A growing number of Azerbaijani university graduates who enter higher education with the minimum passing score – 150 points – end up with diplomas but no real employment prospects.
Education expert Kamran Asadov says the correlation is direct: low entry scores translate into weak academic performance, and ultimately, a lack of competitiveness in the labor market.
According to his analysis, only about 30% of students manage to secure a job in their field after four years of study.
“When the maximum possible university entrance score is 700, but we admit applicants with 150, this should raise serious concerns. Graduates with such low starting points simply do not acquire the competencies required by the modern job market,” Asadov said.
He added that many of the low-demand academic fields produce graduates who have no realistic employment pathway, regardless of their diploma.
Oversupply of Degrees, Shortage of Actual Skills
The expert highlights that some fields – particularly in the agricultural cluster – offer little or no practical employment despite continued enrollment.
Degrees such as fisheries, animal husbandry, and vegetable production generate very limited demand.
Currently, Azerbaijan’s higher education system includes around 20 separate agriculture-related specialties, many of which do not match market needs.
Proposal: Reduce Enrollment and Shift Toward IT & Engineering
Asadov argues that state-funded quotas should be restructured:
“We should reduce the intake for these low-demand fields and redirect capacity toward IT: Information Technologies, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and other engineering majors. These are the fields the labor market demands.”
He stresses that filling universities with applicants who scored 150 points only leads to wasted time and unmet expectations.
High Tuition Fees – Low Prospects
Despite weak job outcomes, tuition fees for these specialties remain unexpectedly high:
₼1,500 per year for winemaking (Ganja)
₼3,900 per year for forestry
₼2,500-₼3,500 per year for business, marketing, and tourism
₼3,500-₼4,000 per year for social work
₼2,500-₼3,500 annually for fourth-group majors
“These costs are entirely unjustified given the job market realities,” Asadov noted.
Vocational Education Is a Better Fit for Many Applicants
Asadov recommends that low-scoring applicants consider vocational or technical colleges, which offer:
shorter and more practical training
stronger employment pathways
alignment with real market needs
According to the expert, this shift would reduce wasted years and increase youth employment.
