“Having studied the theory and practice from my professors here at school, it was worthwhile to see firsthand the situation in the trenches,” noted 2009 Muskie fellow Rashad Aliyev after a recent study trip to Brazil. Designed to provide Azerbaijani reformers with an opportunity to observe and learn from Brazil’s progress in education reform, the study tour was organized by the World Bank in collaboration with the Brazilian Ministry of Education. The delegation from Azerbaijan was headed by Deputy Education Minister Isgandar Isgandarov and included Azerbaijani educators and policy specialists.
As a student in the Master of Public Policy program at the University of Maryland, Rashad has concentrated his study on issues of sustainable international development and inequality. Prior to becoming a Muskie fellow, Rashad’s experience in education reform included a position in the Project Coordination Unit of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Education and work on a curriculum reform project sponsored by the Netherlands’ CITO Group. The study tour in Brazil was an opportunity for Rashad to learn about education reform in another country while also making new professional contacts for his future as a public servant in Azerbaijan.
In addition to meeting with state and federal education officials in Brasilia, the delegation also traveled to Rio de Janerio and Sao Paulo where they visited schools and met with researchers, civil society representatives, and community members. When visiting a vocational school in Sao Paulo, Rashad was impressed by the degree to which government decentralization allows education expenditures to be aligned with local priorities.
Above all, Rashad admired “the existence of a very clear vision and an understanding of the goals of the reform, as well as the dedication and enthusiasm of federal and state authorities and at schools.” He believes the Brazilian government’s commitment to dialogue has led to a true spirit of cooperation between civil society and government in the education sphere. In his work as a public servant in Azerbaijan, Rashad also facilitated communication between local school officials and the federal Ministry of Education.
Building on his professional experience, studies, and tour in Brazil, Rashad is interning this summer with the Azerbaijan Higher Education Project at World Bank Headquarters in Washington, DC. Rashad would like to continue his work for Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Education after completing his degree at the University of Maryland. When asked how the Muskie fellowship will influence his future work in Azerbaijan, Rashad emphasized the importance of public deliberation, noting “reform shouldn’t come from the top without the opinion of the interested parties.”
