Baku, September 15, 2025.
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Science and Education plans to make admission to the state program for studying abroad more stringent, Minister Emin Amrullayev said in an interview on AzTV’s Hədəf program, cited by Report.
According to the minister, nearly 900 applicants sought places in the program this year, creating challenges for the selection process.
“When two very strong candidates apply for one place, someone inevitably remains outside. We try to select the best. Of course, interviews are conducted, but any interview is to some extent subjective,” Amrullayev noted.
The ministry, he said, aims to minimize that subjectivity: “We want to build a system in which admission criteria are based on predefined high standards. In the end, about 500 of the best candidates should be selected. We are considering tightening the process further and directing students to the world’s highest-ranked universities. I am confident this program will become one of the main pillars of Azerbaijan’s independence and development, as these people will return in 5, 10, 15, or even 20 years and contribute significantly in both the public and private sectors.”
Education as Investment
Amrullayev also stressed that high-quality training, particularly in medicine, cannot be achieved at low cost.
“Education should not be viewed as an expense but as an investment. The more investment is made, the stronger our human capital becomes. Our approach is that investment in people must increase regardless of talent, preparation, or skills,” he said.
Expansion of Budget-Funded Programs
The minister pointed out that for the first time, state-funded education has been expanded to private universities. “Previously, many private institutions did not admit students on a budget basis because of insufficient funding. From this year, the state covers those costs. Through the SABAH program, for example, 180 students began studying at ADA University on a state-funded basis. The same opportunity is now available at Baku Higher Oil School and other universities,” Amrullayev explained.
He added that the ministry’s central goal is to ensure that investment in education strengthens human capital and produces highly qualified specialists for the country.
