BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 27. Developing skills
in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation is a
priority in Azerbaijan, Deputy Minister of Economy Samad Bashirli
said, reading a letter addressed to the participants of the opening
ceremony of the IE Center for Leadership and Innovation by
Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov. Trend’s correspondent
reports from the event.
According to Bashirli, against the background of the integration
of AI, production, investment, energy, technology, infrastructure,
and education fields in Azerbaijan, the development of human
capital and cooperation in the field of education are gaining new
importance.
He noted that education has become a key area for expanding
partnerships at the national level, and in this regard, the
establishment of the IE Center for Leadership and Innovation holds
strategic importance.
The minister’s letter pointed out that the initiative to
establish the center was proposed in April of this year, while the
launch ceremony for the Azerbaijan MBA program took place in Baku
in September. The opening of this center, which encompasses a broad
range of activities across the fields of education and research,
marks a new phase in this collaboration.
In his letter, Jabbarov expressed his gratitude to IE
University, PASHA Holding, SOCAR, the Ministry of Science and
Education, and other participating universities for their
involvement in the creation of the center.
The letter emphasized that the center begins its operations at a
time when artificial intelligence is being widely applied
throughout the global economy. In this context, the primary
objective is not merely the application of technology, but its
transformation into efficiency, productivity, and added value.
Achieving this requires strong institutional leadership and the
development of relevant professional skills.
The letter remarked that one of Azerbaijan’s five national
priorities set for 2030 is the development of competitive human
capital and a modern innovation environment. The development of
human capital and the enhancement of skills are among the key focus
areas of state programs. The country has also made significant
progress toward diversifying its economy.
The letter noted that the goal for the next phase is not merely
to increase the production of goods and services, but also to
generate higher added value. Developing new industrial sectors
requires specialists who can master modern technologies and enhance
the efficiency and productivity of work processes.
"The primary objective is to cultivate a workforce that
possesses digital skills, is capable of adapting to changing
conditions, and remains competitive on a global scale," the letter
emphasized.
Furthermore, it highlighted the necessity of addressing existing
skill gaps in fields such as artificial intelligence, data science,
and cybersecurity.
Jabbarov’s letter stressed that building competitive human
capital cannot be achieved through the efforts of a single
institution alone. This process requires a systematic partnership
that aligns state policy, the demands of the business sector, and
academic activities. The IE Center for Leadership and Innovation
was established precisely on the basis of such a collaborative
model.
The letter said that SOCAR and PASHA Holding have previously
implemented projects focused on skills development in collaboration
with the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Science and
Education.
The national program "Azerbaijan Skills Accelerator – Industrial
Revolution Academy," implemented in cooperation with the Coursera
platform, as well as the Sabah City innovation campus, bringing
together universities, research laboratories, technology companies,
and startups, were mentioned as examples of the above
initiatives.
The letter noted that these projects demonstrate the importance
of establishing an ecosystem, based on coordinated cooperation
among government agencies, the business sector, educational
institutions, and international partners, to foster the development
of modern skills.
