No, it is not a fairy tale. From now on, our students will have the opportunity to study at one of the world ‘s most prestigious higer educational institutions without leaving the country. The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev considered the suggestions of the leadership of the Moscow State University (MSU) named after M.V. Lomonosov and in January of this year signed the executive order on establishing the Baku branch of Moscow State University.

This idea has long been up in the air, so to speak. Now it has come into being, first and foremost, thanks to the personal and quite understandable efforts of the head of our state: we have entered the era, where high standards of education ensure sustainable development and modernization of the country.

Ms. Nargiz Pashayeva, a PhD in Philology, Professor, has been appointed as the Rector of the Baku branch of the Moscow State University. This wasn’t an accidental choice: Nargiz khanum has a 20-year teaching experience at higher educational institution and immense organizational skills. Judging by the characteristics given by those who are well familiar with her as well as by her projects we all witness, she has a great sense of responsibility and duty; she is dynamic and creative, and always ready to take on challenges. She realizes her new job as the head of the branch of the Moscow State University is not an easy one and requires hard work. In the interview with Professor Pashayeva we reconfirmed that she was ready for that.

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- First, Nargiz khanum, allow me to extend congratulations on your appointment. We would like to receive answers directly from you, a person who is set to start a new project from the ground, to some of the questions many are curious about these days. The announcement on enrollment of students at the MSU Baku branch to three disciplines - philology, applied math and chemistry for 2008-2009 academic year has, naturally, aroused questions concerning both the very process of education and the organizational structure of the branch. How many faculties are planned to be opened and what areas of study are to be introduced in the future? Will the specifics of our country, our region be taken into account while defining the specialties? And is teaching latest disciplines possible?

- Before responding to the questions and sharing views on this occasion, which is very remarkable for Azerbaijan, I would like to underline the invaluable role of our President, the main initiator of this important endeavor, who has been directly involved in organizing the work of the branch, as well as to thank MSU Rector Viktor Antonovich Sadovnichiy, who also helped us with realizing the idea. Now, a few words about the departments, to which the enrollment has been announced: first, I would repeat what was outlined in the “Abiturient” journal. Only applicants who scored not less than 400 points at the tests by the State Students Admission Commission are eligible to take tests to be held by MSU’s admission commission. Those who seek studying in the philology faculty will go through oral and written tests, while those who applied for two other faculties will have to pass written exams only. The oral test is a conversation with an applicant that reveals his potential. It is very important too. I have to mention that those who fail to pass the tests at the MSU’s Baku branch are eligible to apply to other local higher educational institutions without any restrictions.

We are equally interested in all the three faculties. Why, for instance, we are interested in philology? Philological studies in MSU are known to be multi-profiled. Almost all major languages of the world and the world literature are taught in here. We, at the Baku State University (BSU), have long been training specialists in two areas: the Azerbaijani language and literature and the Russian language and literature. As a vice-Rector of BSU for international relations, I had succeeded in promoting teaching German and French philology in the university, and even to build a special curriculum with the help of our international colleagues. The opening of the Baku branch of MSU will, to a certain extent, fill the gap in this sphere. To be taught are Russian, English, French, Italian and Spanish languages and literature. The list of specialties itself, is a new and necessary area for us: we have always felt the lack of specialists in Spanish or Italian languages, who, moreover, have been trained in translating the fiction. You, probably, remember that the whole foreign literature used to be translated into Azerbaijani from the Russian language, the second source. So, our philological [faculty] should fill this gap.

Because of this, there will be higher requirements for the philology students. We hope such an approach will foster the philological process, so to speak, in the country. I think the graduates from the philology faculty of the MSU’s Baku branch will become qualitatively new people with creative thinking and analytical mind, someone who’ll acquire new profession and bring novelties and new scientific approach into life. I hope the graduates of the Baku branch’s faculties of math and chemistry will be of the same quality.

-When you say “novelties”, Nargiz khanum, you probably mean also creative imagination? As the great Einstein said, imagination is sometimes more important than knowledge. It covers everything and encourages progress…

- Yes, that is right. Curriculums and syllabuses for all three faculties have been developed on the basis of modern requirements. For instance, sophomore mathematicians will be majoring in such particular specialties as mathematical economic theory, information protection, intellectual systems and programming. It is what Azerbaijan needs. Chemists, apart from traditional subjects - for instance organic chemistry, physical chemistry - will be majoring in a petro chemistry and organic catalysis. The country is in need of qualified specialists in these areas too. In the future, we intend to increase the number of faculties up to eight or nine.

- We also would like to know who will be teaching in the Baku branch of the Moscow University? Will Azerbaijani specialists be involved in teaching?

- Teaching in the MSU Baku branch will be carried out mostly by professors from Moscow. They will work for a semester and then will be replaced by another colleague from Moscow. Everything has already been agreed. Our government provides their accommodation and pays salaries.

As for our local professors, it is quite possible that we will attract them to work in the MSU branch – we have a lot of qualified specialists. The important thing, I believe, is that this will encourage local teachers to improve themselves, bring themselves up to “Moscow” level. We would like our specialists, for instance, in math or chemistry, not to be less qualified than Moscow teachers. But it is the matter of the future. For the present, local teachers will conduct courses on Azerbaijani language and history of our country in all the tree faculties, which are to start on September 15. Philology students will also study Azerbaijani literature.

- Which education system will be applied to the branch?

- In the MSU Baku branch, students successfully completing the four-year course will be awarded with a Bachelor’s degree, that is, like in our country and other higher educational institutions. As for the Master’s degree program, we will think about that if we manage to achieve successful graduation of our first bachelors.

I think this two-staged education system – bachelorship and then magistrates – used all but across the world, should be recognized and accepted here. It is widely known, that the Russian education system has proved to be thorough and strong. But, as the life changes, so does the situation in the institutions of higher education. Let’s take, for instance, our country. Since the independence, the structure of economy has changed. The economy is supplied by specialist graduating from higher education institutions. Thus, the changes had to take place in the structure of the institutions, facilities and financing of them and methods of teaching. So, I think, the Master’s degree program is a must. It is, if you will, an in-depth study of the area chosen by a bachelor, his familiarization with a “narrow” specialty. Apart from that, it is also a path into the global science, a serious step towards scientific research. By the way, I hope in the future we will manage to conduct joint research with Muscovites, and suggest them our own research topics.

Of common interest of the people involved in organizing academic projects in the MSU’s Baku branch – both from Moscow and Baku – is achieving high quality of education. Everything should serve this purpose– the level of lectures, practical trainings and so on. We think students’ trainings at the alma mater itself could also contribute to that. Students of the MSU’s Baku branch should in a regular manner have an opportunity to dive into the atmosphere of the Moscow State University, to breathe its air. Possibly, the graduates of the Baku branch form time to time will defend their dissertations in Moscow.

- As is known, study at the MSU’s Baku branch will be carried out in the Russian language. What if a talented entrant has poor Russian skills? Will there be pre-university Russian language courses for them, as it is often practiced?

- We are working in this direction. It is part of our future plans… For citizens of Azerbaijan, study at the branch will be free of charge. As I know, many also wonder if winners of some science competitions can be admitted out of the test. We have different plans in this sense: we will work with high schools conduct our own science Olympiads and other competitions to reveal those deserved to study at our branch.

- The Presidential Executive Order charged the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan with taking care of material and technical basis for the Baku branch of the Moscow State University. What has already been done in this direction?

- For the time being, the work on defining the site for construction of a MSU branch’s campus including an education building, library, sports complex, diner, dormitory, living quarters for teachers etc is in progress. This year, the courses will be held in the area of the National Academy of Science, in the building, which is now under intensive reconstruction. The issue of students’ scholarships is also under consideration.

- Thank you very much Nargiz khanum. But I have one more, last, question: what is your attitude to the so-called Bologna system of education?

- The attitude to this system is ambiguous in general. It has a lot of different components, many of which are positive, but there are those our society cannot and does not want to accept immediately as inconsistent with its mentality. For instance, relations between students and teachers and broad rights for students are such examples. Many do not like it. However, one cannon reject what seems unusual to them as there will be no progress in that case. Nothing can be bad only because it is somewhat new. Of course, distortion of the principles of the system is sometimes the case. But, generally speaking, as long as the Bologna system is designed to improve quality of education, one cannot reject it or be afraid of any reforms.

- I do not doubt of the success of all your intentions and plans. Good luck and thanks again.

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