OREANDA-NEWS. July 30, 2012. AccessBank announced today the selection of 20 student participants for the "New Generation in Journalism " project implemented in partnership with the British Council and supported by Baku State University and the Thomson Foundation. By this project AccessBank is aiming at contributing to the social development of the country by helping to develop the next generation of journalists in Azerbaijan. The program’s aim is to increase the level of knowledge and competence in students within the journalism field to the level of international standards. The project includes specialized courses developed by the Thomson Foundation and taught by internationally acclaimed professionals in the journalism field. The 20 selected students will be required to pass an intensive summer English language course prior to starting the official program. The first educational training will take place on October 1, 2012 and will be fully devoted to online journalism. The training will be delivered by Mr Dan Mason (www.danmason.co.uk), a consultant, trainer and on-line editor for the Thomson Foundation. Mr Mason has twenty-five years of experience as a journalist and editor-in-chief of award-winning daily newspapers such as the Coventry Evening Telegraph and the Birmingham Post. As part of the program, the best performing participants will be selected for a study tour to London and Cardiff in 2013 involving visits and placements at well-known newspapers, magazines and other media institutions such as BBC, CNN, and Reuters. Additionally, the selected participants will have the opportunity to meet with leading journalists in the UK.

71 students submitted application for participation in the project. The names and year of study of the selected student participants are as follows:

Novruzova Fidan – 1st year

Aliyev Jalal – 3rd year

Baghirov Emil – 3rd year

Bayramova Mushfiga – 3rd year

Huseynova Roya – 3rd year

Taghiyeva Sevil – 3rd year

Maharramov Shamil – 3rd year

Nasirli Toghrul – 3rd year

Abbasly Saadet – 3rd year

Allahverdiyev AIi – 3rd year

Gambarova Turkan – 1st year

Gurbanova Rufana – 2nd year

Abdiyeva Farida – 2nd year

Sabirli Khulya – 3rd year

Rasulzade Sevil – 2nd year

Suleymanova Fidan – 2nd year

Alasgarova Ulkar – 2nd year

Mukhtarova Khanym – 4th year

Rahimova Parvana – 1st year

Mahmudova Khayala – 3rd year

The British Council is the UK’s leading international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. It operates in 109 countries worldwide. The British Council builds relationships and understanding between people in Britain and other countries to increase trust between the nations and appreciation of the UK’s ideas and achievements overseas.

AccessBank was established to provide access to financial services for Azerbaijan’s micro and small businesses and low and middle income households. AccessBank is recognized as the most reliable bank in Azerbaijan by Fitch International Ratings ('BB+ Outlook Stable’), and as “The Best Bank in Azerbaijan” by Global Finance (2011) and Euromoney (2012, 2011 and 2010) in their annual awards as well as “The Bank of the Year” by The Banker (2011). AccessBank is 100% foreign owned by six shareholders, consisting of: the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, the International Finance Corporation, the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, KfW Development Bank – the Development Bank of the German Government (20% per each), Access Microfinance Holding acting in microfinance field as a strategic investor (16.5%), and LFS Financial Systems GmbH – a German consulting company (3.5%).