In September-November,2018, YSUIB coordinator of the work with graduates and external stakeholders, Erine Gharayan had meetings with external stakeholders. The purpose of the meetings was to support Branch graduates in finding a job and career development.
Nowadays, the issue of employment of young people has become a national and state problem. To ensure a new and effective connection with the employer’s world, can be said, is a prerequisite for the survival and development of the university. And the directorate of YSUIB gives priority to cooperation with external stakeholders.
In this context, the coordinator of the work with graduates and external stakeholders, Erine Gharayan had a meeting with administrative, executive, economic, banking and credit, public, charitable, tourism organizations and educational institutions of Tavush region, during joint activities and internships, they have been dealing with students and graduates of the University.
Erine Gharayan presented to the external stakeholders the purpose of the meetings, pointing out the proposals made by the Branch within the framework of cooperation, the achievements of external stakeholders in that partnership and the expectations of the Branch. Particularly, it was mentioned that the expectations of the Branch were mainly aimed at improving the internship organisation, raising the motivation of students towards learning, building trust towards future career, raising students awareness on labor market demands, involving students in internships .There have been heated discussions over suggestions that Gharayan has presented to external stakeholders on behalf of the Branch. The Branch has suggested jointly implement internship programs (training sessions, for professional orientation, cognitive and practical training,for acquisition of experience, targeted internships,according to stakeholders’ plan, to develop students skills and activities, first inform the branch about available vacancies, visit the Branch frequently, discuss with the graduates about professional orientation and to imvolve them in experimental internship programs. Due to effective cooperation, the university will provide employers with intelligent, hard-working, with specific professional skills and capabilities, with accurate and fast-paced skills. The Branch expects voluntary involvement of students and graduates in concrete processes within the framework of cooperation.
During the joint discussions, stakeholders pointed to a number of drawbacks of our graduates that were mainly related to students inability to accurately introduce themselves, shyness in communication, low level of knowledge of foreign languages, lack of creative thinking and initiative.
The employers believe it is necessary to have a memorandum of cooperation. They also made a number of suggestions worthy of note. In particular, high and secondary school directors have suggested to involve the 12th graders in different trainings organized at the university. They offered graduates to register in Ijevan Territorial Employment Center to participate in the training. The director of “Bridge of Hope” NGO noted that they could guide the student in multifunctional career development, to help the student to contribute to education, to help them to become a specialist in their preferred field, to form new methods and to work creatively. Directors of service sphere believe that students of “Service” specialization should have good communication skills, have information about the places of interests of Tavush region, and communicate in English as well. Various organizations have suggested to organize joint student forums, business meetings and workshops on their own business ideas. External stakeholders also noted that the region had a lack of media professionals and offered to open a department of journalism at the Branch.
During the meetings, the external stakeholders expressed readiness to cooperate closely with the Branch, to assist in the development of students’ practical skills and providing jobs.
