GEOCLIC aims to modernize BA / MSc / PhD curricula in geospatial technologies in order to ensure environmental safety of coastal ecosystems using new technologies: GEONETCast; GIS Software - ILWIS and remote sensing and modeling technologies through updating existing curricula in the area and developing /testing accrediting new curricula according to the new achievements in the area; to test and accredit the curricula and to disseminate the results. GEOCLIC's consortium consists of 17 partners (plus 7 associate-partners) with the required expertise and skills. The outputs/results are: •Agreement and Guidelines on instructional strategy for curricula design •New curricula in geospatial technologies, including innovative new equipped laboratories GEOLAB and virtual rooms CVE •Updated current curricula in geospatial technologies including ECTS and the new developments •Bringing the HEIs of AZ, KZ and TM closer to labor market (new equipped Service Offices on spatiality technologies GEOCOF). The content and use of new educational technologies, compliant with the European modernization agenda for HEIs, will function as the envisaged impact.

The Nizami project concerns the modernization of doctoral education, research and internationalization of HEIs in Azerbaijan. This project intends to answer to the urgent need for Azerbaijan universities to revise the rules and content of organizing doctoral studies within Bologna process documents in terms of their consistency, especially on ensuring science and research provisions in relevance with European standards, to fulfill the students' mobility and internationalzation of research.The consortium will achieve the objectives by restructuring the doctoral education through : (a) the organisation of doctoral schools within the HEIS and at the National level, (b) insuring high standards in doctoral education, (c) improving internationalization.A standardisation and modernization of doctoral education will lead to a better recognition from Europe of the quality of research provided by the HEIs and research institutions of Azerbaijan. Therefore, an enhance in collaboration between Europe and Azerbaijan can be predicted. As well, a greater ease of international mobility for PhD students, young researchers and staff should be reached.On a national level, the PhD students should inhance their professional skills to meet the needs of the local, regional and national markets.

Joint project for the modernization of educational programs in climate engineering, regional priority for Russia and China, national priority for Azerbaijan.3 AIMS IN EACH COUNTRY:Reduce skills gaps on intermediate levels (construction site coordinator, design technician) by improving the employability of students and by perfecting corporate executives.Professionalize teaching programs in line with the Bologna Process and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and relocate them partly into companies.Create a professional Bachelor accessible in distance learning for the energy and environmental performance of buildings and a lifelong training program.ACADEMIC KEY PARTNERS:- CNAM Paris- GIPFIPAG - CRVEP - UNINETTUNO- AGCNAM - Universidad de Sevilla- HTWK Leipzig - Azerbaijan Technical University- Harbin Institute of Technology- North-Eastern Federal University - POLITECNICO DI TORINO- UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PAVIA- Siberian Transport University- Tuvan State University- Irkutsk State Technical University - Far Eastern Federal University- The state institution of vocational education Yakut Municipal Civil Engineering- Dalian University of Technology - BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY- Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction- Sumgayit State University- Ural State Mining UniversityEXPECTED RESULTS:3 regional strategic action plans.25 teachers professionalized in the EU.3 job descriptions, 3 professional Bachelors, programs, course content and digitized teaching resources available for distance learning.3 poles of excellence, resource centers and three technology platforms for energy efficiency in buildings.3 didactic cyberspaces.480 students and 150 employees trained on site or by distance learning.3 double diplomas or joint degrees.An action plan for sustainability.

Work4CE will address the need for educational resources in order to prepare for the future workplace (work 4.0). Interdisciplinary curricula and modules will be developed and new forms of (virtual) university-enterprise collaboration will be deployed to improve the practical value of the curricula and the employability of the graduates. With the implementation of the successful co-production approach of lecturers, industry experts and member of professional associations new, job-related competences for the workplace of the future (Work 4.0) will be developed. This approach will overcome the gap between academia and industry in the partner countries and equip graduates with competences to cope with the transformation of working environments, to assess where they are and where they want to go (analysis, strategy), to transform to a sustainable working environment, to consider occupational safety and health and environmental protection. Work4CE will focus on the following aims according to the needs analysis:•Education towards the future workplace (Work 4.0) is delivered: the 9 modules will lead to better competences in dealing with the new forms of work. The provision as OER makes it accessible by other Master programmes and for professional education. •Graduates and trained professionals are generated: Work4CE, the consortium members and the Master programmes guarantee a significant (~ 400 graduates p.a.) flow of qualified work force for the digital transformation. •A pool of trained lecturers and experts is established (by the Train-the-Trainer (TtT) concept): the consortium members and industry experts form (open) communities of practice (OpenCoP) and a competence network.•Models for industry-university-cooperation are developed and lead to more practical relevance and better employability. The co-production approach delivers a new quality of job-related competences with fast integration of new top

Up to 2015 Traditional system of quality assurance in HEIs of Azerbaijan has 2 main directions: The control of student’s knowledge on institutional level and control from the Ministry of Education or other relevant authority based on academic aspects. Most of the universities didn't have Internal Quality Assurance System in terms of administration and effective control of the processes. Some of the universities had the Quality Assurance Centers but they were not functional or the functions were not appropriated with the international standards. The most important thing, there were no demand for Internal Quality Assurance in HEIs on national level. Even though the universities had to be accredited every 5 years, but the external quality assurance was not aligned with international standards as well. It was somehow was similar with giving the license for providing services with appropriate equipment. The universities were seriously lacking of low level performance management, quality of the programs, quality of the staff and most important the QUALITY CULTURE. Therefor EQAC project aimed to enhance the quality of higher education in Azerbaijan and to promote voluntary union with EU developments and to develop a model of principles, priorities, guidelines and procedures to improve and assess the quality.The specific objectives of the project were:•Make a comparative analysis of current QA practices (and identify the needs of the universities) •To increase awareness on modern quality assurance tools and policies •To develop framework for quality assurance mechanisms in Azerbaijan higher education institutions. •To develop and establish common Quality Assurance System – (in line with ESG) •To create online platform and user service charter•To enhance Quality Assurance Culture•To train quality assurance related administrative and academic staff• Develop a Model of Principles, Priorities, Guidelines and Procedures for internal management of QA for partner HEIs 8 Work packages implemented In order to reach these objectives WP 1: Scoping and Analysis of Quality Assurance in Azerbaijan UniversitiesWP-2: Creation of a framework for the QA implementationWP-3: System-building: Shaping systems of quality assurance in AZ universities.WP-4: Field tripsWP-5: Preparing Guidelines and Standards for QA at institutional levelWP-6: Quality AssuranceWP-7: Dissemination of the projectWP-8: Management