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Orkhan Akbarov: â€œThe stay of young people finishing education abroad in that country can not be considered as a lossâ€ - INTERVIEW

Orkhan Akbarov: â€œThe stay of young people finishing education abroad in that country can not be considered as a lossâ€ - <font color=red>INTERVIEW</font>

16 March 2012 11:08 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Ramil Mammadli â€“ APA. APAâ€™s interview with Orkhan Akbarov, chairman of Azerbaijani Students and Alumni International Forum (ASAIF)

-How do you estimate the process of education of the young Azerbaijanis abroad within the framework of the state program?

-Approaching this issue comparatively, I can say that when I was a student, the state program was applied to only several countries. Our students faced various difficulties during this process. The scholarship was so low that we were obliged to work. On the other hand, we had to work to promote Azerbaijan, represent our country. Sometimes, physically it was impossible for a student. Now young Azerbaijanis are studying at the best higher schools of more than 40 countries at the government expenditure. The scholarship allows them not to work. 5000 young people are to be sent abroad to study within the framework of the state program. More than 1100 are enjoying this program. So, 3900 young people have chance to enjoy this program. This is a great figure. I think 5000 students may contribute to the future of our country.

- There are people that return to the country after finishing education via the state program. Is the employment security of these young people satisfactory?

- We have conducted monitoring of it. Of course, the employment security of the young person, who returns home after finishing education, is not always realized. The young people have different opinion on this issue. Sometimes a young person returned to homeland can find job within a week, sometimes it takes a year. Sometimes the approach of person, who had studied abroad and returned to his country, canâ€™t coincide with Azerbaijanâ€™s standards. The youth studying abroad most of all prefer the private sector. The reason is high wages. The best case is the existence of employment choice of the youth. Indeed the stay of young people finishing education abroad in that country can not be considered as a loss. These persons will be our potential to work for the realization of lobbying mission.

- Do you have additional proposals on the implementation of this program?

- This is positive case that 5000 students are studying abroad. We have no proposal concerning it, but we proposed to add some universities and specialties to the list and prepared the package of proposals. It will be submitted to relevant organizations soon. This package includes the specialties where Azerbaijan needs young human resources. We have to acknowledge that we sometimes face the problem of human resources.

- Your organization is expected to hold next forum. What will this event be remarkable?

- The first forum was held in the building of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. It was remembered as very interesting event. We are planning to hold next forum in Budapest, Hungary on April 6-7. The forum is a good platform to get new methods of diaspora and lobbyist activity, to take an active part in the development process, to unite around the common Azerbaijani ideology. We will organize the meetings of youth with the ambassadors in the European countries, joint discussions of Azerbaijani and Hungarian youth organizations. It can play an important role in the integration between our countries. The forum will be launched in an official ceremony at the Hungarian Parliament. I think this form will be remarkable with a rich program.