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International conference on National Tempus Information Day takes place

06 March 2009 10:20 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva â€“ APA. International conference on the National Tempus Information Day has been held in Azerbaijan University of Languages today, APA reports. The results of the proposals on Tempus IV in 2008, proposals within the framework of Tempus IV for this year, opportunities for Azerbaijani universities in Erasmus Mundus External Co-operation Window and the role of National Tempus Office in Azerbaijan were discussed at the conference. Rector of the university Samad Seyidov said due to Tempus programs teachers gained experience abroad.
â€œThe main thing is that Tempus programs gave impetus to the improvement of education system in Azerbaijan,â€ he said.
Samad Seyidov said Tempus programs would bring the philosophy of the biggest European universities to Azerbaijan and take Azerbaijanâ€™s experience to Europe.

Deputy Education Minister Elmar Gasimov said the conference would make it available to get more information about Tempus programs financed by the European Union.
â€œThrough these programs our universities have gained the opportunity to integrate into European universities. About 25 higher schools of Azerbaijan have implemented 41 projects up to now. European Union allocated â‚¬ 6 mln for realization of these projectsâ€, he said. To him, Azerbaijan falls behind from neighboring countries for participation in Tempus programs.

â€œWe have not used our potentials completely. Georgia and Armenia won more projects than Azerbaijan. The main reason of it is that rectors do not show initiative and many teachers do not write projects in foreign languagesâ€, Deputy Minister added that European Union invested â‚¬ 1 billion for Erasmus Mundus for 2009-2013.
â€œAzerbaijani universities should try to direct these investments towards the countryâ€, he said.

Chief Delegate of the European Commission to Azerbaijan Alan Waddams noted that EU supported prosperity, stability and development in all neighboring countries. Waddams added that one of the main priorities is a development of education and stressed that EU focus on increase of exchange of students, rapid integration of Azerbaijan into Bologna Process , expansion of education and research works accelerated integration into Europe. To him, the program â€œEastern Partnershipâ€ will create a condition to carry out European Neighborhood Policy intensively.