Newsroom

From Generation to Generation: An Account of 52-year-old Internet user Chingiz Gadjiyev

February 2002
By IATP Regional Coordinator for the Caucasus Brad Scott and Zaur Bayramow

In almost all cultures around the world, wisdom is passed from one generation to the next in hopes that life will somehow be better for the next generation. This common method of passing down learned values and advice does not always hold true in cultures where exposure to new technologies is just beginning to occur. In such cultures, wisdom can flow both ways-as demonstrated in this article about a 52-year-old professor following his son's example to learn compute rs.

Smiling, the 52-year-old Chingiz Gadjiyev looked across the room in thought while he recalled his son's excitement the first day IATP came up in conversation. Mr. Gadjiyev had first heard about IATP from his son in May 1999, but he was perplexed as to what exactly IATP was. "About two years ago my 18-year-old son Elnar told me he was offered a volunteer position at IATP, and that knowledge of English and computer skills were required." After a large smile and some thought, he explained that he offered his son some advice. "Go ahead, take it!" I said, "You will get experience!" He recalled his thoughts at the time and added that, as he thought about his sound advice to his son, he knew he had to ask, "By the way, son, what is IATP?"

It is not surprising that Mr. Gadjiyev did not know what IATP was at the time. Even today only 1.72% of Azerbaijanis over the age of 50 have even used a computer at IATP-one of the largest computer training programs in Azerbaijan. Still, Mr. Gadiyev became curious about computers after his son took the volunteer job at IATP. His son Elnar worked at IATP for eight months while gaining experience and becoming highly regarded. The experience he gained turned out to be very useful to his career, as a short time after his work at IATP he became the lead programmer at one of the biggest computer companies in Baku-Azerbaijan's capital city.

In April 2001 the elder Gadjiyev's wisdom received a boost through the example set by his son. He knew it was time to take a training course for himself at IATP. "On one hand, I wanted to get knowledge about modern computer technologies and on the other hand it was just plain curiosity: what was the organization in which my son so luckily started his career?" In spite of his busy schedule as a professor, he found time to attend courses at IATP. "I was so amazed by my first course that I took all the courses one by one, and to my great surprise I began programming in HTML, sometimes even better than many young men in our courses!" Gadjiyev commented, "It's probably just in the genes."

Over time, Mr. Gadjiyev became so advanced that, in his words, he "even dared to fill out a grants application for creating a website on the Internet. I, myself, will be a Webmaster!" As the rector of the International Institute of Invention and Business, a candidate of psychological sciences, and the recipient of the Premium Lenin Komsomol (one of the most prestigious awards of the Soviet period) for Scientific Development on the psychology of invention, Mr. Gadjiyev finds himself very busy, but still finds time to engage in computer related activities and apply them to his work. He sets a great example for his colleagues and his age group. He proclaimed that he finally understands why his son's beginning at IATP was so lucky-he said it was due to "high professionalism, good organization, great teachers, and a kind environment!" Mr. Gadjiyev plans to continue his Web development through IATP.

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