On June 14, 2019, Russian-Armenian University hosted a conference of students and lecturers on the “Reliable Qualification Award” organized by the National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance Foundation within the framework of its 10th anniversary.

The conference (workshop) aimed to discuss the qualifications of the students and the student’s success in that context, to emphasize the role of the lecturer in the organization of effective training, to encourage researchers in their work, and to promote successful dissemination of experience.

 The conference was attended by lecturers and students, education quality professionals and education experts.

 More than 20 representatives from YSU Ijevan Branch took a part in the workshop, staff of YSUIB Professional Education Quality Assurance Department, members of administrative and professorial staff, and students.

 First and foremost, ANQA Director Ruben Topchyan welcomed the participants of the conference, assuring that the issues under discussion had solutions which ultimately would provide a positive result.

 Within the framework of the conference, the participants got acquainted with a successful experience of student progress planning, thematic issues.

The National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance focuses on the assurance of qualifications, promoting the HEIs’ quality assurance centers by bringing up the issue to the governing councils and taking action to address the problem.

 One of the indispensable components of the educational process’s effectiveness is the motivation of the lecturer and the student.  Due to a discussion with stakeholders, it became clear that the researcher could be the source of additional motivation for the lecturer.  According to the conference participants, HEIs should encourage lecturers who are studying the issues of learning, trying to find solutions to them.  Researcher will not only have his input in the development of ways to solve educational problems, but also gain recognition, which will provide additional motivation.

 Summing up the results of the conference, the ANQA Director noted that it has served its purpose.

Then an open discussion was held, sharp issues were spoken up, different approaches were expressed.  Such discussions bring some solutions and quality assurance.

 The events within the framework of the 10th anniversary of the ANQA will continue and will be summed up in the 10th general conference of the European Network of Higher Education Quality Assurance (ENQA) to be held in Yerevan in October.

 Conference agenda is available here.

The photos are available in the gallery.

  On June 13, 2019, YSU Ijevan Branch hosted a meeting with representatives of the Sculpture, Architecture, Environmental Annual International Festival, Ijevan platform, coordinator of the program, sculptor Gor Davtyan and his assistant, YSUIB Graduate Hovhannes Khachatryan.

The meeting was attended by the head of the Department of Professional  Education and Practice of YSUIB, internships supervisors, the coordinator of works with graduates and external stakeholders, interns-students and graduates.

The meeting aimed to discuss the involvement of YSUIB students in the International Festival.

During the discussion, an agreement was reached to start joint works from June 24.

 It should be noted that the international festival is organized by Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educomplex in Yerevan, supported by the RA Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Culture, Yerevan Municipality, regional administrations, urban and rural communities, the Faculty of Architecture, Yerevan State Art Academy, “The Sebastatsi” Foundation.

Details are available via the following link.

 You can find out the festival’s Ijevan platform via the following link.

On June 10, 2019, within the framework of the “Artistic Photography” course, YSU Ijevan Branch hosted photo exhibition of “Design” 3rd-year students.

 Arthur Aghababyan, lecturer at the Department of Decorative and Applied Arts and Design, tutor of “Artistic Photography” course delivered an opening speech.  He welcomed all visitors and participants of the exhibition and put forward the purpose of the exhibition.  “Since we had a very successful photo exhibition last year, we decided to organize once again and make it traditional”.

YSUIB Acting Director A. V. Tsutsulyan  welcomed the initiative and highlighted the organization of such events, emphasizing that they  motivate students to specialize in that direction.

 The exhibition included 3 best works from each student, selected jointly by the lecturer and the student within the framework of the “Artistic photography” course.

There were photos from daily life,  everyday situations.

The exhibition of photographic works made a great impression on the visitors.

The exhibition will last until June 15.

 We are looking forward to seeing you all.

The photos are available in the gallery.

At the end of  2018-1920 academic year “Edith Print” published the collection of graphic newspapers entitled “Gyumri, My Love” by Levon Lachikyan, Assistant to the Department of Tourism Management and Culturology of YSUIB, member of the Union of Journalists and Union of Artists of Armenia.

 The latter contains 24 postcards depicting Armenian town, which is a new look of the old city.

 The trilingual (Armenian, Russian and English) adjacent to the collection-album contains a summary of the ancient settlement, its history begins from the III millennium BC  stretching up to our days.  The collection suggests that Gyumri obtained the status of a city in 1837 when the first layout was approved in line with the urban development principles.  By the end of XIX century, it was the third largest trade and cultural center in Transcaucasia after Baku and Tiflis.  It turns out that the image of Gyumri has been created by migrants from Karin, Kars, Mush and Basen, who continue their construction traditions in Western Armenia, building impressive buildings, churches and streets.  On the other hand, Gyumri is the successor to Ani.

 In the same collection we read:

 “Artist-painter Levon Lachikyan, through his drawings, conveys a clear love to Gyumri, recreating the unique historic-cultural environment of his native city and the new image of that old city.  This collection of postcards is a new look at old Gyumri that generates extra thoughts and feelings while at the same time bringing a new sense of debt. “

YSU Ijevan Branch expresses heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Lachikyan once again and let us remind that he is the author of the drawings of all major buildings of Yerevan State University.  One of these drawings decorates the main photo of YSUIB Facebook page, and in the autumn, a jubilee postcards collection will be issued within the framework of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Mother University, the author of which is our lecturer.

On June 4, 2019, we had an interview with YSU Ijevan Branch graduate of 2013 academic year, chief specialist of the budget and internal control department at “Veolia Jur” CJSC Nairi  Tshagharyan.

 – Please tell us your birth date and place.

 – I was born in 1992, on  August 10, in the beautiful Tavush town of Ijevan.

 – Tell us a little bit about your family.

 – My parents are from Tavush.  My mother is from the village of Sevkar, my father, from the village of Yenokavan.  My mother, Donara Pashinyan has been working in the Tavush regional administration for many years as a Head of the Department of Administrative Services.  I am not married.

 – What was your childhood dream?

 – My dreams were so varied in terms of professions and they changed almost every day, depending on the circumstances.  My first dream I remembered was I wanted to be a fireman (so I could drive a red fire truck).  I remember when I finished my first class, I was instructed to write an essay on what we want to become when we grow up.  Our tutor kept those essays.  Over the past 10 years, we have forgotten about the content of the essay, and it was a sweet memory to read it 10 years later.  In this essay, I wrote that I want to become a police officer (maybe because my uncles were policemen and I was inspired by them).

 – What education did you receive?

 – I received my secondary education at the school # 5 in Ijevan.  After graduating from the school, I entered YSU Ijevan Branch of the Faculty of Economics.  After Bachelor’s Degree, I continued my education at YSU Faculty of Economics and Management, Master’s degree in Finance, Money Transfer and Credit.

 – What role did YSUIB education have in your life?

 – The role of YSUIB in the process of my professional development is invaluable: excellent teaching staff, good conditions for qualitative education that gave me the opportunity to continue my master’s degree successfully.

 – What work experience do you have?

 – During the years of study I have been engaged in social activities, first the chairman of Student Council of YSUIB Faculty of Economics, then in 2012-2013, YSUIB Student Council of SSS.

 In the second year of studying in the magistracy, in 2014-2015, I worked as a lecturer at YSUIBFaculty of Economics, teaching “Economics Theory” and “World Economy”.

From October 2017- present,  I work in “Veolia Jur” CJSC for Water Supply and Drainage Services in the Republic of Armenia as a Chief Specialist of the Budget and Internal Control Department.

 – What is your favorite book?

 – Mostly I read specialized literature, fiction, unfortunately, because of the shortage of time I read seldom.  My favorite book is Marc Aren, “Where the wild roses grow”novel.

 – What is the last book you read?

 – The last book I read is a book by the famous Turkish historian, genocide expert Taner Akçam’s “Killing Orders” translated by Andranik Israelyan and published by “New Mag” Publishing House.

What music do you prefer, and what is your favorite song?

 – I’m a retro-style lover, and I think music and lyrics are best expressed in the 80s and 90s of the previous century.  My favorite song is the song “Wind of Change” by Scorpions.

 – What is your favorite movie?

 – My Favorite movie is the film “The pursuit of happiness” by Will Smith.

 – Do you have a favorite sport?

 – I prefer watch football, especially when the Armenian national team and Real Madrid are playing (I am Real Madrid fan since 2003).

 My favorite sport, which I’ve been practicing for many years, is the sport of Street Workout.

 – What is your favorite place in Armenia and abroad?

 – I have never been abroad, and in Armenia, I’m sure in the whole world, my favorite place is my birthplace, Ijevan.

 – What qualities do you appreciate in people?

 – I appreciate honesty, kindness, sense of responsibility and punctuality.

 – Do you have the quote or slogan you are guiding?

 – My favorite slogan, is Confucius’ idea.  “Treat others the way you want to be treated”.

 – What will you never do?

 “I’ll never fly with a balloon.

 “What are you afraid of?”

 – I am afraid of the loss of a loved one.

 “Why are you sorry?”

 – I’m sorry for the thoughts and words I did not say at certain stages of life.

 – What helps you make decisions in difficult situations?

 –  My relatives advise.

 – What do you think is the biggest achievement of your life?

 – At present, my greatest achievement is my faithful and loyal friends.

 – What is your formula of success?

 – I think diligence, dedication, faith in our own strengths, be at the right time, in the right place, never satisfying, and treat failure as a new experience of life.

 – What is the most invaluable advice you have received?

 – My mother gives me the most invaluable advice and one of them I’d like to share:  “When making the smallest decision, deeply judge the situation, always evaluate the possible risks and consequences,” “Never make a decision in the nervous time and under the influence of time.”

 – What is the main message that you would give to young people (in particular, YSUIB students)?

 – The advise that I would like to give to YSUIB students, in particular, is, never get satisfied with the acquired knowledge, one becomes a specialist only owing to a self-development, self-education, today’s information (the knowledge gained) may be outdated tomorrow.

 Dear students, always be informed and strive for more.

 – Thank you for such a remarkable interview.

 Interviewed by YSUIB Public Relations and Media responsible  Hasmik Vanyan.