On November 20^th 2018, a discussion entitled “The policy of Tigran the Great and its Consequences” took place at the Secondary School named after Hayk Ghazaryan in Verin Tsakhkavan village, with the participation of students of YSUIB “History” Faculty and Tsakhkavan School.

The discussion was attended by lecturer of YSUIB Department of History and Social Sciences Vladimir Poghosyan, coordinator of the work with graduates and external stakeholders, Erine Gharayan, Public Relations and Media responsible Hasmik Vanyan, students of different professions (“History”, “Pedagogy and Psychology”, “Elementary Pedagogy and Methodology” “Cartography and Cadastre”), director and teaching staff of Tsakhkavan school and students of different classes, guests.

Susanna Amirkhanyan, Deputy Director of Verin Tsaghkavan Secondary School, made an opening speech warmly welcoming the students’ initiative to organize a discussion at their school, attaching importance to the deepening of university-school bilateral cooperation, mutual visits and joint programs.

During the discussion, the students presented the positive aspects of Tigran the Great policy, and the students expressed their own ideas about the negative aspects of his policy, drawing parallels with nowadays.

It was presented how in 95 BC, one of our most famous historical figures, Tigran 2, more commonly known as Tigran the Great, came to the throne.

Following the death of his father, Tigran the First, Tigran the Great was released from hostage by handing over “seventy valleys” in Atropatene to the Parthians, returned to Armenia and inherited his father’s throne at age 45. Tigran 2 quickly reorganized the Armenian army and fought to rebuild and strengthen the reputation of the Armenian state. In 94 BC, he captured Tsopk, completing the process of uniting the Armenian lands.

At the same time, in the North of Armenia, the kingdom of Pontus was gaining power. His genius monarch Mihrdates Z. of Pontus (111-63 BC), who was an enemy of Rome, being a skillful general and diplomat, immediately understood Tigran’s ambitions and power and offered him an alliance. In 94 BC, the Armenian-Pontic alliance was signed, according to which, the two kings must divide between two countries the territories of future achievements. He rapidly built up his power and established an alliance with Mithridates VI, marrying his young, beautiful daughter Cleopatra…

In 87 BC, the Hellenic comet shined in the Armenian sky. Tigran the Great considered it a successful sign to declare war on Parthians and conquered that mighty country. Tigran not only liberated the Armenian territories from the state of Parthians, but also made the mighty kingdom of Parthians to pay taxes and captured “king of the kings” title. With that the state of Tigran the Great became the mighty state of Asia. He also subjected to his authority Micdonia, Osronene, Atrpatakan, Adiabene, Korduk … Tigran the Great connected Northern Mesopotamia to kingdom of Greater Armenia and appointed his younger brother, Guras, a governor in the center of Mtsbin.

In 83 BC, Tigran the Great came to the throne of Seleucid Empire. In fact, another powerful state in the ancient East, the Seleucid Kingdom, left “the stage of history”.

Finishing his achievements, Tigran the Great built a new capital city, Tigranocerta, in the geographical center of his vast empire, in Aghdzinc province of Greater Armenia. Artashat was considered to be the northern capital of Tigran kingdom, Antioch: the southern capital. According to the contemporaries, Tigranakert soon became one of the greatest and luxurious cities of the ancient world.

During the triumphal victories of 25 years, Tigran 2 created a large-scale state whose borders extend from the Caspian Sea to the Egyptian border and the Mediterranean Sea. Armenia became the mighty state of the Greater Asia.

The discussion was held in an interactive and engaging atmosphere.

The discussion was accompanied by beautiful dance-music performances by gifted students of the school.

YSUIB representatives also introduced a presentation on professional orientation.

The school director S. Amirkhanyan and YSUIB lecturer V. Poghosyan made a final speech, expressing gratitude to the organizers and participants of the discussion, wishing them good luck.

All the participants and discussion supporters received certificates by Alikhan Baldryan, a fourth-year student of “History” specialty and the initiator of the discussion, who, by the way, is from Tsakhkavan.

 After the discussion, the students got acquainted with the school, visited the Library and the Chronicles Museum.

The meeting ended with a reception and warm conversation during which the parties agreed to deepen the cooperation through mutual visits and joint events.

All the photos of the meeting are available in the gallery.

November 17^th is the International Students’ Day, once again highlighting the importance of young people and especially students in our society.

The date commemorates the anniversary of the 1939 Nazi storming of the University of Prague after demonstrations against the German occupation of Czechoslovakia. The Nazis rounded up the students, murdered nine student leaders and sent over 1,200 students to concentration camps. They subsequently closed all Czech universities and colleges. The same day an anti-fascist student coalition was set up on the streets of Prague. In late 1939 the Nazi authorities in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia suppressed a demonstration in Prague held by students of the Medical Faculty of Charles University. The demonstration was held on 28 October to commemorate the anniversary of the independence of the Czechoslovak Republic (1918).

Two years later, in 1941, students from different European countries decided to mark November 17 as the International Students’ Day at the London International Student Council, as the fight against fascism.

Later in the second half of the 1980’s, Prague students began to celebrate that day as a day of independence. In 1989, November 17, a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia was launched.

Nowadays, November 17 is a day of symbolic consolidation of students that celebrate many countries, including Armenia.

Congratulations on your holiday, dear students, wishing you endless happiness, great achievements in education, life, in all your endeavors, in favor of our society and country, will and vigor to effectively fulfill your youthful desires…

On November 15^th of 2018, in partnership with “Bridge of Hope” NGO and YSUIB Aygehovit Community Development Voluntary Group, an intellectual game-competition entitled “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities” was held in Lusadzor community dedicated to the Month of Protection of the Rights of People with Disabilities (November 15- December 15).

31 students of Lusadzor, A.Vasilyan, Azatamut, Getahovit, Gandzakar, Khashtarak, and H. Chughuryan Secondary Schools participated in the intellectual game.

The intellectual game was attended by YSUIB Director’s assistant A. Eganyan and students.

The Holy Priest of Sevqar and Sarigyukh communities, Levon Hakobyan opened the game with a prayer.

The game-competition was conducted by psychologists and educators of Ijevan Branch of “Bridge of Hope” NGO Julietta Dovlatbekyan, Narek Antonyan, Aneta Sarhatyan and Vahe Arustamyan.

The intellectual game ended with the victory of students of Azatamut secondary school.

All participants received certificates and encouraging gifts, and the winning team also received a diploma.

At the end of the game, the participants expressed their impressions and desire to frequently participate in similar projects.

All the photos of the competition are available in the gallery.

 On November 15^th of 2018, Ijevan Civic Youth Center hosted a seminar entitled “Freedom of Information: Law and Practice “, conducted by Levon Barseghyan, Board chairman of “Asparez” Journalists’ Club.

The seminar was attended by YSUIB coordinator of the work with graduates and external stakeholders, Erine Gharayan and students of the journalism faculty.

The purpose of the seminar was to present the international norms of freedom of information adopted by the Republic of Armenia.

During the seminar on “Freedom of Information: Law and Practice “, in particular, the idea that everyone had the right to freely express his/her opinion was highlighted. That right included the freedom to be persistent in his/her opinion, to receive and impart information and ideas, without the interference of state bodies and independent from state boundaries.

It was emphasized that the freedom of expressing viewpoints might be restricted solely by law, for protection of national security, public order, health and morals or to the honor and reputation of others and to other fundamental rights and freedoms. It was noted that the RA Law on “Freedom of Information” was adopted on September 23th of 2003, entered into force on November 15^th of 2003.

The trainer also presented information holders and put forward that information could be proactive and reactive.

 The seminar was in an engaging and interactive atmosphere.

On November 15^th of 2018, 2nd year students of “Design”  Faculty of Applied Arts of Ijevan Branch of “Yerevan State University” foundation under the supervision of Ani Kostandyan, lecturer of Tourism Management and Cultural Studies Department, made a cognitive visit to Dilijan Geological Museum and Art Gallery within the framework of “Culturology” course.

The purpose of the visit was to deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of Bronze Age culture, human and lifestyle, traditions, spiritual perceptions (ritual vessels, tombstones, etc.).

In Dilijan museum and art gallery, the students got acquainted with Bronze Age artifacts, ethnographic material, techniques of various artists (including Hovhannes Aivazovsky).

The University group also visited Tufenkian “Old Dilijan” complex and got acquainted with the old architecture of the city.