1. Student Support Services in Azerbaijan: Khazar University Experience
L'Aquila University
December 10, 2012

2. Khazar University at a Glance
Established in 1991, is a first private higher education institution in Azerbaijan
First university among 51 higher education institutions in Azerbaijan to apply the credit system
Offers undergraduate, graduate and PhD degree programs
The medium of instruction is English

3. Khazar University at a Glance
About 2000 students
More than 40 programs of study
More than 200 graduate and PhD students
More than 150 instructors and researchers
Student exchange programs with universities in USA, Europe, China, Japan and Korea

4. Khazar University 22 Departments 20 Research Centers and Institutes
5 Schools
22 Departments
20 Research Centers and Institutes
Division of Graduate Studies and Research
Center for International Students and Scholars
“Dunya” School
Library and Information Center
Khazar University Press
7 Computer Centers
Laboratories
Museums

5. Schools School of Engineering and Applied Science
School of Economics and Management
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
School of Education
School of Project Management

6. Khazar University Students Support Projects
1st Tempus Tacis Project
The Establishment of Academic Quality Assurance Center at Khazar University
(The Nottingham Trent University UK and Haarlem Hogeschool, NL)
1st Student Support Project
Support for establishment of The Career Center at Khazar University
Eurasia Foundation, USA
2 nd Tempus Tacis Project
The Establishment of Student Services Center at Khazar University
Middlesex University, UK, and University of Sannio, Italy

7. Student Support Services
Objectives:
To create a motivating, appealing and modern environment for students
To develop the organisational framework to support:
academic performance;
career goals and perspectives;
growth and recognition of opportunities for students in different areas
To increase the quality of Student Support Services
So what are student support services ?
They are ….
those activities and programs provided by school social workers, school counselors, school psychologists, Career center, Student Services Center and others that (specifically) improve academic and behavioral outcomes for students.
Student support services address the identified needs of students and enhance a supportive learning environment. The entire student pathway through the institutional experience is characterized by a concern for student access, progress, learning, and success. Khazar university assesses student support services using program reviews, unit plans, student learning outcomes, faculty and staff input, and other appropriate measures in order to improve the effectiveness of these.

8. Advice and Guidance Career Planning Career Development Center
Psychological Assistance Service
Psychological Counseling and Psychotherapy Center
Health Care
Health Care Center
Legal Advice
Student Legal Clinic
We classified student support services into three groups: advice and guidance, academic support and non-academic support services. Advice and guidance includes the following services: career planning, psychological assistance, health care and legal advice.

9. Career Development Center
Assists students in:
Evaluating career opportunities and making
strategic decisions
Preparing resume/CVs and covering letters
Providing information on international
fellowship and scholarship programs
Provides access to:
Career development related materials
Online database
Regular career opportunity announcements
Explores employment opportunities by:
Internships
Summer jobs
Volunteer services
Job fairs
The Career Center was established on November 1, 1999 within the framework of the “Career Center Development Project at Khazar University, ”, funded by The Eurasia Foundation, USA.
Career experts from European and American Universities provide ongoing support to the newly established Center through training its personnel and donating library and information resources.
The Center assists University students in the transition from undergraduate and graduate studies to careers, by offering an opportunity to explore career options through consultation and by providing access to materials related to career development, including online resources, and a wide variety of alternative services.
The Center establishes relationships with potential employers in order to provide students with professional skills, integrate academic education with work, and explore employment opportunities by:
organizing company tours and on-campus presentations
exploring possibilities for internships, summer jobs, and volunteer services
organizing job fairs
Personnel of the University Career Center participate in a variety of overseas training and development programs.
The Career Development Center offers individual and group appointments with career counseling faculty, as well as career development services and resources such as counseling for career/life transitions or to facilitate career decision-making. Workshops specific to the needs of undecided or re-entry students are offered, and an extensive research library of career reference materials is available.

10. Psychological Counseling and Psychotherapy Center
Objectives: Promoting personal growth and helping students with personal difficulties
Students psychological problems:
issues of diversity and culture
relationship difficulties
depression and anxiety
concern about self-esteem
uncertainties about personal values/beliefs
The Psychological Counseling and Psychotherapy Center opened in 2009 and offers a variety of services to the university community ranging from individual and group counseling to campus-wide educational programs that contribute not only to the growth of individual students, but also to the benefit of academic programs in related disciplines, to campus life, and to the educational/cultural life of the region.

11. Health Care Center The Health Care Center is available
free to all students, faculty and staff
Center provides basic medical services, including primary ambulatory medical care, some immunizations, and first aid
Qualified specialists are invited to the Center in the case of urgent need
All medical records, including required health-related correspondence, are maintained in the Center .
The Health Center provides health care and crisis assessment for students. In conjunction with the services of the Health Care Center, separate psychological care and moral support are offered through the Khazar Psychological Counseling and Psychotherapy Center.

12. Student Legal Clinic Provides:
Liaison, information, support and referral to
Khazar University students
Provision of programs supporting student equity
and diversity both within faculties and across campus
Assistance to students on an individual basis
The first Moot Court in Azerbaijan was established at the School of Law with support from the American Bar Association, Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA-CEELI)
The essential mission of the legal clinic is to help students meet the demands of a rapidly changing legal and professional environment. SLC is a center of legal scholarship, whose members work to enlarge society's understanding of law as well as its underlying policies, legal institutions and legal processes.
The court has proven to give students hands–on experience in many areas of law.

13. Academic Support Services
International Student Support
Center for International Students and Scholars
Academic Technology Assistance
Student Information System & eLearning
Libraries, Databases and Electronic Resources
Library & Information Center
Academic Counselling/Advising
Student Services Centre
The Academic Support provides services to assist all students in achieving academic success. Fur components make up the Services: :International Student Support, Academic Technology Assistance , Libraries, Databases and Electronic Resources, Basic Skills and Study Methods Services

14. Center for International Students and Scholars
Mission: To coordinate, encourage and contribute the internationalization of the Khazar University
Services:
Visa registration
Arrival arrangements
Housing information
Orientation programs on personal, academic, financial, legal, health-related issues, national values and culture
Meeting arrangements, including planning programs and activities for internationals and their families
City guidance
International support provides the Center for international students and scholars. CISS advisers assist international students to obtain immigration card for a short period. Submission of immigration-related documents to government agencies is done by the center.
Orientation programs on personal, academic, financial, legal, health-related issues, national values and culture.
An orientation program is offered at the beginning of each intake.
It helps the students to acclimatize to Azerbaijani life, and in the meantime learn more about the academic environment of the university.
Meeting arrangements, including planning programs and activities for internationals and their families
Extension of academic stays for valid reasons
Immigration advising
The CISS also provides counseling related to emergencies and unexpected immigration problems.
The center is dedicated to supporting international students both academically and personally. International students benefit from specialized and individual attention

15. Student Information System & eLearning
Capabilities for entering student test and other assessment scores through an electronic grade book
Building student schedules
Tracking student attendance, and managing many other student-related data needs
eLearning system
Khazar University provides blended learning opportunities as well as Moodle platform for some distance learning courses.
Student information system provides capabilities for entering student test and other assessment scores through an electronic grade book, building student schedules, tracking student attendance, and managing many other student-related data needs in the university.
Khazar University provides blended learning opportunities as well as Moodle platform for some distance learning
Moodle is a web-based learning environment that allows students to access their course syllabus, assignments, lessons, quizzes, wikis, discussion forums and more.

16. Library & Information Center: Student Support Library Services
Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)
Request and reservation items
Interlibrary Loan
On-line DB (EBSCO, JSTOR,
Cambridge University Press, Oxford Reference Online, Questia, World Bank elibrary ,etc.)
E-books and E-journals
Institutional repository services
Depository Library of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank
LIC is known for creative public service, innovative library technology, diversity, outreach and dozens of “firsts” in the Azerbaijani library world, including the following:
The first to build a modern Library and Information Center, which has turned into a model library in the country;
the first and still one of only a few local libraries in our country offering genuine open access to the collection.
the first to implement a multi-module computerized library system, The university library has been able to provide online full text access to eBooks, eJournals, web sites and data bases through the university's e-catalogue
The Khazar University institutional repository (KUIR) is the first electronic archive in Azerbaijan. Collections of research materials in digital formats are managed, preserved and distributed by the Library through DSpace software. First in our country according to the World Repository Ranking (July, 2012) KUIR was the only repository in the Caucasus and to be included in the top 1400 repositories around the world

17. Student Services Centre
Assist students with:
Counseling for educational planning and course selection
Meeting new students and assisting with registration
Introducing students to the faculty advising process
Assisting with graduation checks and degree audits
Meeting with students concerning course or
program withdrawal
Trainings :
Classes for individual students and groups
Master’s degree preparation courses: Information, Logic, Foreign languages, specialized subjects
Foreign language courses: English, German, Russian, Japan, Arabic
TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT, GRI, SAT preparation courses
The SSC was established in 2003 within the framework of the Tempus project: “Develop and maintain strong student services system at Khazar University through the
establishment of Student Services Centre supported by the training of appropriate skills and procedures.
SSC Assist students with:
Counseling for educational planning and course selection
Meeting new students and assisting with registration
Introducing students to the faculty advising process
Assisting with graduation checks and degree audits
Meeting with students concerning course or
program withdrawal
SSC offers instructional support for individuals in study skills, vocabulary improvement, and critical thinking as well as instructional support for courses in reading, English as a Second Language (ESL), foreign languages, and writing

18. Financial Support, Dining and Housing
Financial support for:
Those who obtain high scores on the entrance examination
Those whose parents are victims and/or refugees
Those whose ability to pay tuition fees is negatively affected by certain unpredictable circumstances (e.g. death of a parent), etc.
Dining and Housing
 The University Canteen serves a variety of delicious dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner
A special University housing team at Khazar provides international faculty, students and guests with necessary information for finding appropriate accommodations in Baku.
Housing information is provided before arrival and the housing team manages the placement after arrival.

19. Sport Activities
Soccer, volleyball, basketball, chess and different kind of fight forms (such as karate, judo, ushu and boxing)
The “Khazar University” football club formed a team of the strongest football players
Basketball teams have successfully
taken part in international
competitions held in Azerbaijan, Iran, Georgia, Russia
and other countries
Current f students may select from many sport teams, including Soccer, volleyball, basketball, chess and various types of martial arts at the university.
The “Khazar University” football club formed a team of the strongest football players.
The university men’s and ladies’ basketball teams have successfully taken part in international competitions held in Azerbaijan, Iran, Georgia, Russia and other countries.
Some meetings and events have been conducted in the university chess club with the participation of well-known chess players from Azerbaijan and around the world.

20. Khazar is one of the culturally richest centers of Baku
Cultural Activities
Khazar is one of the culturally richest centers of Baku
Department of Music and Fine Arts
(The vocal choirs and dance ensembles)
Center of National Costumes
Carpet Museum
Jewelry Museum
Book Club
Cultural Center hosts a number of activities and provides a broad range of services.
The university provides necessary facilities for two dance ensembles, as well as national folk, vocal, choral and other music classes, and attracts qualified experts to manage these activities.
The vocal choirs and dance ensembles of Khazar have won various competitions in Azerbaijan and overseas.
These ensembles perform many of the national dances and songs of Azerbaijan, the people of the Caucasus and other nations of the world.
Students can also choose carpet-making, jewelry art and other applied arts as elective courses within Azerbaijani Culture classes.
On April 21, 2011 the Khazar Book Club was opened at the Khazar University Neftchilar Campus .The club operates as a center for the sale and order of books as well as holding a variety of literature and art activities, exhibitions, meetings, and public debates.

21. Khazar University Student Union
Committees:
Communications and Information
Education
International Students
Alumni Relations
Grant Research
Public Relations
Student Editorial
Law
Culture and Sports
Khazar Student Union provides leadership opportunities and practical learning experiences outside of the classroom. SU is responsible for event scheduling, communication a and information, alumni relations,s tudent rights, student government, clubs and organizations, culture and sport.
Finally, Khazar University academic and student services programs maintain student development relative to intellectual, aesthetic, and personal growth. An essential university goal is to educate students to assume civic and personal responsibility as members of the community. The university provides a number of opportunities that encourage students to search for knowledge, to value aesthetics, and to assume individual and collective responsibility through shared decision-making, leadership, concern for others, and conscientious citizenship.

22. Thank you for your attention!