With the internationalization of education and the growing need for specialists who meet the requirements of the new digital and innovative economy, the role of universities is becoming a key. In this regard, new forms of interaction between higher education organizations at the international level of university networks emerging and developing. “Although Azerbaijan signed Bologna agreement already in 2005, there is weak awareness of benefits of EHEA related issues among wider audience in the country. The knowledge on the recent developments of higher education system in Azerbaijan remains vague. The communication and networking concerning EHEA issues is rather fragmented among different departments in the MoE and various stakeholders. There is a need of national universities networks in Azerbaijan to promote and facilitate cooperation, support universities in their primary work, that is – high quality education, as well as to actively lobby for better legislation and wise spending its finance aimed at the advancement of higher education and research. The consortium believes that Rectors conference can be a great getaway for all of the universities presenting a single voice in key initiatives and challenges. The ultimate goal of this project is to endorse strong networking and cooperation among national universities and decision makers through the establishment of Rectors Conference. The approach chosen for implementation, however, includes a collaborative framework with respective stakeholders, mainly focusing on educational needs.The overall aim of the project is fostering national networking and cooperation among universities and all other stakeholders by establishing the rectors conference in accordance with national development strategies.

Up to 2015 Traditional system of quality assurance in HEIs of Azerbaijan has 2 main directions: The control of student’s knowledge on institutional level and control from the Ministry of Education or other relevant authority based on academic aspects. Most of the universities didn't have Internal Quality Assurance System in terms of administration and effective control of the processes. Some of the universities had the Quality Assurance Centers but they were not functional or the functions were not appropriated with the international standards. The most important thing, there were no demand for Internal Quality Assurance in HEIs on national level. Even though the universities had to be accredited every 5 years, but the external quality assurance was not aligned with international standards as well. It was somehow was similar with giving the license for providing services with appropriate equipment. The universities were seriously lacking of low level performance management, quality of the programs, quality of the staff and most important the QUALITY CULTURE. Therefor EQAC project aimed to enhance the quality of higher education in Azerbaijan and to promote voluntary union with EU developments and to develop a model of principles, priorities, guidelines and procedures to improve and assess the quality.The specific objectives of the project were:•Make a comparative analysis of current QA practices (and identify the needs of the universities) •To increase awareness on modern quality assurance tools and policies •To develop framework for quality assurance mechanisms in Azerbaijan higher education institutions. •To develop and establish common Quality Assurance System – (in line with ESG) •To create online platform and user service charter•To enhance Quality Assurance Culture•To train quality assurance related administrative and academic staff• Develop a Model of Principles, Priorities, Guidelines and Procedures for internal management of QA for partner HEIs 8 Work packages implemented In order to reach these objectives WP 1: Scoping and Analysis of Quality Assurance in Azerbaijan UniversitiesWP-2: Creation of a framework for the QA implementationWP-3: System-building: Shaping systems of quality assurance in AZ universities.WP-4: Field tripsWP-5: Preparing Guidelines and Standards for QA at institutional levelWP-6: Quality AssuranceWP-7: Dissemination of the projectWP-8: Management

The project proposed by the consortium is planning to address several nation-level problems in Azerbaijan. The main scope of the activities to be undertaken during the project covers capacity-building initiatives in selected higher education institutions with the main goal to improve and harmonize understanding as well as practice of entrepreneurial mindset, innovative talent and high-impact expertise.By trying to reach the above-mentioned goal, the consortium will attempt to minimize or remove the impact of the following fundamental problems/concerns in higher education institutions across the nation:1) There is a lack of sophisticated ecosystem fostering entrepreneurial mindset in higher education institutions;2) The conditions and incentives provided to students and faculty at higher education institutions to produce and implement innovative ideas are limited;3) Majority of the teachings and research in higher education institutions is overly theoretical, offering limited or no opportunity for hands-on experience;4)The students and faculty at higher education institutions have a limited understanding about how to cultivate, initiate, incubate, accelerate, realize and commercialize an innovative startup idea;5) The level of collaboration between higher education institutions and industries is limited and inadequate.