SOCAR Türkiye and METU launch a new development program

SOCAR Türkiye is launching a new development program in collaboration with Middle East Technical University (METU) to accelerate transformation in the energy sector and contribute to the development of qualified human resources.

The launch of the “Energy Transformation and Strategic Development Certificate Program,” organized by SOCAR Türkiye, Türkiye's largest direct foreign investor and integrated industrial group, in collaboration with Middle East Technical University (METU), was held in Ankara on December 11, 2025, with the participation of Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Zafer Demircan, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Türkiye Dr. Rashad Mammadov, SOCAR Türkiye CEO Elchin Ibadov, and METU Vice President Prof. Tülin Gençöz on December 11, 2025, in Ankara.

The “Energy Transformation and Strategic Development Certificate Program” was developed for public sector employees working in the fields of energy transformation, digitalization, and sustainability, or those wishing to specialize in these areas. The certificate program aims to provide participants with a current and comprehensive perspective on topics such as energy transformation, digitalization, sustainability, artificial intelligence, data management, energy security, green finance, and carbon management. The program will last a total of 32 hours, with 90% of the training conducted online and 10% in physical sessions consisting of opening and closing events. The training will be delivered by METU academics and SOCAR Türkiye's experts.

Standing out as an innovative example of university-private sector cooperation, the program is the first energy-focused certification program in Türkiye designed by the private sector for public sector employees. Aiming to develop a skilled workforce capable of adapting to the rapidly changing dynamics of the energy sector, the program seeks to impart new-generation competencies through a comprehensive learning model supported by up-to-date knowledge sets.

An investment in the future of the energy sector

Zafer Demircan, Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said the following about the program in his speech:

"As the Ministry, we participate in numerous events organized in different areas of the energy sector; however, this program held here today has a special meaning for us. It is certainly valuable for a country to have natural resources, minerals, or energy potential; however, the most valuable element is the human capital that will carry all of these into the future. Human resources, just like underground riches, need to be processed, developed, and shaped according to the needs of the future. In this regard, increasing the competencies of qualified human resources and equipping them with the knowledge and skills that will contribute to the transformation of the sector is of strategic importance to us. We also view this program as a valuable investment in our country's future, contributing to the development of our public employees in critical areas such as energy transformation, digitalization, and sustainability.

In his speech, SOCAR Türkiye CEO Elchin Ibadov said, "We do not view the certification program merely as a development initiative. It represents a strategic step towards the transformation of the energy sector, joint knowledge production between the public and private sectors, and the strengthening of Türkiye's qualified human resources. We consider this program an investment in the future of the energy sector. I believe that the program will strengthen the knowledge base of public sector professionals working in critical areas such as energy transformation, digitalization, sustainability, and data management, and will provide us all with new perspectives."

METU Vice President Prof. Tülin Gençöz also commented on the development program: "In a rapidly changing world, energy transformation is not just a process of technological renewal; it is a multi-variable, data-intensive, and interdisciplinary optimization problem. Therefore, the role of universities has evolved from merely producing knowledge to a more strategic mission of providing society with the analytical infrastructure and systems thinking required for this transformation. In this context, as METU, we designed this certificate program to strengthen the competencies of public employees in areas such as energy efficiency, grid flexibility, digital twin technologies, carbon management, and energy security. The collaboration we are pursuing within the scope of this program aims to cultivate human resources that not only follow the transformation in the sector but also define its parameters. The future of the energy ecosystem will be shaped by proper data management, correct modeling approaches, and science-based policy development. This program offers an integrated education model that focuses on precisely these elements," he said.

At the launch event, SOCAR Türkiye CEO Elchin Ibadov and GAMA Energy Board Member & General Manager Tamer Çalışır were speakers at the “Leadership Panel on Transformation in Energy” held after the opening speeches.