Exploring The Role of Student Services in Freshmen’s Academic Development at Azerbaijan State Universities

Abstract

This study aims to explore student services in three public universities in Azerbaijan and investigate freshmen’s perceptions of student services; to find out the roles and responsibilities of student services administration and representatives; to determine the structure of student services in public universities; to identify freshmen's perception of student services ; to contribute to the academic development of freshmen in public universities. Since Student services is new for Azerbaijan HEIs, the desired level of research has not been conducted in the literature. In this sense, it is considered important to add the deficiencies of the research in the literature. This research is important in terms of contributing to the theory and practice of student services that might be required in the Azerbaijani context. The study's target population and sample size consist of three student services repre sentatives, three tutors, and nine freshmen. For the primary data collection, semi-structured interviews were utilized. We student services were not functioning as a unified department to support freshmen, rather they were still emerging as a structure within educational entities, according to research findings. The collected data and data analysis revealed that student services representatives and tutors in each respected university assumed responsibility for assisting students with their academic needs. Student services, in the eyes of incoming freshmen, is Student Services.