AZE.US
Azerbaijan has seen an increase in university programs where applicants can gain admission with 150-200 points. For many young people, that opens the door to higher education. For the labor market, the question is harder: what happens after graduation?
The issue is becoming more visible as students and parents weigh whether a low-entry university program can lead to real employment, or whether it simply produces another diploma with limited value.
Some people argue that a low admission score does not automatically determine a student’s future. Skills, motivation and the quality of training during university years can still matter more than the score that got a student through the door.
Others take a more practical view. They say learning a trade may sometimes offer better employment prospects than spending four years in a weak university program with unclear career options.
“Skills matter. If a person has the ability, they will be hired. But knowledge is also necessary. A person cannot be truly skilled without knowledge,” one participant in the discussion said.
Education expert Sabuhi Abdullayev said the problem is not only about getting a diploma. Students also need professional and practical skills. Without them, four years of study may end with a graduate joining the ranks of young people who hold diplomas but cannot find work.
According to Abdullayev, programs with admission scores around 150-200 points are often found in fields such as forestry, winemaking, ecology, tourism, museum studies and similar areas.
He said applicants should study their chosen majors more carefully before making a decision. That includes looking at the curriculum, speaking with graduates and paying attention to expert assessments about employment prospects.
Specialists also point to vocational education as a stronger option in some cases. Graduates of vocational schools in areas such as cooking, auto repair, equipment repair and technical services can often find work faster than university graduates in low-demand fields.
MP Jeyhun Mammadov said low-entry-score programs are more common in private universities. He noted that a student’s admission score matters, but so does the quality of education and performance after enrollment.
Labor-market demand is another part of the problem. In some specialties, there are simply not enough vacancies for graduates, regardless of whether they hold a university degree.
Education specialists say applicants should not choose a major only because it offers an easier path into university. They should also ask whether there is demand for the profession, what kind of salaries are available and how realistic it is to find work after graduation.
Otherwise, higher education can become a four-year pause rather than a path into employment, leaving young graduates with the same question they had before university: where can they actually work?
AZE.US