Centre for Innovations in Education (CIE)
Annual Report for 2006
CIE’s Mission (Revised)
Promote every child’s right to quality education through social inclusion and excellence in teaching and
active parent involvement.
CIE’s plans to achieve its Mission through the development of
Policies
Public dialogue
Promoting and facilitating relationships (teaching governments, schools, international
organizations, parents)
Professional development of educators
Development of Parents as advocates
Supporting Active community involvement
Key Relationships with Azeri Government Agencies and Non-Governmental Entities
State Education Commission at the President of AR (Elmina Kazimzade)
Coordination Council on Inclusive Education at the Ministry of Education (Elmina Kazimzade)
Coordination Council on the Deinstitutionalization at the Ministry of Education (Ulviya
Mikailova)
CIE was registered due to support letter of Ali Hasanov, Vice-Prime Minister of the Cabinet of
Ministries to the Ministry of Justice. He has a personal supervision of the CIE’s activities. In
December 2006, CIE’s reports for 2005 and first half of 2006, publications and multimedia
products produces by CIE were submitted to Ali Hasanov with request to give a tax-free status to
the CIE as a humanitarian organization
Organizational Member of NGO Alliance on Child Right Protection
Child Protection Network at UNICEF (Ulviya Mikailova, Elnara Gani-zade)
Working Group on De-I program at NGO Alliance (Elnara Gani-zade)
Working Group on Children with Disabilities at NGO Alliance (Lamiya Baylarova)
International Step by Step Association (ISSA) Network Events attended by CIE Staff
ISSA Annual Meeting, Budapest, Hungary, May, 2006 (Ulviya Mikailova);
In-Person Interview with Candidates for ISSA Executive Director’s Position, Budapest, Hungary,
June, 2006 (Ulviya Mikailova);
ISSA General Assembly, Bratislava, Slovakia, October, 2006 (Ulviya Mikailova and Elnara
Gani-zade)
International Advocacy
CIE’s advocacy involves cooperating with international education networks and participating in
significant international events, sharing information about our activities, and advocating for
shared beliefs. In 2006, CIE was represented at the following international events:
Comparative International Education Conference, Hawaii, March, 2006 (Elmina Kazimzade);
East-East Inclusive Education Conference, Kiev, March, 2006 (Turgut Mustafayev, Sanubar
Mammadova, Ofelia Babayeva, Gulnar Rashidova);
CEC Convention, Salt-Lake City, April, 2006 (Ulviya Mikailova);
EECERA-2006, Reykjavik, Iceland, August-September, 2006 (Ulviya Mikailova, Elmina
Kazimzade)
Parent’s Informal Payments In Education (PIPES) meeting, Turkey, October, 2006 (Elmina
Kazimzade, Naila Ismayilova)
Accreditation for Quality Assurance, International Conference on Higher Education, Barcelona,
Spain, November, 2006 (Elmina Kazimzade)
XII International Anti-corruption conference, Guatemala, November, 2006 (Naila Ismayilova)
National Education Policy Center (NEPC): Annual Meeting/General Assembly, Zagreb, Croatia,
December, 2006 (Naila Ismayilova)
Right of children living with disabilities – 2006, Sion, Switzerland, October 11- 14 (Lamiya
Baylarova)
Regional Workshop on Enhancing Professional Development of Education Practitioners and
Teaching/Learning practices, UNESCO/ OSI ESP, Sarajevo ,Bosnia and Herzegovina, 17-18
November 2006 (Gultekin Allakhverdiyeva).
National and Regional Events Conducted by CIE
Monthly Meetings of Interagency Working Group on Inclusive Education Policy,(twice a
month) 2006;
Recommendations for improvement of the Statutes of community-based rehabilitation centers in
order to promote their state recognition, and Portfolios of the rehab centers were presented to the
Ministry of Education; May, 2006;
Transparency and Ethic Issues in Education, conference, Baku, February, 2006;
School Improvement Training for INTAS members, Sumgayit, Mingachevir, April, 2006;
Advanced Inclusive Education Trainings, Baku (February, 2006), Mingachevirр (March, 2006)
Parents Mobilization and Advocacy Training, Baku, Mingachevir, March, 2006;
Meetings with District Pedagogical Community, Guba, Fizuli, February, 2006;
Critical Thinking Trainings (for Jabrail refugee school), Baku, February, April, 2006;
Creating Educational Materials from Nothing (for Jabrail Refugee School), Baku, June, 2006
Meetings with innovative teachers (Shaki, Guba, Mingachevir, Lankaran, Nakhchivan, Baku),
January-June, 2006;
Quality Improvement Trainings for Innovative teachers, 2006;
Master-class on teaching art for Jabrail refugee school held by the trainer from the Netherlands,
March, 2006;
Seminar on Corruption in Education (for NGOs and Education expert; for the Ministry of
Education),led by Prof. Steve Heinemann, Vanderbilt University, Baku, June, 2006
TV show on the Community-Based Rehabilitation Centers, AzTV, June, 2006;
TV Show on Test Admission to the Higher Education Institutes, Ijtimai TV, June, 2006;
TV Show on Inclusive Education, Ijtimai TV, July, 2006
First Quarterly Meeting of the Coordinators of School-based Training Centers on the goals of
INTAS (Innovative Teacher Association), Baku, May, 2006;
A survey on the teachers’ expectations from INTASS and children’s book marketing survey were
held at the network (country-wide), May, 2006;
Introductory Trainings on child centered approach for new classrooms (SBS Program), in Baku,
Sumqait, Mingachevir, March, 2006
“Training of the Trainers” for teachers and teachers assistants on Inclusive Education project,
August, 2006
Press-Conference on “Educational researches and their application”, International Press-Club,
Baku, September, 2006
Press-Conference on “Privatization kindergarten: deprivation of future generation”, International
Press-Club, Baku, October, 2006
Higher Education Course Development Training on “Introduction to Special Education” for
pedagogical universities and in-service teacher re-training institutes, Baku, September, 2006
Follow –up Trainings on child centered approach for newly joined classrooms (Step by Step
Program), September and November, Baku, Sumqait, Mingachevir, 2006
Trainings on Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking Program (RWCT) (for Jabrail refugee
school teachers), Baku, December, 2006;
School Improvement Trainings for INTASS members, April, 2006, Sumgait and Mingachevir
Quarterly Meetings of INTASS Members, May, Baku; July, Guba;
Critical Thinking Trainings for INTASS members, September-November, 2006, Ganja; Shaki;
Gakh; Lankaran; Nakhchivan
SbS Quality Standards training for INTASS members, December, 2006, Guba
Meetings with Democracy Commission Project Pilot Schools, Selection of School Boards,
Development of Procedures on Operation with Parents’ Funds, Meetings with Finance Advisor
for School Funds, October, 2006, Lankaran; November, 2006, Sumgait
National and Regional Events CIE staff attended or participated in
Participation in the Monthly Meetings of Organization Group on the Conference on Children with
Special Needs, March-June, 2006;
Presentation on Inclusive Education, Conference on Children with Special Needs, Baku, May,
2006 (Sanubar Mammadova);
Participation in the Inter-Agency Group on Deinstitutionalization, Baku, May, 2006
Presentation on Problems of Inclusive Education, International UNESCO Conference on
Inclusive Education, Baku May, 2006 (Ulviya Mikailova);
Presentation on Right to Education for Every Child at “Creating Safe and Useful World for the
Children” Ombudsman Conference, Baku, November, 2006 (Ulviya Mikailova)
Presentation on Conference on Child Friendly Schools” Conference, December, 2006 (Lamiya
Baylarova)
Presentation on Inclusive Education at the Meeting with Surakhani Education Authorities and
School Administrators and Teachers, Surakhani, December, 2006 (Ulviya Mikailova, Elnara
Gani-zade)
Statistics Related to Regional and National Events conducted by CIE
11 regions
745 teachers
83 teachers assistants
500 members of INTASS
14 mentors, 24 mentees
9 coordinators of training centers, 10 RWCT trainers, 38 SbS trainers, 2 School Improvement
Trainers
220 families
13 reps of the local education departments
44 reps of the local businesses, local community leaders, local ExComs in Lankaran and Sumgait
20 representatives of the Ministry of Education
8 NGOs
Journalists representing 18 newspaper and a TV channel
3 reps of the Republican psycho-medico-pedagogical commission and Head of Baku Commission
40 schools and 19 kindergartens
20 members of six Community-Based Rehabilitation Centers
participated in the CIE’s activities
CIE Staff Professional Development
Research on Community role by the Fulbright Scholarship, Columbia University, NY, JanuaryApril, 2006 (Ulviyya Mikayilova)
Capacity Building Trainings for NGOs, Baku, April, 2006 ( Ofeliya Babayeva, Naila Rasulova)
Training on Grant Management System, Sofia, June 8-13, 2006 (Sabuhi Abdullayev, Lamiya
Baylarova, Gultekin Allakhverdiyeva)
“Innovative Project Management within the children’s program” Batumi, Georgia, August 12-20,
2006 ( Lamiya Baylarova)
Training on Grant Management System, Baku, October 9-16, 2006 (all CIE staff members) (held
by OSI-Sofia trainers)
Workshop on the Revision of the CIE’s Mission, October, 2006 ( CIE program staff members)
held by Maryl Levine, CIE Board Member
Training on Strategic Project Management, Baku, December 18-21, 2006 (all CIE program staff
members) (held by Natalia Sofiy, international mentor for CIE)
Certified Distance Training Courses for Microsoft System Administrators, July, 2006, Training
Center” Specialist” at the Moscow High Technical University, Moscow (Aleksandr
Konovalchukov)
Publications and Multimedia Materials Produced by CIE
Monthly Newsletters of INTASS, May-December, 2006 (e-versions in Azeri are available);
“ Transparency, Ethic, Responsibility and Anti-corruption in Education”-proceedings of
international conference, February, 2006;
“Targeting Community in Azerbaijan: Some Reflections from Inside”, research paper, Caucasus
Context, volume 3/issue 1, http://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/
“Children with Disabilities: Changing Attitudes, Policies and Practices. Evaluation Study”,
EECERA 16th Conference, Iceland, August-September, 2006
“K Voprosu o Razvityi Inclusivnogo Obrazovaniya v Azerbaijane(On Inclusive Education
Development in Azerbaijan)”, Defectologiya (in press), Moscow, Russia
“Hanaa in Her Wheelchair”, children’s book (in Azeri and English)
“Teymur’s Cherry Tree”, children’s book (in Azeri and English)
Researches Conducted by CIE
Private Tutoring in Azerbaijan – Monitoring study (OSI-Budapest)
Education Sub-Sector Review: Education Finance in Azerbaijan (OSI-Budapest)
Community as an agent of social changes in Azeri society, research (State Department)
“Quality of high education and corruption”, Monitoring study (OSI-Budapest and OSIAF)
“In-formal payments in secondary school”, research (OSI-Budapest)
Baseline Survey on Readiness of Schools in Pilot Districts to Changes (UNICEF)
CIE Web-Site and Forum
New version of CIE web-site was uploaded at the new address:
www.educationforward.net. Hosting is provided by the Flexible Solutions
Forum on Education Policy was created. Link to the forum is given through CIE web-site
Administrative and Facility Improvements at CIE
A local and two international audits were held at CIE in 2006
High speed internet (ADSL) was recently established at CIE
Wireless Internet was provided at CIE office
Finance Operations were switched to SUN-based Grant Management System (GMS)
accounting program
Accountant and Cashier Duties were divided at the Finance Department
Institutional Budget for CIE was developed
Additional new equipment (computer, scanner, server, modem) was purchased
E-Version of CIE Library catalog was completed
New work office for receptionist was established
New furniture (table for accountant, doors for shelves at the finance department, glass
doors for library shelves) was ordered and purchased
Fundraising
World Vision: Project on professional development of Mardakan Special School. Requested:
$10,390; Pending
World Vision: Children with Disabilities: Changing Attitudes, Policies and Practices
(continuation). Requested: $26,422; Approved
*International Medical Corps: Rural Inclusive Education Project
(continuation).Requested: $39,450; Approved
McDermott: “Let’s Enjoy Teaching and Learning English Language” project.
Requested: $10,341; Rejected
The US Embassy Democracy Commission: Anti-Corruption in Education. Requested:
$15,000; Rejected
The US Embassy Democracy Commission: Towards Good Governance and Accountability in
Schools. Requested: $10,237; Awarded
Counterpart: Towards Equal Access to Early Childhood Education through
Community-Based Services. Requested: $9,501; Pending
Counterpart: Institutional Support Grant for the Strengthening Azerbaijan Civil Society
SACS. Requested: Participation in the Program; Rejected
Norwegian Embassy: Against Corruption in Education. Requested: $20,000; Rejected
*Open Society Institute-Assistance Foundation: Conducting Visit of International
Consultant on Textbook Policy (Tim Hunt, UK). Requested: $7,030; Approved
*Open Society Institute-Assistance Foundation: Trainings on Child-Centered approach
for staff of community-based rehabilitation centers. Requested: $6,000; Approved
*Open Society Institute-Assistance Foundation: Trainings on Leadership at School
and Educational Quality Providing to be held by Dr. Cathryn Magno, USA. Requested:
$5,000; Approved
*Open Society Institute-Assistance Foundation: Conducting Visit of International
Consultant to do Education Policy Program Evaluation (Prof. Steve Heinemann, USA).
Requested: $4,800; Approved
Open Society Institute-Assistance Foundation: Project on Creating Education Policy
Forum. Requested: $42,525; Approved
*Open Society Institute-Assistance Foundation: Project on 3rd component of
Education Sector Development-School Grant Program. Requested: $15,800; Approved
Open Society Institute-Assistance Foundation: Media and Education Network
Development. Requested: $30,000; Has not been considered
Open Society Institute-Budapest: Mental Health Policy Advisor. Requested: $11,700;
Approved
Sangachal Terminal: Two Projects for Caspian Energy Center. Requested: $1,200 and $7,800;
Approved
UNICEF: Conducting Surveys on School Readiness for Child Friendly School Initiative in
Lankaran, Guba and Fuzuli. Requested: $4,885 for Guba and Fizuli, and $1,803 for
Lankaran; Approved
UNICEF: Conducting Survey on preschool and schools age children with disabilities and
their families in Baku, Lankaran, Guba and Fuzuli. Requested:$14,995; Pending
Salyan-Oil: Improvement of the Education Quality in Salyan Rayon. Requested:
$19,590; Has not been considered
*Modern Didactics Center (Lithuania): Education against Corruption. Requested:
$6,350; Approved
Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago: Deliberating in a Democracy
(continuation). Requested: $10,000; Approved
*Vilnius University: Monitoring Drop-Outs and Private Tutoring: Public Awareness and
Policy Advocacy Campaigns. Requested: $3,970; Approved
*Open Society Institute –Assistance Foundation: Implementation, Maintenance and
Support of Grant Management System. Requested: $15,600; Approved
Parents’ Committee of TISA: Professional Development of Jabrail Soltankend Refugee
School. Requested: $11,737; Approved
Peace Corps: Professional Development of Barda kindergarten. Requested: $1,043;
Approved
And some other grants and grant proposal were prepared/submitted to the donor
organizations and awarded
Grants
1) Information on the CIE grants operated during 2006 and the CIE budgets for 2006 and 2007
are enclosed in the EXCEL files;
2) Grants with * mean that no admin expenses in the grant budgets
Organizational Structure, Board and Committee Membership, Staff and Personnel
CIE Board (January-May, 2006)
Leslie Harnish, Children’s Program Manager, World Vision Azerbaijan, wife
of the US Ambassador
Turi Jakobsen, President, Norwegian Humanitarian Enterprise
Rasim Ramazanov, General Director, Research Center for Development
and International Collaboration “Sigma”
Almaz Askerova, Director, Baku school #22
Agaguseyn Guseynov, Director, State Preschool College
Parviz Bagirov, Education Coordinator, OSI-AF
Alum Bati, lawyer, partner, “Salans”
CIE Board (June-December, 2006)
Fiona Bristow, External Consultant, wife of the British Ambassador
Maryl Levine, Management and Organizational Consultant
Rasim Ramazanov, General Director, Research Center for Development and
International Collaboration “Sigma”
Almaz Askerova, Director, Baku school #220
Parviz Bagirov, Education Coordinator, OSI-AF
Alum Bati, Lawyer and partner, “Salans”
CIE Advisory Committee on Quality and Innovations in Education
Sanubar Mammadova, Teacher, State Pedagogical College
Rena Safaraliyeva, Executive Director, Transparency Azerbaijan
Ofeliya Babayeva, Sumgait school #11
Naila Rasulova, Baku kindergarten #257
Afar Karimov, Director, Lankaran Debate Center
CIE Advisory Board on Education Policy
Asif Gahangirov – Education specialist
Azer Mehtiyev – Economist, vice-chairmen of Economical Research Center
Rufat Gasimov – Faculty, State Economic University
Elchin Rashidov – Faculty, Qafqaz University
Nadir Ibadov – Dean on Scientific Issue, Ganja State University
CIE Staff Changes
 Turgut Mustafayev, Coordinator of two inclusive education projects left CIE
for World Learning at the end of May
 Shahin Sadigov, accountant left CIE for another job
 Sabuhi Abdullayev, accountant was fired
 Lamiya Baylarova, left a position of office assistant and was appointed as a
Coordinator of the WV inclusive Education project
 Gultekin Allakhverdiyeva was selected as a Coordinator of INTASS project in
March, 2006 and Coordinator of Democracy Commission Grant in October,
2006
 Nurlan Mustafayev, Coordinator of the Education Policy Panel project, left at
the end of June for studying abroad
 Husniyya Gardashova was selected as an Office Assistant and Cashier

Naila Ismayilova was selected as a Coordinator of Education Policy Panel
Project (OSI-AF)
CIE Volunteers
 Three students of Psychology and Social Sciences Department at Baku State
University prepared a catalog of the CIE library (three times a week, after
lunch)
 Linda Decker, Resident Budget Advisor, prepared institutional budget for CIE
for 2006 and 2007 (weekly, Saturday and Sundays)
 Marat Efendiyev helps with publishing children’s books (part-time)
 Shahri Ibayeva, Law Student, Baku State University helps with receptionist,
library catalog and CIE web-site updates (full-time except exam sessions twice
a year)