On October 19, 2006 in the Baku State University (BSU) was held the ceremony of opening of Cisco Networking Academy. The new Academy was founded within the framework of CISCO Regional Networking Academy acting within the joint project implemented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies, United Nations Development Programme(UNDP),Open Society Institute-Assistance Foundation(OSI-AF), Azerbaijan Research and Educational Network Association (AZRENA) and entitled "Internet Access and Infrastructure Development for Research, Educational and Civil Society Development Purposes" (AzNET) Project.

The initiative of establishing the networking Academy at the University has been supported by "Security through Science" Programme within NATO. The head of local Academy is Mr. Ramin Mahmudzade, lector of the BSU. AzNET project has already established eight local networking Academies. The 10th local academy will be established in Nakhchivan State University by the end of this year. The Minister of Communications and Information Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ali Abbasov, the rector of BSU Mr. Abel Maqerramov, representatives of educational, private and state sectors attended the ceremony of opening of this Academy, which will be targeted to the training of specialist in the field of ICT.

While making a speech at the event, Mr. Ali Abbasov stressed the importance of this education center which will be targeted to the training of specialists within ICT sector. According to him, the availability of highly professional specialists could impact and strengthen the flow of investments in the field of ICT within the country. From this point of view, BSU will continue the tradition of training the specialists in the field of ICT and train the high-level specialists for economy of Azerbaijan through the courses of Cisco Networking Academy.

The rector of BSU noted the importance of delivering the trainings in Azerbaijan according to the international standards, which provides its impact for the integration of the country at this globalization stage. He also stressed, that the existence of highly-skilled professional in the filed of ICT will have impact on the development of ICT sector in Azerbaijan.

Mr. Rovshan Akbarov, the regional manager of academic programme of Cisco Systems made a presentation at the event. He presented the fact that there are 1.6 mln. students who have been trained at more than 11,000 Cisco Networking Academies in more than 150 countries of the world. Mr. Akbarov also stressed that partners of networking academy programme are among state and private sectors, civil society and education institutions.