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Leyla Jabbarzade, University of Sheffield, United KingdomAbstract
This paper examines how ranking-driven internationalisation policies shape research capacity and quality in Azerbaijani higher education. In resource-constrained systems like Azerbaijan, internationalisation often prioritises visibility in global rankings over long-term investment in staff, infrastructure and academic development. Drawing on policy analysis (1992–2023) and ten semi-structured interviews with academic and administrative staff at two public universities, the study applies Steiner-Khamsi’s (2014) policy borrowing framework and Vogel’s (2012) model of research capacity building to explore the tension between global aspirations and local capabilities. Findings reveal a persistent mismatch between national ambitions for global recognition and institutional realities of limited funding, training and autonomy. Ranking-linked incentives have sometimes encouraged superficial compliance and ethically sensitive practices, such as publication outsourcing, honorary authorship and reliance on predatory journals. These dynamics may shift attention away from teaching quality and research integrity, echoing concerns raised across other Global South systems where borrowed reforms outpace institutional capacity (Altbach & Knight, 2007; Chankseliani, 2023). The paper argues for more context-sensitive approaches to internationalisation that align global engagement with local realities. It recommends three priorities: establishing dedicated research funding and staff development programmes; reforming incentive systems to reward quality over quantity; and promoting equitable international partnerships that build sustainable capacity. These findings contribute to broader debates on how metric-based policies reshape academic values and governance in developing higher education systems.
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Conference: BCE2025Stream: Higher education
This paper is part of the BCE2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Jabbarzade L. (2025) Ranking Pressures and Research Quality: Internationalisation Challenges in the Azerbaijani Higher Education System ISSN: 2435-9467 – The Barcelona Conference on Education 2025: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 139-143) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2435-9467.2025.12
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2435-9467.2025.12
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