ANALYSIS OF EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FACTORS AFFECTING HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC IN THE SPHERE OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS
Authors:   Institute of Economics of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Abasova Samira Huseyn qizi , Aliyeva Esmer Qurban qizi ,   Institute of Economics of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Published: February 2025

The development of education is the priority direction of the state policy of Azerbaijan. In all countries,
education is a very important part of society, but in Azerbaijan it is a decisive element in people’s lives. For
this reason, the reforms carried out in the field of education in Azerbaijan after gaining independence have
an international character and cover all its fields.
The article examines the international aspects of higher education in Azerbaijan and analyses external
and internal factors influencing higher education.
The aim of this article is to explore the forms of studying abroad available to Azerbaijani citizens,
analyse the external and internal factors influencing the country’s educational policy, and evaluate the
impact of educational reforms on the international competitiveness of Azerbaijan’s higher education
system.
The object of the study is Azerbaijan’s higher education system. The subject of the study is the analysis
of external and internal factors influencing Azerbaijan’s higher education system in the context of expanding
foreign economic relations.
This article has used the methods of observation, statistical analysis and statistical grouping of
technical and economic indicators for the 1992/1993 – 2022/23 academic years in Azerbaijan in percentage.
The research tasks are as follows: 1) How many forms of higher education have been formed
in Azerbaijan? 2) What external factors influence higher education in Azerbaijan? 3) How can political,
economic, social and technological factors (PEST analysis) be revealed in the field of Azerbaijan’s higher
education? 4) What internal factors influence the higher education system in Azerbaijan? 5) Does the
analysis of internal factors (SWOT analysis) sufficiently reveal the true situation in the higher education
system in Azerbaijan?
The results of the analysis reveal several key findings about Azerbaijan’s higher education system and
its external and internal factors of influence.
It has been highlighted that, historically, Azerbaijan’s higher education served as a factor of fostering
international collaboration, as evidenced by the influx of foreign students during the Soviet period. After
proclamation of independence, educational cooperation expanded through bilateral and multilateral
agreements, leading to an increase in the number of Azerbaijani students studying abroad and foreign
students entering Azerbaijan.
It has been found that economic stabilization after 1996 significantly boosted educational service
imports and exports. Government programs, such as the “National Program for the Education of Azerbaijani
Youth in Foreign Countries”, facilitated access to global educational opportunities. Statistical data indicate
a consistent rise in the number of students studying abroad, despite temporary declines during the
pandemic. Cooperation agreements with the countries like Turkey, Russia, China, and the EU initiatives,
such as ERASMUS, have strengthened international partnerships.
Internally, state-driven reforms have prioritized human capital development, adapting education to
meet modern standards, including the Bologna Process principles. There is a number of challenges remained,
such as limited private sector involvement and disparities in access to ICT-based education in rural regions.
Conducted SWOT analysis highlighted the system’s strengths, such as innovation adoption and program
creation, while addressing weaknesses like the lack of distance learning methodologies and resistance to
change among older teaching staff. It has been defined that opportunities for aligning education with labour market needs and global standards are counterbalanced by threats, including unequal ICT infrastructure
development.
It has been concluded that the development of the higher education system in Azerbaijan is close-
ly linked to the introduction of innovations, modern technologies, and digital transformation. The ongo-
ing reforms aim to integrate modern teaching methods and information technologies into the education-
al process.