“Universities' only goal should not be rankings” – Miryusif Javadzadeh

“The higher education system is rapidly renewing itself on the road to 2035. The era of universities focusing only on publishing scientific articles and climbing the ranking tables is now behind us.”

Speaking to Editor.az on the subject, Miryusif Javadzadeh, director of “EDDE Global,” believes that higher education institutions should contribute more to society by giving students practical skills, social competencies and a global outlook: “At the same time, in this regard, we follow international practice and share the views expressed by several international researchers – Isaac Akefe, Lauren Carpenter, Graham Lee and Jessica Leonard of the University of Queensland, Australia – in their article “Towards 2035: A Future View of University Education.”

The pandemic was the “trial run” of online education and showed that in 2035 students will prefer a hybrid model of teaching – both online and campus-based; real-time interactivity thanks to hologram and immersive technologies; skills that are quickly refreshed through micro-credentials and flexible modules; and a personalized, inclusive environment.”

Javadzadeh says that, in the view of the Australian researchers, a diploma alone is no longer enough to find a job: “The labor market is looking for technological, human and data literacy, problem-solving and flexibility.”

According to Javadzadeh, the main mission of universities should be to nurture “global citizens”:

“As the world changes, the main mission of universities should not be merely to win rankings. The priority should be developing students' social skills, increasing their practical knowledge and shaping them not just as specialists but as broad-minded ‘global citizens.’”

He added that, as EDDE Global, they come across interesting models at the international education fairs they attend and during university visits:

“Some universities attract students with modern and open systems, for example the liberal education model. The first year of study begins with general courses aimed at shaping the student's worldview. This approach gives students the chance to discover themselves. Even more interesting, students who want to change their major when moving on to the second year are given the opportunity to do so without losing any academic year.”

The young scholars note that research metrics still dominate academic advancement:

“In 2035: The quality of teaching should be valued as a strategic priority, teachers should be rewarded for pedagogical innovation, and courses should be updated quickly in line with the dynamics of the labor market.

The pandemic showed that the higher education system can change quickly. The universities of 2035 will be built on a human-centered approach to students, the endless possibilities offered by technology, social responsibility and global networking.

To make this transformation a reality, international forecasts and the observations and recommendations of experts will help shape the future map of higher education.”