Professor Rena Sultanova: "Young people should realize their knowledge and experience in Azerbaijan, also directly participate in the creation of an innovative economy”
Doctor in Economics, professor, Rena Sultanova gave an interview to the web site “economics.com.az”
On May 27-31, 2016, in Marmaris, Turkey, in Mugla Sitki Kocman University held the International Youth Studies Conference. Doctor of Economics, professor, Rena Sultanova head of the department “Regional development and utilization of natural resources” of the Institute of Economics took active part in the work of the congress and we talked with her about the impressions of the trip.
Ms. Rena, how passed the Congress and what theme did you speak?
- More than 40 students graduate the Mugla University for a year, and there participated many members from Azerbaijan, Great Britain, Kazakhstan and etc. foreign countries. The meeting held in a very high level. In the Congress discussed the problems of youths, their role in the socio - economic life. I made a speech on theme of “The role of youths in the economy of the country”. I should note that youths play very important role in the socio-economic life of Azerbaijan. They took active part in the state bodies, social sectors, in scientific-pedagogical, and scientific research spheres too. For the recent years, realization of planned state programs with the youths by the state impetuses to the positive changes in those areas. Thus, in 2002, adopted a decision of the Azerbaijan Republic on “Youths policy”, approved “Azerbaijani Youth State Program (in 2005 and in 2011 years)”, held a Nationwide youth forums, in 2007, has been declared the “Year of Youth”. In the country, young peoples’ age considers 14-29.
In addition, the decree that approved by the president of the country "State Program on education of Azerbaijan youth abroad in the years 2007-2015" has a special significance. Implementation of this program gives opportunities to young people for completing their education in the world's leading higher education institutions to contribute the development of the country, also enables the development of professional staff. It is important that young people abroad could return home after graduating from prestigious schools, realize their knowledge, experiences in Azerbaijan, and directly participate in the creation of an innovative economy.
- In your opinion, what processes are going on in our country right now with young peoples, and what is more remarkable trend?
- 2.7 million people of the country, or 28.1 percent of population are youths, 49 percent of them are women. 52 percent of young people live in the city, 48 percent live in rural areas. Research shows that in 2015, 78 percent of married peoples are youths, the average age of men marrying for the first time is 28, women is 24 years old. Unfortunately, the young men among divorced was 15.9 percent, and women is 30.9 percent. It has been linked to a number of problems.
Adoption of all those decrees, their execution, implementation of work’s quality with the youths, creation of monitoring mechanisms as the main problems are on the agenda. At the present-day, there have carried out a number of works in the direction of implementation of efficiency of youths policy with the aim of perfection of material-technical basis. Thus, have created “Youths house” and “Youths Center”. Today, there seems more influx of young people to the fields of information and communication technologies.
Young people are attempting to be more active in the development of new knowledge, and it can be evaluated as a positive trend. On the other hand, increase the number of young people working in the industrial park, also in the areas of production is very good. Youths play an important role in organizing the production of competitive markets for goods and services.
-Which youths’ policy measures do you think is more important?
-There are also some problems in addition to the achievements of young people. Their household, home problems, provision of employment as key issues emerge. There are ongoing series of measures and works in the direction of solution of problems at the state level. Let's hope that these issues will be resolved in the near future. The research shows that, in comparison with 2000, and 2015, the growth of 14-29 year-olds’ peoples totaled 424.6 thousand persons, which of them 230.1 are men and more than 194.5 thousand of them are women.
-I think that the creation of appropriate conditions for the comprehensive development of young people in our country; creation of opportunities for young people to get an education that meets international standards; the formation of favorable conditions for increasing the employment of young people; encouraging of young professionals and others to work in the regions of Azerbaijan are important factors. We must bear in mind that, the modern production areas are based on innovative technologies, as professional and knowledgeable professionals our young people need to be prepared in this respect.
Youth’s employment in the regions must be on focus. If we want to reduce regional differences, ensure balanced development there is important to ensure the flow of young people to the regions. I think that today attraction of young peoples to all government agencies, private and public sectors, to the sphere of scientific and educational activities are very important issues. We should “switch on green-light” for youths
- In your opinion, what potential do our young people have?
- Our young people has a high potential, they are intelligent, and weighing in various languages. In the international arena, they have opportunities to worthily represent our country. However, beside these there are some problems, which I would like to mention them. There are many problems in the field of education. The level of education has declined in recent years, and it is due to test the system. Thus, the test system is actually restricts young people to be active in their language, spoken, self, reducing their ability for expressing their opinions. It is not coincidentally, that number of countries have already started to prefer written exams. We must consider this too.
In Turkey's universities for ensuring activity of youth in the areas of science, and increasing their interest to education regularly held us local and international scientific events, conferences, symposiums.
Young people are attracted to such events, there organizes their speech, which encourage to be active, to express their opinions, and they could be known in the good sides. Even the poor speech of doctors meets so normal, and is given moral support to them, it will be reason for better preparation in the future to form a sense of self-confidence.
Ms. Rena, did you observe any advantages or differences during comparisons in this field?
- I would like our young people, could made speeches in numerous conferences and symposiums, is ensured their scientific visits to the international community, they can express their opinions, would be able to deliver a variety of scientific circles. It also could be a boost to their development. They need to organize these opportunities. In Turkey has such a good tradition, businessmen, entrepreneurs, help and support universities. For example, business leaders financially organizes the conferences, symposiums at the universities. Therefore, such measures held in a very high level. In other words, business leaders are closely working with the universities. Imagine that when we were in Mugla University, at the same time, were held various congresses simultaneously in several areas. However, we meet many challenges even when we organize just a conference. Because of our businessmen, are not interested in supporting us for such measures. The state also should stimulate them and entrepreneurs should be interested in supporting research institutes, and universities.
I felt those differences. Therefore, our young people are a little behind in terms of activity. Although our young people are well educated, well-informed, but they are not active as in Turkey. My imagination absolutely has changed in a good sense when I was in Turkey. They are in many areas are highly developed especially, in services’ areas, and tourism.
All the service areas are in a high level and so that people are very happy. They warmly welcome tourists, they serve so highly level that tourists want to come to this country again and again. In other words, I have great respect from Turkey, and wish to return to this country in a near future again…
