The closing ceremony of the 2026 Summer Internship Programme was held at the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ).

The event opened with remarks by Rena Khalikova, Senior Specialist at the Human Resources Department, who provided an overview of this year’s programme and its key outcomes. This was followed by the screening of a video featuring the programme’s interns and their experiences throughout the programme.

The ceremony continued with a panel discussion featuring Vadim Pshenichniy, Advisor to the Executive Director, and Nigar Braun, Director of the Human Resources Department. The discussion covered SOFAZ’s areas of activity and working principles, different stages of professional development, career choices, as well as opportunities and challenges encountered in the workplace. Drawing on their professional experience, the panelists shared practical insights, answered participants’ questions and addressed issues of particular interest to them regarding career development.

The event continued with a speech by Iqrar Iskandarov, Deputy Director and Head of Division at the Investment Department, on the impact of internship programmes on career development. His remarks focused on the role of internship programmes in the professional development of young people, their contribution to building practical knowledge and skills, and the opportunities they provide for identifying future career paths.

At the conclusion of the event, interns were presented with certificates in recognition of their successful completion of the programme. Additionally, participants who completed the dedicated training programme organized as part of a pilot initiative in collaboration with Franklin Templeton, one of the world's leading investment management firms, received certificates from the firm.

It should be noted that, throughout the two-month Summer Internship Programme, participants worked on practical assignments across various structural units of SOFAZ, gaining hands-on knowledge and experience in relevant areas and developing a deeper understanding of the Fund’s key areas of activity and working principles. In addition, a series of internal training sessions was organised by SOFAZ employees to support the interns’ professional and personal development.