On August 20, 2025, the Azerbaijan Innovation Center hosted the graduation ceremony for Cohort 2 of the Digital LevelUp program, a flagship initiative aimed at strengthening IT talent and advancing digital skills across the country.
This year, nearly 180 students enrolled in the program across three specializations: Data Science, DevOps, and Cloud Operations & Data Management. A total of 73 students successfully graduated, including 37 in Data Science, 25 in DevOps, and 11 in Cloud Operations & Data Management.
Graduates collectively earned 152 Oracle certificates, comprising 135 Associate-level and 17 Professional-level certifications, showcasing their advanced technical expertise.
Opening the ceremony, Vusala Gurbanova, Head of the Digital Competencies Development Department, underlined the importance of collaboration with StrategEast:
“This cooperation not only makes a significant contribution to our country’s education system and local IT industry, but also supports our youth in becoming competitive professionals in the global market.”
Leyla Zeynalova, Community Manager, presented the opportunities offered by the IDDA Alumni Community, emphasizing the value of staying engaged in community initiatives to maximize career growth.
Representing StrategEast, Gunay Hajili, Country Manager for Azerbaijan, delivered a session on interview preparation, equipping graduates with essential tools to succeed in the job market.
All graduates were awarded Certificates of Achievement issued by StrategEast. In a congratulatory video message, StrategEast President Anatoly Motkin praised the students’ achievements and highlighted the program’s key milestones.
Additionally, mentors from Sigma Software University shared a special video message, applauding the graduates’ dedication and encouraging them to apply their knowledge in real-world practice to grow into accomplished IT professionals.
The event marked another milestone for Digital LevelUp in advancing Azerbaijan’s digital workforce and preparing a new generation of tech leaders.
