Elmina Kazimzade

Center for Innovations in Education

The Center for Innovations in Education is a non-profit organization based in Baku, Azerbaijan was created as a national NGO that serves as a national association for parents, teachers, and faculty. We are dedicated to assisting educators, institutions, policy-makers, advocacy groups, researchers and the general public in improving the quality and efficiency of our education system. CIE advocates for reforms in education and promotes ongoing development for education professionals. The Open Society Institute - Assistance Foundation (OSI-AF) assisted in our establishment. As our first initiative, CIE managed the early childhood education program, Step by Step (SbS), and the teaching methodology and professional development program, Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking (RWCT). Both have become critical tools for reform and debate in education in Azerbaijan. CIE has already been instrumental in establishing programs for inclusive education, pre- and in-service teacher training, education against corruption, community mobilization, active community schools, school improvement, parent education and parent advocacy. The organization has also been a pioneer in education monitoring and policy studies.