In 2018, from October 5-7, Acting Head of YSU IB English Language and Literature Department, PhD, Associate Professor K. Harutyunyan, Ph.D., Assistant N. Gasparyan, Ph.D., Assistant A. Karapetyan, lecturers E. Temrazyan and A. Simonyan attended workshop within “Teacher Development with British Council Armenia” program.

Among the participants were English Language Teaching (ELT) specialists working in Armenia as well as professionals from neighboring countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Georgia.

 A well-known British specialist, Penny Ur, who is a renowned teacher, educator, writer and speaker and is well-known for her works in the field of teaching methodology, delivered talks and training sessions for English Language Teaching (ELT) specialists working in Armenia.

Penny Ur took graduate and post-graduate degrees at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and moved to Israel in 1967. She has thirty-five years’ experience as an English teacher in elementary, middle and high schools. Her primary interest is practical aspects of effective English language teaching, on which she has presented lectures and workshops at TESOL, IATEFL and other English teachers’ conferences worldwide.  Her books include Grammar practice activities (2nd Edition) (2009), Vocabulary activities (2012) that is widely used in Armenia.

The workshop was held in a very active and warm atmosphere. Within three days, Penny Ur introduced the peculiarities of English teaching methodology, the relationship between scientific research and language teaching, the peculiarities of working with students having different abilities and opportunities, as well as her secret teaching methods.

 In 2018, on October 5, Head of Educational-methodological Department of Yerevan State University Ijevan branch A. Davtyan, Head of the Department of Armenian Language and Literature V. Avagyan had a meeting with the director of bordering Berkaber village school of Tavush region and with the teaching staff and senior students

The purpose of the meeting was to deepen cooperation between the university and the school, particularly to listen to the opinions and suggestions of the school staff and students regarding the subjects of admission to YSU Ijevan branch.

First, A. Davtyan, Head of the Educational-Methodological Department presented the students the procedure of admission to YSU IB, the specialties of the university and their peculiarities, possible changes due to the labor market demand.

Then YSU Ijevan Branch representatives answered the students’ questions.

During the meeting, a preliminary agreement was reached to communicate with the students via Skype on a regular basis (according to the schedule) and to answer their questions in terms of 3 subjects (“Armenian Language and Literature”, “Foreign Language and Literature” (English Language and Literature) and Mathematics “).
It was emphasized that the university program for organization of distance learning to support students of bordering villages schools will be continuous and will include new bordering communities.

 Academic Council Session was held at Ijevan branch of “Yerevan State University” Foundation, headed by A. V. Cuculyan on October 4, 2018.  

On the agenda were the following issues:

1. Approval of the Schedule of YSU IB Academic Council Sessions, for 2018-2019 academic years (Reporter, A.V.Cuculyan)
2. The list of students who will receive nominal scholarships for the 1st semester of 2018-2019 academic year (reporter, A. Davtyan)
3. Discussion of the list of specialties of Bachelor’s degree program of YSU IB 2019 academic year (Reporter, A.Cuculyan)

Current Issues:

• Allocation of positions of the selective members of YSU IB Academic Council and structural subdivisions (Reporter: A. Cuculyan)
• Registration of YSU IB professorial staff in different positions without competition (Reporter: Cuculyan)
• Announcement of a competition for vacant positions of Heads Department at YSU IB (Reporter: M. Atoyan)
• The question of K. Hovsepyan’s participation in the process of getting Academic degree, Assistant of YSU IB Department of General Mathematics and Natural Sciences, PhD (Reporter: M. Atoyan).

In accordance with 2 point of 28 paragraph of Ijevan Branch of Yerevan State University Charter and the 16th point of the 4th paragraph of YSU IB Academic Council Regulation, Academic Council of Ijevan Branch of Yerevan State University confirmed the schedule of YSU IB Academic Council Sessions for the first semester of 2018- 2019 academic years.

In accordance with the 7th point of the 21 paragraph of YSU IB Charter and the 7th point of the 4th paragraph of YSU IB Academic Council Regulation, Academic Council approved the list of nominal scholarships awarded students of the 1st semester of 2018-2019 academic years.

In accordance with the 23rd point of the Charter of Ijevan Branch of Yerevan State University and the 7th paragraph of YSU IB Academic Council Regulation, YSU IB Academic Council approved the proportion of elective members of the YSU IB Academic Council and the structural subdivisions.

Based on 11point of YSU IB Head Department Election procedure, according to YSU IB Charter 14 point of 21 paragraph and the 14th point of the 4th paragraph of the YSU IB Academic  Council Regulations, Academic Council of Ijevan Branch of Yerevan State University affirmed the composition of Quality Assurance Committee of YSU IB.

Taking into consideration that YSU IB Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of General Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Associate Professor, Candidate Karen H. Hovsepyan’s scientific-pedagogical activity is in compliance with the RA Government Decree 2001, July 9, “Conferring academic degrees to professors in the Republic of Armenia”, decision N 615, second section, “Conferring Academic Degrees” as well as other normative documents demands, in accordance with 16 point of 21 paragraph of Ijevan Branch of Yerevan State University Charter  and 16 point of 4 paragraph of  YSU IB Academic Council Regulation, YSU IB Academic Council decided:

1. To ensure academic degree to YSU IB Associate Professor of Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of General Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Candidate of Physico-mathematical Sciences Karen H. Hovsepyan
2. Apply to YSU Academic Council, to confer academic degree to Karen H. Hovsepyan, assistant of the Department of General Mathematics and Natural Sciences of YSU IB Faculty of Natural Sciences, Candidate of Physico-mathematical Sciences, and apply to “Supreme Certification Commission” of the Republic of Armenia with corresponding suggestion.

In 2018, on September 3, a meeting was held between the CBA Dilijan Research and Training Center and YSU IB staff which aimed to provide a platform for dialogue for discussion and arrangement of cooperation programs.

The participants of the meeting were the Director of CBA Dilijan Research and Training  Center Armen Nurbekyan, Director’s Assistant Syuzan Mkrtchyan, Artur Ghalachakhyan, Head of Monetary and Financial Statistics Department of the CBA,  Economists ,Alik Shirkhanyan and Karen Poghosyan, of Economic Research Department, Acting Director of YSU IB A. V.Cuculyan, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Economics G. Avetisyan, Head of Pedagogy & Curriculum Planning Department L.Beginyan, Responsible for “Finance” educational program A.Saribekyan, Head of Production Practice A.Alexanyan, lecturers M.Atabekyan and H. Hayrapetyan.

Nurbekyan presented the objectives, issues and subdivisions of the center (Monetary Policy, Statistics, and Research Departments).

A.Cuculyan presented YSU IB staff participating in the meeting and programs for building deep and sustainable bilateral cooperation. According to A. Cuculyan, the meeting will open a new paradigm to work together to expand cooperation.

During the discussions, Dean of the Faculty of Economics presented the educational programs of the faculty and opportunities of cooperation.

Avetisyan particularly touched upon the discussion of educational programs, internships and graduation papers, organization of courses, seminars, cognitive visits to CBA as well as meetings with CBA specialists and students and lecturers of the branch, the involvement of YSU IB lecturers and students in the research work of CBA corresponding department, and a number of current issues.

During the meeting a constructive discussion took place, and a number of agreements were reached that would have a positive impact on the improvement of the educational process of the university.

Particularly, the best CBA specialists will give expert support, visit the branch to conduct seminars, according to the University Approval, will provide information about the seminars held at CBA.

In the scope of the program our students will have an opportunity to conduct research works at the Central Bank of Armenia, and selected students will take their internship as a pre-diploma stage at the CBA. Students of the branch can also visit the CBA Museum to get acquainted with the history of the Armenian dram through displays.

At the end of the meeting, YSU Ijevan branch staff visited the museum.

In 2018, on September 27, by the initiative of L. Klekchyan, YSU IB Assistant Professor of the Department of General Economics, 4^th year students of the faculty “Theory of Economics” made a cognitive visit to the RA Stock Exchange “NASDAQ OMX Armenia” within the framework of “Finance-2” course.

The visit was organized by the lecturer of the same department A.Saribekyan together with P. Avagyan, Marketing Officer of “NASDAQ OMX” RA Stock Exchange.

Specialists of the Armenian Stock Exchange and Central Depository A. Khachatryan and A. Muradyan conducted seminars on “RA Stock Exchange” and “Pension System of Armenia”.

They presented the main functions, current issues and development prospect of the Stock Exchange.

The students asked their questions mainly related to securities market instruments and received exhaustive answers.

At the end of the meeting, opportunities for further visits and pre-diploma practice were discussed.