Azerbaijani Students Graduate from Duke Economics Course
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| USAID Country Coordinator Scott Taylor took a group photo with students participating in the course on Project Appraisal and Risk Management. |
On May 21, 2009, USAID co-hosted a closing ceremony to finalize a 10-week course in Project Appraisal and Risk Management offered by Duke University's Center for International Development (DCID) at the Azerbaijan State Economic University.
USAID Country Coordinator Scott Taylor, Dean of Special Talented Group of the Azerbaijan State Economic University (ASEU) Aida Guliyeva, and Director of Business Economic Educational Research Center of Khazar University Fuad Rasulov, gave opening and congratulatory remarks at the event and presented certificates of completion to Azerbaijani students. Organized by Duke University DCID, ASEU, and Khazar University, the masters-level economics course covered detailed financial, economic, and stakeholder cost-benefit analysis, as well as risk analysis and management.
Some 39 students participated in lectures, case studies, and computer exercises. Cost-benefit analysis—a global best practice—assists governmental officials in assessing the economic and social impact and cost-effectiveness of major public investment projects; and its application is critical to efficient public financial planning and management practices.
Through the USAID Public Expenditure Reform Support Project, Duke University DCID, ASEU, and Khazar University are building a strong curriculum designed to improve project appraisal-related training and build linkages between major Azerbaijani and U.S. universities. This collaboration will be expanded in Fall 2009 to include a public finance specialization within the graduate economics curriculum designed to support the training of future policy-makers in Azerbaijan.
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