The Education Quality Assurance Agency (TKTA) is holding a two-day seminar at Baku State University (BSU) titled "Step Towards Quality: Preparation for the Accreditation Process." The event brings together 84 representatives from 40 higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country.

In his opening speech, Rector Elchin Babayev emphasized that the accreditation of universities is a highly responsible process. He stated that accreditation not only evaluates university performance but also reflects their internal development strategies and governance approaches, reinforcing their accountability to society:
“Sometimes accreditation is mistakenly seen as a punitive mechanism. On the contrary, it is a useful process that benefits universities by correcting shortcomings. Without a proper self-assessment, improvement becomes difficult. Quality assurance encompasses not only education but also research, international relations, student life, and even operational management. Seminars like this enable universities to exchange experiences in these areas.”

Chairman of the TKTA Management Board, Tural Ahmadov, highlighted the crucial role of such seminars in fostering a quality culture in HEIs, ensuring sustainable development, and strengthening a student-centered educational environment:
“If we can effectively transition from quantity to quality in higher education, we will provide greater value to society. Accreditation serves as a tool for accurately assessing and improving the condition of HEIs. TKTA stands ready to support HEIs in this regard. Academic integrity is a fundamental value for every university.”

The main objective of the seminar is to enhance the readiness of HEIs for institutional and program accreditation, provide methodological support, and share essential practices to ensure the success of the accreditation process.

On the first day of the event, a panel discussion was held on the topic "The Role of HEIs and Experts in the Accreditation Process." The panel featured representatives from HEIs and experts involved by TKTA in accreditation procedures. Participants shared experiences related to strengths and weaknesses observed during the process, differences between program and institutional evaluations, common challenges in self-assessment reports, and the application of accreditation as a development-oriented evaluation.

Over the course of the two-day seminar, TKTA representatives will deliver presentations covering various topics such as accreditation stages, evaluation criteria, the role of surveys in the accreditation process, success factors, and the preparation of self-assessment reports. Practical examples will be provided, and participants’ questions will be addressed. Additionally, TKTA will explain key points using real-world examples and listen to participants’ feedback and suggestions.

In accordance with its charter, TKTA regularly organizes trainings and provides methodological support to ensure the accreditation of educational institutions is carried out in line with standards. It is planned to hold such training sessions twice a year to improve HEIs’ preparedness for accreditation.

SDG4: Quality Education, SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, SDG17: Partnerships for the Goals