In the pre-Soviet period, Azeri education included intensive Islamic religious training that commenced in early childhood. Beginning at roughly age five and sometimes continuing until age twenty, children attended madrasahs, education institutions affiliated with mosques. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, madrasahs were established as separate education institutions in major cities, but the religious component of education remained significant. In 1865 the first technical high school and the first women's high school were opened in Baku. In the late nineteenth century, secular elementary schools for Azeri began to appear (schools for ethnic Russians had been established earlier), but institutions of higher education and the use of the Azeri language in secondary schools were forbidden in Transcaucasia throughout the tsarist period. The majority of ethnic Azeri children received no education in this period, and the Azeri literacy rate remained very low, especially among women. Few women were allowed to attend school.

In the Soviet era, literacy and average education levels rose dramatically from their very low starting point, despite two changes in the standard alphabet, from Arabic to Roman in the 1920s and from Roman to Cyrillic in the 1930s. According to Soviet data, 100 percent of males and females (ages nine to forty-nine) were literate in 1970.

During the Soviet period, the Azeri education system was based on the standard model imposed by Moscow, which featured state control of all education institutions and heavy doses of Marxist-Leninist ideology at all levels. Since independence, the Azeri system has undergone little structural change. Initial alterations have included the reestablishment of religious education (banned during the Soviet period) and curriculum changes that have reemphasized the use of the Azeri language and have eliminated ideological content. Education at all levels is supported by the state and the country as had obligatory eight-year education since 1959. In addition to elementary schools, the education institutions include thousands of preschools, general secondary schools, and vocational schools, including specialized secondary schools and technical schools. Education through the eighth grade is compulsory. At the end of the Soviet period, about 18 percent of instruction was in Russian, but the use of Russian began a steady decline beginning in 1988.

Azerbaijan has numerous institutions of higher education. Because Azeri culture has always included great respect for secular learning, the country traditionally has been an education center for the Muslim peoples of the former Soviet Union. For that reason and because of the role of the oil industry in Azerbaijan's economy, a relatively high percentage of Azeris have obtained some form of higher education, most notably in scientific and technical subjects. Several vocational institutes train technicians for the oil industry and other primary industries.
 

The most significant institutions of higher education are the University of Azerbaijan in Baku, the Institute of Petroleum and Chemistry, the Polytechnic Institute, the Pedagogical Institute, the Mirza Fath Ali Akhundzade Pedagogical Institute for Languages, the Azerbaijan Medical Institute, and the Uzeir Hajibeyli Conservatory. Much scientific research, which during the Soviet period dealt mainly with enhancing oil production and refining, is carried out by the Azerbaijani Academy of Sciences, which was established in 1945. The University of Azerbaijan, established in 1919, includes more than a dozen departments, ranging from physics to Oriental studies, and has the largest library in Azerbaijan. The student population numbers more than 11,000, and the faculty over 600. The Institute of Petroleum and Chemistry, established in 1920, has more than 15,000 students and a faculty of about 1,000. The institute trains engineers and scientists in the petrochemical industry, geology, and related areas.

Education Level  (age>15) Level % Higher Education 12.0 Incomplete Higher Education 1.4 Vocational Education 14.0 Secondary Education 43.0 Basic Education (8th year) 19.8 Less than 8th year 9.8

(source: Library of Congress)
 
 

Universities & Colleges

In keeping with Soviet practice, Azerbaijan has a very strong academic tradition, with reputable institutions in several fields of science. In all areas, but particularly in oil related fields, you find graduates of Baku  universities all over the world, as during Soviet times foreign students came to Baku in great numbers.

Besides oil, Azeri scientists also made notable contributions to the Soviet space programme, particularly in instrumentation. After independence research and teaching were affected to some extent by lack of funding and by the emigration of qualified personnel. A number of private universities has sprouted in the recent years.
 

ASIA Baku University 4 Hazim Hajiyev st. Baku Tel: 662519 Fax: 906370 Azerbaijan Academy of Music - Uzeyir Hajibeyov 98 Shamsi Badalbeyli st. Baku 370014 Tel: 932248, 932114 Azerbaijan Civil Engineering University 5 Ayna Sultanova St.,  Baku 370073 Tel: 390725 Fax: 987836 Azerbaijan Co-operative Institute 8 B Nariman Narimanov av. Baku Tel: 628517 Fax: 628346 Azerbaijan International University 179 Mir-Jalal st., 7th Micro-district Baku Tel: 616950 Azerbaijan Medical University - Nariman Narimanov 23 Bakihanov st., Baku Baku 370022 Tel: 953566 Fax: 953870 Azerbaijan Pedagogical Institute for Russian Language and Literature - Mirza Fatali Akhundov 25 Seid Rustam st. Baku 370001 Tel: 966487 Fax: 961579 Azerbaijan State Art College 16 Bul Bul av. Baku Azerbaijan State Culture and Arts University - Alibey Husseinzadeh 20 Yusif Mammadaliyev st. Baku 370005 Tel: 9311101 Fax: 830852 Azerbaijan State Economics University 6 Istiglaliyat st. Baku 370001 Tel: 925940 Azerbaijan State Institute of Foreign Languages 60 Rashid Bahbudov st. 370055 Baku Tel: 963505 Azerbaijan State Institute of Physical Culture 98 Fatali Khan Khoysky av. Baku Tel: 640905 Azerbaijan State Marine Academy 18 Azerbaijan av. Tel: 937521 Azerbaijan State Musical College 8 Mardanov Gardashlary Baku Azerbaijan State Oil Academy 20 Azadlig av.,  Baku 370601 Tel: 934557 Fax: 984308 Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University - Nasreddin Tusi 34 Uzeyir Hajibeyov st. Baku 370000 Tel: 930032, 934287 Fax: 930032 Azerbaijan Technical University 25 Huseein Javid av. Baku 370073 Tel: 383343 / 83 Fax: 383280 Azerbaijan University 84 Mirali Gashgay st. Baku Tel: 401631 Fax: 937773 Baku Institute of Management 78 Suleiman Taghyzadeh st. Baku 370001 Tel: 925342 Baku Institute of Social Management and Politology 74 Lermontov st. Baku 370001 Tel: 926619 Fax: 929188 Baku Institute of Trade and Commerce 194 Murtuz Mukhtarov st. Baku Tel: 953070 Baku International School Naftchi Sports Base, 128 - Azadlyg av. Baku Tel: 906352 Fax: 906351 Baku International University 94 Zardabi av. Baku Tel: 312911 Baku Islamic University 7 Mirza Fatali st. Tel: 928223

Baku Military College  - Hasi Aslanov Baku 370128 Tel: 388546 Baku Navy College Baku 370153 Tel: 728140 Baku State University - Mammadamin Rasulzade 23 Khalilov st. Baku 370073 Tel: 390535 Fax: 380592 Caucasus University (Kafkas Üniversitesi) 103 Nariman Narimanov av. Baku 370100 Tel: 387246 Fax: 981487 Columbus University USA in Azerbaijan (Distance Education) Shamsi Badalbeili Str., 82, Baku Tel: 940804, 954228 Ganja State Agricultural Institute 262 Sofulu st. Ganja 374700 Tel: (261) 60353 Fax: (261) 61064 Higher College of Diplomacy 135 Inglab st. Baku Tel: 906843 Higher Pedagogical Seminary for Females 50 Murtuz Mukhtarov st. Baku Tel: 953002 International College of Business and Diplomacy 74 Lermontov st. Baku 370001 Tel: 926515 International Institute for Contracts and Business 5 Buniad Sardanov st. Tel: 750963 Fax: 668896 Khazar University (Hazar Üniversitesi) 11 Meskheti, Baku Baku 370096 Tel: 217927 Fax: 989379 Medical School 15 Ataturk st. Nakhchivan city 373630 Tel: (255) 42878 Fax: (255) 42878 Medical School Block 10, Sumgait 373200 Tel: (264) 51995 Fax: (264) 51995 Medical School - Gurbanov 14 Ismet Gaibov st. Ganja 374700 Tel: (261) 61326 Fax: (261) 60739 Nakhchivan State University University sheherjiyi Nakhchivan city 373630 Tel: (255) 52366 Fax: (255) 53929 Nakhchivan University 99 Mardanov Gardashlari st. Baku Tel: 949495 Fax: 959329 National Aviation School Bina Settlement, Airport Baku Tel: 243803 Odlar Yurdu University 135 Inglab st. Baku Tel: 906704 Fax: 906705 Police Academy 3 Almaz Ildym st. Baku Tel: 543469 Shimal University 76 A. Navoy st. Baku State University of Dagestan - Baku Branch 28/26 Pishevarli st. 3rd Micro-district Baku Tel: 31102 Fax: 301909 State University of Dneproetrovsk - Baku Branch 100 Tabriz st. Tel: 675255 Fax: 672832 Tefaccur University 19 Tabriz st. Baku Tel: 980858 Fax: 906167 Western University 27 Istiglaliyat st. Baku Tel: 927418 Fax: 926701 Yuzhdagh International University - Yaragi 44 Agha Neymatulla st. Baku Tel: 664454

 
 

Science & Technology

The Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences is the main research institution, co-ordinating the activities of research centres, including institutes of cybernetics, physics, theoretical problems of chemical technology, petrochemical processes and genetics.
 

Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences 10 Istiglaliyat st. Baku, 370001 Tel: 92 35 29 Fax: 92 56 99 Azercelstroy- Normative Research Station 7 S. Rustam Tel: 404 300 Baku Scientific and Training Centre 11, Idayat zadeh  370154 Tel: 663 881/665 109 Fax: 664 389 e-mail: bstc@azeri.com Cosmic Instruments Development Block 553 F. Agayev Tel: 395 937 EMIR Academy Institutes

Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Institute 29, H.Javid Prosp., 370143 Baku Geological Institute of Azerbaijan Laboratory of Mining an Metalurgy Production 146 Sharifzadeh Tel: 324 358 Mineral Resources Special Reserch Bureau 31 Azizbayov av Tel: 399143 Ministry of Education Government House, Baku Tel. 937266 Fax 984207 Research Institute of Medical Prophylaxis 35 Jaffar Jabbarly st. Baku 370065 Tel: 947345 Fax: 947572

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