International Digital Skills Program Launched for Universities

The opening ceremony of “IT SkillSprint”, an internationally recognized intensive education program on digital skills in the country’s higher education institutions, was held. The project is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the Ministry of Science and Education, the Innovation and Digital Development Agency, the State Agency for Science and Higher Education, and the education company Ironhack.

At the event, Farid Osmanov, Chairman of the Board of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency; Ulkar Sattarova, Chairperson of the State Agency for Science and Higher Education; and Gonzalo Manrique Sabatel, Director of Ironhack, delivered speeches. They emphasized that the main goal of the program is to strengthen students’ knowledge and practical skills in modern technologies, prepare them for the global labor market, and foster university-industry collaboration. The project also aims to implement global IT education standards in Azerbaijani universities.

A total of 123 third-year students in the second semester from various higher education institutions, who were admitted to university with a score of 400 or higher, have been selected for the program. The selection process included registration, a test assessing basic knowledge, and an interview stage.

The program covers areas such as data analytics and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, web development, and DevOps. The training will be delivered in a hybrid format. At different stages of the program, international mentors will conduct intensive courses in Baku. Designed in a bootcamp model, the program will give students the opportunity to work on real projects and build a professional portfolio.

In addition, the program will provide students with supplementary development opportunities, including hackathons, career fairs, and networking events. Participants who successfully complete the training will receive a certificate from Ironhack, internationally recognized in the field.

The program will run for a total of six months, from February to July 2026. This period will be considered part of the students’ undergraduate education, and their performance (academic credits) will be recognized by their universities. As a result, students will be able to focus solely on this training program, being exempt from other courses.

It is worth noting that Ironhack, a global technology training company, has been providing students with practical skills in the international IT field since 2013. To date, the company has trained more than 25,000 professionals, with 75% of its graduates securing employment upon completing the program. Today, these alumni are employed at more than 800 companies worldwide.