WCU Hosts Global Forum
Western Caspian University hosted a Global Forum entitled ‘Transformative Approach to Education’ dedicated to quality education, the 4th UN Sustainable Development Goal, in partnership with Times Higher Education.
The Forum, which was attended by about 1,000 university representatives, scientists and researchers from about 100 countries, was opened by Phil Baty, General Manager of Knowledge at Times Higher Education. He noted that the educational process has faced serious challenges and difficulties over the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced the world to transform from traditional to online education.
Mr. Baty said that hundreds of millions of people have been deprived of their right to education as a result of this problem. He noted that the forum will discuss new approaches to ensuring quality education, and exchange views on the future of education.
Shahin Seyidzadeh, Member of Parliament, Member of the Committee on Science & Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, informed the participants about the experience of Azerbaijan during the pandemic.
Next in line was Chairman of the WCU Board of Trustees, Professor Huseyn Bagirov. He noted that the modern education system is built within a narrow specialisation, which is not in line with today’s challenges: “We must apply a holistic approach to education. There is a unity between dynamic economic development and quality education. Developed countries are constantly modifying their education policies and systems to adapt to the demands of the times.
“The STEM approach currently used in those countries still covers only engineering and exact sciences. In fact, STEM should be applied not only to secondary schools, but also to all specialties in higher education. Universities will not have to train personnel in different, unrelated sciences and professions, but can achieve priority of training specialists who can envision problems at all levels of society, on different platforms, find solutions, work in teams, have universal knowledge and independently acquire the necessary information to solve problems.”
Later, scientists and researchers from several prestigious universities presented their views on new global trends created by the post-pandemic period. Problems and prospects in this field were deliberated at length.
Director UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, David Atchoatena, Director Institutional Development Department of the European University Association, Tia Loukkola, world-famous Azerbaijani scientist and honorary professor at WCU, Masud Efendiyev, Member of Parliament, Parvin Karimzade, ADA University Vice-Rector, Fariz Ismayilzade, Head of the Department of Higher & Secondary Special Education at the Ministry of Education, Nijat Mammadli, Dawn Freshwater, Vice-Rector of the University of Auckland, Charles Hopkins, Head of the UNESCO Department of York University and others spoke about the experience of different countries and universities, discussed problems and prospects.