More than 37,500 citizens have successfully completed over 75,000 courses on the Coursera online learning platform under Azerbaijan’s Nation Program, earning internationally recognized certificates.
An event dedicated to the implementation of the Nation Program was held within the framework of the 4IR Academy, jointly delivered by the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) under the Ministry of Economy and the Education Development Fund (EDF) under the Ministry of Science and Education.
Speaking at the event, Soltan Bayramov, Deputy Executive Director of C4IR, highlighted the program’s strategic role in strengthening human capital. He noted that developing specialists in the digital economy, Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, and innovation creates a critical foundation for long-term, sustainable economic growth.
Ilgar Bayramli, Acting Chair of the Management Board of the Education Development Fund, emphasized the program’s contribution to building a highly competitive workforce in Azerbaijan. He underlined that the Nation Program not only equips citizens with in-demand technological skills, but also supports professional development, enhances employability, and expands long-term career opportunities.
To date, participants in the Nation Program have completed more than 75,000 courses on Coursera. The platform provides free access to over 13,000 courses offered by more than 375 leading universities and global technology companies. Of these, 2,500 courses include Azerbaijani subtitles, while 15 of the most in-demand courses have been fully dubbed. To improve accessibility and user experience, the Nation Program interface on Coursera has been fully localized into the Azerbaijani language.
During the reporting period, learners showed the greatest interest in courses related to artificial intelligence, project management, data science, communication, business, cybersecurity, and soft skills—reflecting evolving labour market demands in the digital economy.
Nicolas Foucaud, Managing Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Coursera, praised the implementation of the Nation Program. He highlighted emerging global labour market trends in the era of artificial intelligence and automation, emphasizing the growing importance of skills-based learning models. Azerbaijan was cited as one of the region’s leading performers on the Coursera platform, with the number of Azerbaijani users nearly doubling over the past two years to exceed 240,000.
The event also showcased success stories from the program’s most active participants, demonstrating the initiative’s tangible impact on individual growth and career advancement. Notably, women account for more than 54% of program participants, underscoring the program’s inclusive reach.
In addition, discussions were held between Coursera representatives and local universities on integrating platform-based courses into higher education curricula, with a focus on accelerating skills-oriented transformation across the higher education ecosystem.
The event brought together representatives from government institutions, the private sector, higher education institutions, and program partners.
The Nation Program aims to enable tens of thousands of users across Azerbaijan to benefit from Coursera—the world’s largest online learning platform—within a one-year period. Azerbaijani citizens, regardless of age or employment status, can register via https://form.4sim.gov.az to access the program.
The initiative is implemented in partnership with leading organizations, including SOCAR, Pasha Holding, bp, JOCAP, and Azerconnect Group.
