8/6/2018
Topic:
Problem with My WES Evaluation Report
anarisayev
|
Dear Moderator,
I am writing to you regarding my Educational Credential Assessment for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (ECA number: 3******7)
WES assessed my Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Law degree from The Supreme Attestation Commission as master’s degree (at minimum).
It was also added that academics in the field, upon examination of the dissertation, may in some instance consider the credential comparable to an earned doctorate in Canada.
I sent an objection letter to WES. But, they disregarded my argumentation stated below and did not reviewed their approach.
Azerbaijan started the reform of its higher education system by joining the Bologna Process in 2005, followed by the adoption of the new Law on Education in 2009. This law formally introduced the European Credit Transfer System: three-cycle system of study.
According to the law, Bachelor’s Degree is the first level of higher vocational-professional education that trains a broad range of specialists in respective majors (Clause 1.0.8.).
The Clause 1.0.34 stipulates that Master’s Program is the second level of higher education.
Further, the law highlights that Doctor of Philosophy – a scientific degree conferred during the first phase of doctorate programs by the respective field of study (Clause 1.0.18).[1]
So, as European Commission, Education Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency stated in their report, higher education in Azerbaijan is divided into three levels:
- First level (Bachelor Studies),
- Second level (Master Studies), and
- Third level (PhD Studies).[2]
You can find the same differentiation in World Data on Education, UNESCO International Bureau of Education’s Report.[3]
Upon graduation bachelor (4 years) and master (2 years) programs, in 2005 I was admitted as a doctoral student at the Civil Law Department of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences[4] on the basis of contest. Admission commission, chaired by the Head of the Institution of Law, determined the conformity of my major with doctoral studies. To-be scientific supervisor hold an interview with me to doctoral studies and submitted his positive decision on accepting me to the Admission Commission.
I started to work in accordance with individual work plan approved by the Academic Council of National Academy of Science during my time in doctoral studies. I took examinations in Administrative, Financial and Information Law, Foreign Language (English) and Information Technologies. I delivered reports in the meetings of Civil Law Department from time to time on the implementation of individual work plan.
A doctoral student shall complete a dissertation, undergo approbation and defend it in accordance with the determined rules in the course of doctoral studies to obtain a “Doctor of Philosophy” scientific degree. In February 2014, I was allowed to defend my completed scientific research work to obtain my degree. I defended my dissertation before the ad-hoc Academic Council of The Law Division at Baku State University, comprised of the prominent local and regional scientists from Russia, Ukraine and Poland in April 2016. The defended dissertation passed through the Expert Council of The Supreme Attestation Commission and I was awarded the relevant certificate in February 2018.
As you may see, it was a long and very challenging journey from 2005 to 2018 (about 13 years) to get my PhD degree. You may also find more detailed description of the processes in doctoral studies in Azerbaijan through reviewing EC Education Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency’s report.[5] Furthermore, I hold a huge volume of the proper documentation to back above statement. However, I need to have them translated from Azerbaijani or Russian into English for your review. If you are interested in any stage of my time in doctoral studies, would you please let me know and I can arrange the notarized translation.
In Azerbaijan, only the applicants with a master degree are admitted to Doctor of Philosophy program.[6] Therefore, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Law degree should definitely be placed in third level (PhD Studies) in ECA and not second level (Master Studies). In other hand, as emphasized above, you need to pass the second level (master studies) to be able to continue your studies in the third level (PhD studies). Therefore, PhD in Law degree should not be equivalent to master.
Moreover, you may see, the Clause 1.0.18 of the Law on Education clearly indicates that doctor of philosophy is a doctorate program. In this regard, Doctor of Philosophy is identified in Article 23 which is dedicated to doctoral education (please refer the clause 23.3.1).[7] May I ask you to review the extract from the mentioned clause Law for your better understanding:
Article 23. Post-graduate (doctoral) education
23.1. Doctoral level education is the highest level of higher education which develops scientific and scientific-pedagogical staff and offers advanced professional and scientific degrees.
23.2. The post-graduate education is provided through doctorate programs at the institutions of higher education and scientific establishments (or adjuncture programs at the military schools) and leads to the relevant scientific degree. The scientific degrees are conferred by the dissertation boards within the institutions of higher education and scientific establishments.
23.3. The following scientific degrees are established in the Republic of Azerbaijan:
23.3.1. Doctor of Philosophy – indicating the field of science;
23.3.2. Doctor of Science - indicating the field of science.
Please note that I need the ECA assessment for Express Entry Profile. PhD degree will enhance my points while calculating points via CRS. Therefore, this issue is very crucial for me, because going forward with the current assessment will deprive me from the points granted to doctoral level university degree (Ph.D.)
WES neither addressed my argumentation, nor explained my appeal options. Would you please advise my next steps in this regard.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Kind Regards,
Anar
[1] Education Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan, http://edu.gov.az/en/page/72/5244
[2] Overview of the Higher Education System: Azerbaijan, European Commission, Education Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency, February 2017, https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/sites/eacea-site/files/countryfiches_azerbaijan_2017.pdf
[3] World Data on Education, VII Ed. 2010/11, UNESCO, International Bureau of Education, http://www.ibe.unesco.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/WDE/2010/pdf-versions/Azerbaijan.pdf
[4] Azerbaijan National Academy of Science, http://www.science.gov.az/
[5] Overview of the Higher Education System: Azerbaijan, European Commission, Education Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency, February 2017, https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/sites/eacea-site/files/countryfiches_azerbaijan_2017.pdf
[6] Overview of the Higher Education System: Azerbaijan, European Commission, Education Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency, February 2017, https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/sites/eacea-site/files/countryfiches_azerbaijan_2017.pdf
[7] Education Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan, http://edu.gov.az/en/page/72/5244 |