BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 16. Baku hosted the launch of IT SkillSprint, an international intensive educational program on digital skills for higher education institutions, Trend reports.
The project is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the Ministry of Science and Education, the Agency for Innovation and Digital Development, the State Agency for Science and Higher Education, and the educational company Ironhack. During the presentations, it was noted that the main goal of the program is to strengthen students' knowledge and practical skills in the field of modern technologies, prepare them for the global labor market, and develop cooperation between the university and industry.
The event featured speeches by Farid Osmanov, Chairman of the Board of the Agency for Innovation and Digital Development, Ulker Sattarova, Chairperson of the State Agency for Science and Higher Education, and Gonzalo Manrique, Director of Ironhack. At the same time, the project aims to introduce global IT education standards in Azerbaijani universities.
123 second-semester, third-year students from various higher education institutions who entered the university with a score of 400 points or higher were selected to participate in the program. The participant selection process included registration, a test exam assessing basic knowledge, and an interview.
The program covers data analysis and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, web programming, and DevOps. The training will be offered in a hybrid format. International mentors will conduct intensive classes in Baku at various stages of the program. The educational process, based on the Intensive Course model, will provide students with the opportunity to work on real-world projects and build a professional portfolio.
Additionally, the program will provide students with additional development opportunities such as hackathons, career fairs, and networking events. Participants who successfully complete the training will receive a certificate from the internationally recognized company Ironhack.
The program will last a total of 6 months, from February to July 2026. This period will be counted towards students' undergraduate studies at higher education institutions, and the participants' academic performance (academic credits) will be recognized by the universities. This way, students will be free from other subjects and will be able to focus exclusively on this curriculum.
Global technology education company Ironhack has been helping students acquire practical skills in the international IT industry since 2013. To date, the company has trained over 25,000 professionals, with 75% of graduates finding employment after completing the program. These graduates are currently employed by over 800 companies worldwide.
