MODERN TECHNOLOGIES AND FORMATION OF HUMAN GOLD Chapter 3 3.2. ICT in Education 3.2.2. ICT and Higher Education As in secondary schools, the State sector's higher education's computerization is occurring primarily with support from international organizations, including NGO foundations, and foreign oil companies. For instance, Exxon, in collaboration with OSI-Azerbaijan and the U.S. Department of State has provided computers to the State Oil Academy to develop one of its computer labs. The majority of students have access to computers at universities. Computers are being used largely for working with texts, but there are more and more students who are beginning to exploit the potential ICTs available on a very professional basis. However, the studies indicate that there is a great disparity in how literate students are in using relatively current computer software. The use of ICT in education is steadily growing. Studies have shown that many educational and research centers use ICT not only for education and research but also for management. Private universities are more flexible in ICT development. University Websites offer information on academic faculties and centers, services, news bulletins, contact information and staff. They also provide online appli-cations. Some private universities, such as Western University and Khazar, include some interactive features on their Web sites. Caucasus University is working to create the development of a wireless connection among 11 secondary schools. Some teachers are developing several Distance Learning courses for Guba, Ali Bayramli and Nakhchivan. Box 3.4. International Organizations Promote Computerization of Universities The State University of Baku (which has 300 computers for its 14,000 students) with the support from OSI-Azerbaijan and IREX/IATP has created a Resource Center to increase the ICT development in education. University teachers and secondary school teachers are trained in Basic Computer and Internet skills. They, in turn, train others. Azerbaijan International University has more than 400 computers for its 6,000 students. The Open Society Institute Azerbaijan, in cooperation with IREX/IATP and Exxon has created five Resource Internet Centers in Baku: (1) State University of Baku, (2) Medical University, (3) Western University (4) Technical University and (5) Khazar University. They also continue this work with universities in four other provinces: Nakhchivan, Mingachevir, Ganja and Lankaran. Western University has been cooperating with universities in the U.S., and has created and operates modern ICT offices for widespread educational purposes, information provision and scientific and educational links. In 2001, the Azerbaijan State Economic University was the first to establish an “Upgrade of Qualification and Re-Qualification Skills” as Distance Learning. There are currently 50 students enrolled. Khazar University, in cooperation with Western University and IREX, introduced an International Negotiations Distance Learning course in Fall 2001. Previous page  Next page

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