. Kazdal's speech Rector of ADA University, Ambassador Hafiz Pashayev welcomed the guests. "Bringing pedagogic excellence to the academic sphere is of importance for our university for ensuring the quality of education. Hence, we attach high importance to designing PhD programs in collaboration with our foreign partners based in the US and Europe." added Ambassador Pashayev.
Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov highlighted the necessity of an active role in PISA and other international research. "We made extra miles towards achieving progress pre-school, general, vocational, secondary and higher education, since the adoption of the "State Strategy for the Development of Education in the Republic of Azerbaijan”. Thus, we plan to extend our milestones in the coming years.” informed Minister Bayramov.
Naveed Hassan Naqvi, the Country Manager for the World Bank Azerbaijan Office highlighted the significance of investing in the early years in order ensuring preparedness and motivation of learners.
The welcoming part of the conference was concluded with the final remarks of the UNICEF Regional Education Advisor for Europe and Central Asia Mr. Parmosivea Soobrayan.
Mr. Soobrayan heralded the remarkable progress in pre-school education in Azerbaijan over the last three years. According to Mr. Soobrayan's statement, the pre-school enrolment number reached 75 % in 2018 (15 % in 2015) in Azerbaijan.