Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Dövlət Pedaqoji Universiteti) or short ASPU - public university specializing in the training of pedagogical staff and professionals across a diverse range of fields.
History
The Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University was established in 1921 under Decree No. 66, ''On the Organization of the Higher Pedagogical Institute of Men,'' dated August 26, 1921, and signed by the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of Azerbaijan, Nariman Narimanov. Its first graduation was in 1924 with 28 graduates. In 1972, the Institute was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.
Before its foundation, an Organizing Committee (Preparatory Commission) was created for the establishment of the institute in late 1920. Fatullah Bey Rzabeyli was appointed the Chairman of the Committee. The members were Habib Bey Mahmudbeyov and Rahim Jafarov. Abdulla Shaig, Muhammed bey Efendiyev, and Sadig Huseynov also took part in the activities of the committee. They also participated in the organization of the one-year pedagogical courses which played a key role in the establishment of the Pedagogical Institute in Azerbaijan and also delivered lectures in these courses.
The Organizing Committee was to prepare a curriculum for the institute and present it to the Azerbaijani People's State Education Commission, to find qualified personnel and to resolve the issue of teaching aids and construction. The Committee began its work on June 9, 1920.
On June 13, 1921, the Azerbaijani People's Education Commission approved the first statute of the Pedagogical Institute. The statute defines the structure, duties, and rights of the institution and also specifies the subject disciplines included in the curriculum, as well as the rules of the colloquium, acts of admission and examinations to strengthen the knowledge and control of students. According to the curriculum, students in the first year were supposed to teach the subjects such as mathematics, Mother tongue, the Russian language, literature, music, etc. In the second year, students were divided into specialties and trained in accordance with the relevant subjects. On November 12, 1921, three days before the beginning of the classes, the first meeting of the Council of the Institute was held at the Pedagogical Institute and questions were also discussed about the organization of lessons and other important tasks.
In the first years, the Institute trained teachers in the fields of history, philology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics as well as theoretical courses and experimental studies in botany, zoology, physiology, chemistry, geology, and mineralogy. The students were educated within the framework of the program of the Baku State University by such teachers as F. Rasulzade, S. Huseynov, A. A. Amirov, S. Kh. Osinanzade. In this period, the most powerful scientific center of the department was the faculty of physiology.
In 1921, the Department of History and Public Literature was established. The new department was responsible for teaching the humanitarian and special disciplines, philosophy, logic, pedagogy, didactics, political economy, the foundations of the state law and other subjects. From 1925 to 1926 the department was divided into two independent departments: the Department of History and the Department of Philology.
Between 1923 and 1924, the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan allocated 112 thousand manats for educational, scientific and economic work of the institute. In those years, the Institute's basic library was also enriched. At the time of the library's creation, there were just 50 books in the Azerbaijani language and 73 books in different languages. A few years later, the library fund of German literature was significantly increased from Moscow and other cities. In the academic year 1923-24, there were 2,000 copies in Azerbaijani and 1,000 copies in the Russian language in the library.
From 1924-25 school years, the institute began to work with a 4-year curriculum. At that time, 142 students were studying at the university. Students from neighboring countries, such as Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc., also studied at this educational institution.
Academic profile There are 330 teachers at 55 departments of the University, including 59 doctors of science, 329 candidates of science and associate professors, 4 full members of various academies of sciences. The University employs 730 people of support staff. The university includes a library and reading rooms, a computer room, an onomastic laboratory, a zoological museum, and a medical care center. There are more than 700 thousand copies in the library.
Faculties and programs Faculty of Mathematics Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics Education Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science Education Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics Education (English) Bachelor of Arts in Math and Computer Science Education (English) Master of Arts in Teaching Methods and Methodology of Informatics Master of Arts in Teaching Methods and Methodology of Mathematics
Faculty of Chemistry and Biology Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry Education Bachelor of Arts in Biology Education Master of Arts in Teaching Methods and Methodology of Chemistry Master of Arts in Teaching Methods and Methodology of Biology
Faculty of Physics Bachelor of Arts in Technology Education Bachelor of Arts in Physics Education (English) Bachelor of Arts in Physics Education Master of Arts in Teaching Methods and Methodology of Physics
Faculty of History and Geography Bachelor of Arts in History Education Bachelor of Arts in Geography Education Bachelor of Arts in History and Geography Education Bachelor of Arts in Social Work Bachelor of Arts in History and Geography Education (English) Master of Arts in Teaching Methods and Methodology of Geography Master of Arts in Teaching Methods and Methodology of History Master of Arts in Social Work in Various Areas of Life Activity Master of Arts in Youth Work
Faculty of Primary Education Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education Teaching Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education Teaching (English) Teaching Methods and Methodology in Primary Classes
Faculty of Pre-School Education Bachelor of Arts in Socio-Psychological Services in Education Bachelor of Arts in Correctional Education Bachelor of Arts in Pre-School Education Teaching Master of Arts in Social Pedagogy Master of Arts in Theory and History of Pedagogy Master of Arts in Teaching Methods and Methodology of Preschool Education and Training Master of Arts in Teaching Methods and Methodology of Corrective Education Master of Arts in Social-Psychological Services in Education
Faculty of Philology Bachelor of Arts in Azerbaijani Language and Literature Teaching Bachelor of Arts in Turkish Language and Literature Teaching Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language Teaching (French language) Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language Teaching (English language) Master of Arts in Teaching Methods and Methodology of Azerbaijani Language and Literature Master of Arts in Assessment and Monitoring in Education Master of Arts in Teaching Methods and Methodology of Foreign Languages (English) Master of Arts in Teaching Methods and Methodology of Azerbaijani Language and Literature
Faculty of Arts and Physical Education Bachelor of Musical Education Teaching Bachelor of Physical Education Teaching Bachelor of Visual Arts Education Teaching Master of Arts in Teaching Methods and Methodology of Visual Arts Master of Arts in Teaching Methods and Methodology of Physical Education and Pre-Conscription Training
Special Programs
MA in Education and Human Development & Management (Dual Degree with George Washington University) MBA in Educational Management MA in Organization and Methodology of Training and Teaching" (SABAH Groups)
Ranking
Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University was ranked 1388th globally in the 2024 UI GreenMetric World Rankings. According to Webometrics, in the January 2025 edition of the Ranking Web of Universities, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University ranked 6,616th out of 31,364 universities globally.
In the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University was ranked in the 1501+ band. It was assessed in SDG 4 (Quality Education) with a score of 46.3–51.0, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) with 0.8–38.6, SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) with 2.4–31.7, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) with 2.1–44.7.
Campuses
Sabail (Main) Campus The main academic building of Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University is located at Uzeyir Hajibeyli Street, Baku, in the Sabail raion. This campus includes the Faculty of Philology, the Faculty of Mathematics, the Faculty of Physics, the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, and the SABAH Center. Other facilities include an assembly hall, a conference room, the Heydar Aliyev Center (museum and lecture hall), the Career Center, the Library and Information Center, the university publishing house, chemistry and physics laboratories, a zoological museum, sports halls, and SABAH classrooms.
Ganjlik Campus The second academic building of ASPU is at Academic Hasan Aliyev Street, Baku, in the Narimanov raion. This campus includes the Faculty of History and Geography, the Graduate and Doctoral Studies Department, and the Department of Continuing Education and Innovations. Facilities include the Heydar Aliyev Center (museum and conference room), a dormitory for female international students, a Library and Information Center, amphitheater-style classrooms, an assembly hall, a sports hall, and inclusive education laboratories.
Nasimi Campus ASPU's third academic building is at Nasib Bey Yusifbeyli Street, Baku, in the Nasimi raion. This campus includes the Faculty of Arts and Physical Education and the Faculty of Primary Education. Facilities include City Polyclinic No. 29, a sports hall, music, painting, and sculpture rooms, and a library.
Tabriz Campus The fourth academic building of ASPU is at Koroglu Rahimov Street, Baku, in the Nasimi raion. This campus includes the Faculty of Preschool Education, inclusive education laboratories, and a library.
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Branches
Azerbaijan Pedagogical University has its branches in a number of cities such as Agjabadi, Guba, Jalilabad, Sheki, and Shamakhi.
The Agjabedi branch of the Azerbaijan Teachers' Institute was recognized as a branch of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University with the Presidential Decree dated November 26, 2015 No. 1582. Since 2012, the branch is headed by the candidate of philology, professor Farzalieva Matanat.
On June 14, 2000, the Guba branch was established on the basis of the Guba branch of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts with Decree No. 349 of president Heydar Aliyev.
Jalilabad branch was established on the basis of the Jalilabad Agricultural Technical School with the presidential decree dated June 13, 2000 "On improving the education system in the Republic of Azerbaijan". The head of the branch is Associate Professor, Ph.D. of Philosophy Khudayar Sultanly.
On June 14, 2000, by Decree No. 349 of the President of Azerbaijan, the Sheki Branch of the Azerbaijan Teachers` Institute was established on the basis of the Sheki branch of BSU and the Department for Advanced Training and Retraining of General Pedagogical Staff.
The Shamakhi branch of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University has been operating since 1991.
Notable alumni
Politics Abramov Yevda – Azerbaijani statesman, Deputy of Milli Majlis.
Mammad Alakbarov - the first Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan and a former Minister of Education.
Ali Naghiyev – Head of the State Security Service of Azerbaijan.
Science Hamid Arasly – Soviet Azerbaijani scientist, academician of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan SSR.