ADY to establish IT academy as part of digitalization of railway sector

Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY) plans to establish an IT Academy, according to a technical assistance report by the Asian Development Bank, Report informs.

A “corporate university,” i.e., a knowledge-sharing platform managed by the proposed ADY Academy which ADY is planning to establish, will enable IT and other staff to document and share knowledge gained from trainings, conferences, and workshops.

Technical assistance corresponds to the strategic goal of ensuring the economically sustainable development of railway transport in Azerbaijan.

“The TA will have the following outcome: capacity and skills for railway sector digitalization developed,” the report reads.

Based on the assessment of international best practices, it will support knowledge sharing for ADY staff involved in digitalization through study tours to railway companies of the countries with which ADY has established a corporate relationship (e.g., railway companies from Austria, the Republic of Korea, Spain, and Switzerland). “The output may also support bringing experts from other countries' railway companies to Azerbaijan to conduct topic-specific training or participate in ADY’s or the government's events on digitalization and transport sector development. Knowledge gained through such activities will be stored and disseminated through the corporate university platform to be developed under output 2,” the ADB said.

The TA aims to help strengthen ADY’s digital skills development by providing strategic guidance, expert advice, and training—all to support ADY’s digital transformation. Specifically, the TA will contribute to implementing output 1 of the Azerbaijan Railways Digital Transformation Project (“full digitalization and integration of ADY’s key business processes in one data management system completed”) and output 2 (“IT capacity of ADY staff improved”) by fostering a sustainable and inclusive digital skills supply, including to reduce gender gaps in digital competencies. Additionally, ADB will support and coordinate knowledge exchange and the sharing of best practices from countries with advanced railway systems, thereby enhancing ADY’s capacity to sustain its digital transformation.