Fatima Alakbarova, Head of the Digital Skills Development Department at Azerbaijan's Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IRIA), aims to boost the number of graduates from the technology educational program to 5,000, as she revealed during a news briefing on the agency's 2023 achievements and 2024 plans.
Alakbarova reported that in 2023, 1864 students enrolled in the technical educational program, resulting in over 3,000 graduates with a commendable 91 percent job placement rate. She emphasized the agency's goal for the current year, which includes expanding graduate numbers, forging two international partnerships, and introducing new training initiatives in 'Full Stack Web Programming' and 'Cybersecurity'.
Established by President Ilham Aliyev's decree on October 11, 2021, the Innovation and Digital Development Agency operates as a public legal entity under Azerbaijan's Ministry of Digital Development and Transport. The agency is committed to spearheading digital transformation initiatives nationwide, fostering a thriving innovation ecosystem, and bolstering various sectors.
The agency's mandate encompasses a range of objectives, from conducting nuclear science and technology assessments to supporting innovation-focused research and startups. It also aims to promote the adoption of modern technologies, enhance educational and career opportunities in the ICT sector, and develop and manage digital government and societal frameworks.
In 2021, Azerbaijan ranked 40th among 194 countries in the Global Cybersecurity Index. The cyber security sector is included in Azerbaijan's development strategy until 2030. Earlier, Azerbaijan approved a strategy on information security and cyber security for 2023-2027.
