The closing ceremony for the "Advanced Foreign Service Program" for young diplomats was held

On June 5, the closing ceremony for the "Advanced Foreign Service Program" for young diplomats, organized by ADA University and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan was held. 

Rector of ADA University, Ambassador Hafiz Pashayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov, and ADA University Vice-Rector and Director of the Institute for Development and Diplomacy (IDD) Fariz Ismailzade delivered welcoming speeches at the closing ceremony of the program, which runs from October 2022 to May 2023 with the participation of 38 young diplomats.

Advisor to the  Advisor to Vice Rector for Government, External and Student Affairs, ADA University; Deputy Director of the Institute for Development and Head of the Personnel Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Raman Mammadov, discussed the results of the program.

In his welcoming speech, Fariz Ismailzade noted that Graduation Day offered young diplomats the chance to converse with Rector Hafiz Pashayev and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov and  learn from their experiences. F. Ismailzade noted that several projects with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been beneficial in developing diplomats' professional skills.

Rector Hafiz Pashayev congratulated the program's participants and urged them to continue their education, focusing on acquiring a thorough understanding of our nation's history and serve our nation's interests responsibly. The Rector recalled the task given by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in 2006, when he established the Diplomatic Academy of Azerbaijan, and noted that the "Advanced Foreign Service Program" arose from that task.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov described the program as a successful endeavor. “This program incorporated 38 diplomats. Those chosen for the program not only completed the test stage, but they also took part in other phases, such as interviews and essay submissions," noted the minister.

J. Bayramov underlined that he is confident that diplomats will effectively defend the interests of Azerbaijan internationally.

The results of the 17th "Advanced Foreign Service Program" were presented by Aygun Hajiyeva. According to the Deputy Director of IDD, 81 professional speakers participated in roundtable discussions, simulations, and interactive sessions on 48 different themes throughout the program. ADA University faculty members, experienced employees of state institutions, local and foreign partner research centers, and especially managers of departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were among the speakers.

Raman Mammadov stated that the management team was deeply involved in constructing the content of the program. He added that the program's theoretical and practical components were designed with the skills of young diplomats in mind and that its curriculum was refined through regular discussions.

Then Nigar Eyvazzade, a graduate of ADA University who works in the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke about her experience and noted that the program not only taught them new things but also improved their collaboration with colleagues from other departments.

Ramil Abdullayev, a young diplomat who represents the Department of Economic Cooperation, expressed confidence that the knowledge and experience he gained through the program will have a significant influence on his career.

Later, a video about the events that took place as part of the "Advanced Foreign Service Program" was presented.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates to the participants and the taking of a commemorative photo.

It should be noted that the training for young diplomats held within the scope of the "Advanced Foreign Service Program" addressed issues such as Azerbaijan's history of diplomacy, domestic and foreign policy, as well as "Electronic government" and digital transformation, migration policy. Furthermore, the program addressed the promotion of Azerbaijani culture abroad, its prominent role in the transportation network, the "Great Return" program, and military-political aspects of national security.

Trips to the cities of Shusha, Aghdam, and Nakhchivan organized within the framework of the program, including visits to the Port Baku, Milli Majlis, and "ASAN Service" center, expanded the participants' knowledge and acquainted them with the administrative procedures of the respective institutions.