Government Spotlight: Azerbaijan’s 4IR Academy Bridges the Digital Skills Gap

Overview + Challenges

49% of workers could see significant job changes due to emerging language models like ChatGPT, according to Cornell University. With such a considerable workforce shift looming, countries are looking for ways to prepare their citizens for an AI-driven economy, a phenomenon economists label “The Fourth Industrial Revolution” or 4IR. 

Unlike previous industrial revolutions, 4IR is an era defined by a blending of new technologies, reshaping entire industries, economies, and societies through advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and other similar fields.

Azerbaijan, a nation of 10 million, has launched several initiatives to address this labor shift, including Azerbaijan Vision 2030, a national priorities agenda for socio-economic development. The agenda focuses on creating a competitive economy, building an inclusive society, developing innovation and human capital, ensuring environmental sustainability, and aligning education with labor market needs.

However, the Azerbaijani government was seeking to find the most suitable approach to accomplishing these goals as tech changes are creating substantial skill gaps. 

Although Azerbaijan has a relatively young population, there is an opportunity to enhance digital literacy and advanced skills among many citizens to better prepare them for success in the evolving 4IR job market.

“Since the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution are changing very fast, we had to make sure our citizens have certain digital literacy skills and can actually run their current jobs,” notes Fariz Jafarov, Executive Director of C4IR Azerbaijan.

The country also needed to ensure its workforce development initiatives were inclusive and accessible to all segments of society, including those in remote areas and from diverse backgrounds. 

Jafarov explains, “We needed to upskill and reskill Azerbaijani people to prepare them for the changing market. The Fourth Industrial Revolution requires diverse skills, and we must consider AI’s impact on the labor market.”  

The challenge was clear: how could Azerbaijan quickly and effectively give its citizens the digital skills needed to thrive in an AI-powered economy while ensuring accessibility and inclusivity?

The Partnership

To address this challenge, the idea of 4IR Academy was born during a meeting at Davos (World Economic Forum) between The Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Coursera. 

The decision to partner with Coursera was strategic. Jafarov notes,

Coursera is the biggest online education platform in the world, and it has top-ranking universities and technology companies providing specialized courses. Therefore, in order to cover a lot of people in the country, regardless of whether they are living in rural areas or the city, it is important to have an online platform to reach a lot of people easily.

During the first year, the 4IR Academy offered over 800 courses on Coursera from world-class partners such as Yale University, Duke University, and University of Michigan, as well as leading tech companies such as Google and Meta. These courses cover technical skills like artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing, as well as essential soft skills like leadership and communication. The top ten most requested courses reflect the diverse skills learners are interested in:

Technical Skills

• Machine Learning for All, University of London

• Python for Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Development, IBM

• Data, Data, Everywhere, Google

• Excel Skills for Business, Macquarie University

• Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python), University of Michigan

Soft Skills & Management

• Successful Presentation, University of Colorado Boulder

• Learning How to Learn, Deep Teaching Solutions

• English for Career Development, University of Pennsylvania

• Strategic Management, Copenhagen Business School

• Managing an Agile Team, University of Virginia

Another standout feature of the partnership is its unique, six-week program structure. The 4IR Academy uses a rotation system, distributing 1,000 licenses every six weeks to a new group of learners. Program leaders designed this limited training period and cohort-based system to maximize impact and encourage learners to complete their learning.

Impact

4IR Academy has seen rapid adoption and success among learners. Within just one week of its announcement, over 7,000 people registered for the program. To date,10,000 citizens have accessed the Coursera platform, with learners earning over 4,200 certificates. 

The 4IR Academy attracts diverse learners that range from 9 to 73 years old. Women comprise 51% of total platform users. “We have students, people from the business sector, people from the government sector, unemployed people, returning moms from maternity leave, and people from all kinds of backgrounds, including rural regions,” Jafarov adds. 

Given the range of backgrounds, accessibility has been a critical factor in the program’s success, with Coursera’s mobile app playing an important role. With mobile course downloads, learners in remote areas can download courses when connected to the internet and then study content offline, ensuring that geographical barriers don’t affect participation. 

To boost the program’s appeal and impact, 4IR Academy recently introduced the Digital Badge system, which covers eight key areas, including AI, Big Data, and STEM. Over eighty learners have earned these badges, gaining tangible credentials for employers to recognize their new skills. 

The program is expanding even further with the upcoming cohort, which includes around 600 ICT and STEM teachers. This strategic inclusion willcreate a multiplier effect, as these educators will share their newfound knowledge with countless students, amplifying the program's impact across the education system.

The 4IR Academy's success and future-driven approach have not gone unnoticed. In September 2024, the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan received the AI Innovation Award at the 12th Annual Coursera Connect conference for the outstanding 4IR Academy project, alongside other achievements in online education and workforce development initiatives worldwide. 

The award recognizes 4IR Academy’s approach to developing digital and AI skills across the country’s labor market, providing access to high-quality education and training, and promoting lifelong learning, especially in rural areas. The award highlights the global significance of Azerbaijan’s efforts to upskill its citizens to meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Looking Ahead

Azerbaijan plans to significantly expand the reach of the 4IR Academy and offer access to all 8,000 Coursera courses within the “Nation Program” for 2025. The courses will be in or translated into the Azerbaijani language. This localization effort will break down language barriers and allow more citizens to access and benefit from the platform. 

Recognizing the importance of practical application, C4IR Azerbaijan is working to connect learners with potential employers, growing the program's economic impact and helping learners translate their newly gained skills into real career opportunities.

Taking advantage of Azerbaijan’s host-country status for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), 4IR Academy aligns to trending global issues. New specialized academies focusing on climate tech, innovation, startups, and SME digital transformation are in the works and aim to prepare Azerbaijanis for emerging opportunities in these fields. Additionally, the program uses new Coursera features, including Coursera Coach, an interactive, AI-powered tool that Jafarov notes will be a great opportunity for learners to ask questions and gain new insights.

Looking to the future, Jafarov adds, “We’re going to use Course Builder to build some local and domestic programs that Azerbaijani users can access and use.” This will allow local stakeholders in the financial and government sectors to build their courses and distribute them to their target users.

Azerbaijan’s 4IR Academy is taking a multifaceted approach to emerging tech advancements and a new era of work. Through upskilling and reskilling, the country is ensuring its competitiveness in the global economy, preparing to confront future global issues like climate change, and, perhaps most importantly, empowering its citizens to thrive in a new digital world. 

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