The majority of registered participants for the sixth "Yuksalish" (Ascension) competition received their higher education in Azerbaijan, according to official statistics released during a recent press conference.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Farhad Hajiyev, Head of the Working Group of the "Yuksalish" competition and Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, provided a detailed breakdown of the candidates' educational backgrounds. Out of 17,651 registered individuals, 16,554 completed their undergraduate studies in Azerbaijan. "The total number of participants who received bachelor's degrees abroad is 1,097. Of these, 871 studied exclusively abroad, while 226 studied both in Azerbaijan and overseas," Hajiyev stated. He further noted that among the 8,782 master's degree holders, 7,137 were educated locally, while 1,645 obtained their degrees abroad.
The statistics also highlighted advanced academic levels, with 1,185 participants holding or pursuing doctoral degrees. Of these, 903 were educated in Azerbaijan, while 282 studied abroad. International representation remains diverse, with 777 applicants from France, 72 from Turkiye, 37 from Germany, 35 each from the United States and Switzerland, and 31 from Austria registered for the sixth season. The registration phase for this season concluded on April 16.
The "Yuksalish" competition was established by a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev and is implemented with the support of First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva. The initiative aims to identify and support promising leaders with high intellectual levels and management qualities to create a professional talent pool for the country's future administration. By fostering a competitive environment for young professionals, the program plays a critical role in Azerbaijan's ongoing human capital development and civil service modernization efforts.
