What Education Development Fund does

Education Development Fund (Təhsilin İnkişafı Fondu, TİF) is a public legal entity established by Presidential Decree No. 1365 on July 14, 2021, operating under the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and headquartered in Baku. It functions as a central coordinating and financing vehicle for Azerbaijan's education system development rather than a commercial enterprise, channeling government budget allocations, mandatory deductions from educational institutions' extra-budgetary funds, corporate donations and grants, and public-private partnership (PPP) contributions into scholarships, infrastructure projects, digital skills programs, and benefit-card programs. Its remit covers student financial support, teacher welfare, school and university infrastructure modernization, international student recruitment, and university-industry alignment.

The Fund's core product suite includes two co-branded payment cards (TələbəPlus for university students across 29 partner universities, and TəhsilPlus for education workers) issued in partnership with Kapital Bank and the Visa/Mastercard networks, integrating scholarship disbursement, transit cashback (10% for TəhsilPlus), and merchant discounts. Complementary programs include Peerstack Academy (IT training via Qwasar Silicon Valley's peer-to-peer methodology), 4Sİ Akademiyası (a Coursera-based digital skills platform offering 700+ courses across AI, big data, blockchain and cloud computing), Stadi10 (UEFA-standard school stadium renovation under PPP), the Parla scholarship program (200 AZN/month for 50 female students annually), IELTS fee reimbursement, and the annual Education Development Forum.

The Fund's business model is non-commercial: all programs and cards are provided free to end users. Revenue mechanics depend on government budget allocations, mandatory contributions from educational institutions, donations from major corporate sponsors (NEQSOL Holding, BP, SOCAR, ABB, Azersun, BestComp), and PPP project co-financing. Customer segments are diversified across university students, education workers, educational institutions, private sector partners, and international students from 11 countries, but revenue concentration risk sits with the government of Azerbaijan and a small set of large corporate sponsors rather than paying customers.

Name

Education Development Fund

Legal name

Təhsilin İnkişafı Fondu

Website

https://tif.edu.az

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Education Development Fund (Təhsilin İnkişafı Fondu) is a Baku-based public legal entity under Azerbaijan's Ministry of Science and Education that finances and coordinates national education development through scholarship programs, co-branded benefit cards for students and teachers, infrastructure PPPs, and international student recruitment across 11 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Education Programs (92311), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Higher Education Capacity Building & Scholarships (BPADAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), Need-Based Grants & Bursaries (EDAIAOAB), Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH), Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent) (FSAKAEAM)

Keywords

• Education development programs
• Student card services
• Scholarship programs
• Public-private partnerships
• Education infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Baku

HQ country

Azerbaijan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Budget allocations from educational institutions: Deductions from extra-budgetary funds of educational institutions under the Ministry of Education, as well as income from paid educational services, form the primary source of funding.
2. Donations and grants: Charitable donations, grants, and attracted investments from private sector partners including NEQSOL Holding, BP, SOCAR, and other corporate sponsors.
3. Operational income: Income generated from the fund's activities and operations.
4. Public-private partnership project contributions: Contributions from private sector partners (e.g., PSG-Kapital, İnci Group, BestComp) for specific infrastructure, technology, and educational projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Education Development Fund is a public legal entity that manages Azerbaijan's education system development through card programs (TələbəPlus for students, TəhsilPlus for education workers), scholarship and internship programs (Parla, Zərif mühəndislər, Maarifçi), IT and digital skills training (Peerstack Academy, 4Sİ Akademiyası), international student recruitment (Study in Azerbaijan), and educational infrastructure projects (Stadi10 stadium renovations, computer and book donations).

Product overview

Education Development Fund operates as a platform offering multiple interconnected educational products and services. The core offerings include TələbəPlus (student card combining identity, payment, and discount functions across 29 universities) and TəhsilPlus (card for education workers). Supporting modules include Peerstack Academy (IT training), Study in Azerbaijan (international recruitment), 4Sİ Akademiyası (digital skills via Coursera), and scholarship programs like Parla and Maarifçi. Infrastructure projects include Stadi10 (stadium renovation) and TəhsilPlus transportation benefits. The fund also runs the annual Education Development Forum and reading marathons. Together, these form an ecosystem supporting Azerbaijan's education system from student cards to professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TələbəPlus (TelebePlus Student Card)

Quantifiable outcome

• 511 IELTS participants received exam fee reimbursement
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CourseracoreTechnology or Integration · 24 August 2023US-based online learning platform partner for 4Sİ Akademiyası project providing 700+ courses in Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies; certificates awarded upon course completion. Initial 10,000 applicants received 1-year free access.
• NEQSOL AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership for Peerstack Academy IT education project implementing peer-to-peer learning methodology on Qwasar Silicon Valley platform; NEQSOL Academy covers up to 70% of tuition costs for Full Stack, Front-end, and Back-end Developer programs. Also partnered for Parla scholarship program providing 200 AZN monthly to 50 female students plus internship opportunities.
• Technology SNIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner in Peerstack Academy project alongside NEQSOL Academy, implementing innovative peer-to-peer learning methodology for IT education in Azerbaijan.
• Kapital BankcoreTechnology or IntegrationBanking partner for TələbəPlus and TəhsilPlus card programs; enables scholarship disbursement, transit cashback, and merchant payment processing. Kapital Bank and BestComp Group co-implemented TəhsilPlus with Mastercard.
• VisacoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational payment technology partner for TələbəPlus card, enabling digital payments and merchant discount processing across partner network of 100+ merchants.
• MastercardcoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment technology partner for TəhsilPlus card, enabling education worker benefits including 10% transit cashback and merchant discounts.
• PSG-Kapital İnvestisiya Şirkəti QSCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate partner in Stadi10 project implementing stadium renovation at 5 Baku schools to UEFA standards; stadiums managed by schools during school hours and rented through mobile app after hours.
• Bakı Şəhəri üzrə Təhsil İdarəsicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState education authority partnering in Stadi10 project for school stadium renovation and management under public-private partnership framework.
• Dördüncü Sənaye İnqilabının Təhlili və Koordinasiya Mərkəzi (4SİM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFourth Industrial Revolution Analysis and Coordination Center under Ministry of Economy, co-implementing 4Sİ Akademiyası with Coursera and Education Development Fund to develop digital skills.
• Silk Vey Vest Aviaşirkəti MMCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate aviation company partnering for general education institution construction and renovation projects under infrastructure development initiatives.
• İnci Group of CompaniesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor for 'Məktəblərə kitab ianəsi' book donation project; donated 4,000 books to regional schools and 800 books to Absheron-Xızı Regional Education Department.
• BestComp Group MMCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company partner donating 1,000 computer units to education institutions in liberated territories; co-implemented TəhsilPlus card program.
• Dünyagöz XəstəxanasıminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare partner in TəhsilPlus project providing medical service discounts to education card holders under the project framework.
• Təhsildə Keyfiyyət Təminatı Agentliyi (TKTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuality assurance agency co-implementing IELTS examination promotion project covering exam fees for 511 students and academic staff across 15 universities.
• STP Şirkətlər QrupuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology companies group partnering for 'Zərif mühəndislər' women-in-engineering scholarship program supporting female students in technical fields.
• Women in TechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational women in technology organization partnering for Maya Hacıyeva ICT Skills scholarship program to enhance women's participation in information technology.
• Qırmızı Ürəklər FonduminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed Crescent-style humanitarian fund partnering for education system development programs and student support initiatives.
• Türkiye-Azərbaycan UniversitetiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Turkish-Azerbaijani university participating in TələbəPlus card program, one of 29 partner higher education institutions.
• Bilişim Vadisi (Turkey)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurkish technology valley (cybersecurity, software, gaming, smart cities) exploring cooperation for cybersecurity training and teacher professional development in Azerbaijan.
• Gebze Teknik Universiteti (Turkey)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurkish technical university exploring joint cooperation in IT, electrical engineering, biotechnology and other fields through Education Development Fund.
• Teknopark İstanbul (Turkey)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIstanbul technology park visited during Turkey delegation for potential cooperation in innovation ecosystem development.
• Heydər Əliyev FonducoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeydar Aliyev Foundation official partner link displayed on fund website, indicating coordination on education development initiatives.
• Azərbaycan Həmkarlar İttifaqları Konfederasiyası (AHİK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade union confederation supporting girls' education scholarship initiatives and education worker welfare programs.
• Azərbaycan Gənclərinin Nailiyyəti (JA Azerbaijan)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJunior Achievement Azerbaijan implementing 'İşğaldan azad, maliyyədə savad!' financial literacy training for students in liberated territories.
• Azərbaycan Nəşriyyatları AssosiasiyasıminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublishers association co-organizing Kitabqurdu reading marathons with prizes totaling 6,000 AZN for top finishers.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fulbright Program: U.S. government-sponsored international educational exchange program offering scholarships and academic cooperation; comparable to the Fund's IELTS support and international recruitment mandate.
• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service): German government-affiliated organization funding international academic exchange and scholarships; comparable as a public-purpose scholarship and academic-cooperation agency.
• Türkiye Maarif Vakfı: Government-established Turkish education foundation that runs international schools, scholarships, and education development programs with presidential backing, structurally analogous to Azerbaijan's Education Development Fund.
• Heydar Aliyev Foundation: Azerbaijani state-affiliated foundation funding education, culture, and social projects domestically and internationally; directly comparable operating model as a state-led development foundation already linked on the Fund's website.
• Chevening Scholarships: UK government-funded scholarship program covering tuition, living costs, and travel for international students; comparable in scholarship design and IELTS/exam-fee coverage elements of the Fund.
• Commonwealth Scholarship Commission: UK government-funded scholarship scheme for students from Commonwealth countries; comparable in serving government-driven international scholarship flows.
• Türkiye Bursları (Turkish Scholarships): Government-administered scholarship program offering monthly stipends, tuition, and housing to international students in Turkey; directly comparable to the Fund's Parla, Zərif mühəndislər, and Study in Azerbaijan scholarships.
• MEXT Scholarships (Japanese Government): Japanese government scholarship program recruiting international students to Japanese universities; comparable to Study in Azerbaijan in international recruitment mechanics.

Emerging players

• Mastercard Foundation: Large philanthropic foundation focused on education and youth employment in Africa, comparable in scale of scholarship and skills programs and in corporate-foundation funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Institute of International Education (IIE): U.S.-based nonprofit administering Fulbright and many other international scholarship and exchange programs; comparable as an established operator of government-funded international education programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TIFAzerbaijan
• Facebookfacebook.com/tif.edu.az

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Education Development Fund