A WORLD CLASS

The possibility to study, master new sciences and apply them in everyday life are the pillars which were, are and will remain the basis of human progress.

In the words of the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes, the foundation of every state is the education of its youth.

Getting a quality education is an issue of paramount importance for the youth of independent Azerbaijan. Though the basis of the Soviet system of education, which is considered one of the best in the world, provides a good opportunity in this respect, the current trends require the introduction of significant changes.

Accordingly, the government fully implements and supports new developments in the educational system, trying to adopt the best international practices. In this regard, an important role is played by the state programme of education abroad, which allows the most capable young people to receive education in the best universities and colleges of the world in accordance with modern standards and then apply this knowledge to the benefit of the motherland.

However, to be admitted to well-known reputable institutions of higher learning, one also needs to have a good basis of school education coupled with excellent knowledge of a foreign language.

To solve this problem, Azersun, one of the largest Azerbaijani holdings, is launching a joint project together with SABIS, a world-renowned educational network.

Operational since 1886, this network is represented in 16 countries on four continents. In total, close to 65,000 students are enrolled in more than 60 schools functioning under the brand name SABIS.

According to Chairman of the Board at Azersun Holding Abdulbari Gozel, a feature of SABIS is that "students will grow in Azerbaijani society, know their language, history and culture, and at the same time they will have a perfect knowledge of English and know modern sciences on a par with international standards".

SABIS President Carl Bistany noted that this unique project aims at future generations: "We will be preparing Azerbaijani students to live in a changing world and to know how to be successful. The school promotes not only education, but also the formation of children as individuals".

The school will open its doors in September 2015 and will be located on the territory of the large Dreamland complex, near Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku. The school enrols children of preschool age in a two-year preparatory course as well as students in forms one through five. In its first year, the school is going to admit about 500-600 children whereas in subsequent years it will be ready to take up to 2,000 children.

According to Bistany, no exams are envisaged for admission to the school. The main language of instruction and communication within the school will be English. In addition, students will be taught the Azerbaijani language and either Russian or French at their choice. "Each student will receive the necessary level of knowledge to achieve their full potential," Bistany said.

Lessons will be conducted by teachers invited from other countries and certified by SABIS, who will be assisted by local educators. Furthermore, subjects relating to Azerbaijan such as the Azerbaijani language, history and geography of the country will be taught by local staff, which in the future will be certified under the SABIS educational system, too.

Sports activities are given special attention in SABIS member schools. Thus, the school grounds will accommodate a stadium meeting Olympic standards as well as indoor and outdoor courts for basketball, volleyball and other sports. Twelve clubs will be established within the framework of organizing the extracurricular life of students at the school, including five sports clubs. Moreover, sports clubs intend to become members of the respective sports federations, which will make it possible to engage in sports at the professional level. By the way, SABIS member schools conduct their internal Olympic Games every year.

But the main purpose of the school is, of course, to prepare students for admission to both the Azerbaijani and world-renowned foreign universities, Bistany noted.

The entire educational process is conducted in line with an international curriculum based on the world's best four systems, two of which are American and the other two are British. Importantly, SABIS school graduates achieve better results in exams than the average values for all of these systems.

At the end of 2014, as many as 1,660 graduates from SABIS schools were enrolled in 568 universities and colleges in 38 countries. Graduates of the educational network study in 97 of the world's best 200 higher educational institutions including Cambridge, Harvard, Oxford, Maastricht and Stanford Universities, the London School of Economics, Technical University of Munich, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, and others.

While studying, students can undergo a six-month educational course at SABIS member schools in other countries.

The above notwithstanding, the SABIS school in Baku will adhere to high standards of education, all the more so as a computerized system allows for monitoring the educational process in any of the schools in this network.

Thus, the establishment of a school in Baku that is a member of the world-renowned SABIS network will allow Azerbaijani families to educate their children in accordance with modern world standards and not to worry about them while they are thousands of miles away in a foreign country.

As was correctly noted by Chief Executive of Azersun Holding A. Gozel, "children should receive education including higher education in their home country, and only afterwards they can go abroad to obtain a PhD".

For more information about the SABIS school, please call at the following numbers:

Tel.:(+994 12) 404 53 43

Mob.: (+994 51) 990 65 65

E-mail: jacobusgericke@sabis.net

Web: www.ssisbaku.sabis.net

Documents delivery address:

SUBIS SUN International School

Sapfir Plaza, 10th Floor

1/3 Nizami Street

Baku