Presentation Ceremony for Volunteers Who Passed the First Stage of the Selection Competition
The Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS announced the second intake of its *Volunteer Program* in connection with a scientific-practical internship to be held on 1 September 2025 at the Museum-Exhibition Hall of the Institute located in the Inner City.
In response to the announcement published on the Institute’s official website, more than 500 applications were submitted through the designated registration form. During the first phase of the Volunteer Program, the Institute launched — for the first time — an initiative promoting volunteer activity in museum guiding. Students, graduates, and school pupils from various educational institutions across the country successfully participated in that initial phase.
The first stage of interviews for the new intake was organized on 19 September 2025 in the main administrative building of ANAS. A total of 450 registered volunteers were invited to participate. The selection process was conducted under a jury composed of institute researchers: Prof. Malahat Farajova (Doctor of Historical Sciences), Associate Professor Shirin Bunyadova (Doctor of Historical Sciences), Associate Professor Parviz Gasimov (PhD in History), Yaqub Mammadov (PhD in History), Tukazban Goyushova (PhD in History), Associate Professor Mehdi Ali (PhD in Biology), Mirjavid Agalarov, Vafa Hasanova, and Nigar Mustafayeva.
The final selection rounds were held during the last week of September and the first week of October, involving around 100 volunteers. These interviews were organized by staff of the Institute’s Department for the Organization of Scientific Expositions in the Inner City — Orkhan Zamanov, Nurana Musayeva, Turkan Aliyeva, and Nurlana Hasanova — with support from experienced volunteers distinguished during the first program cycle. The active involvement of first-cycle volunteers positively contributed to the quality and organization of the process.
On 25 October 2025, the first training program for volunteers began at the Institute’s Museum-Exhibition Hall in the Inner City. Following the interview phase, 207 volunteers were selected by the jury and admitted to the training sessions. The initial lessons were held at the Museum-Exhibition Hall and taught by Orkhan Zamanov, Head of the Department for the Organization of Scientific Expositions, and Mirjavid Agalarov, Chairman of the Council of Young Scientists and Specialists of the Institute. Training was conducted on-site to ensure practical familiarity with the location where the internship will take place.
Future training sessions are planned to be held in the main ANAS building and will involve experienced archaeologists from the Institute as well as invited specialists from other scientific institutions.
