On November 14th and 22th, 2018, several staff members of YSUIB Department of Professional Orientation and Practice, Head of Educational-Methodological Department A. Davtyan, Head of Department of Professional Orientation and Practice L.Beginyan, Educational Methodology Department worker A. Manucharyan organized regular meeting at several Tavush regional schools .

This time, the universitarians visited Ijevan high school, Aygehovit, Azatamut and Kayanavan villages’ secondary schools with the aim of informing the graduating students about the university admission professions and educational programs of 2019 academic year, carry out professional orientation work.

The 12th graders, school directors and teachers took part in the meeting.

During the visits, the universitarians represented admission education programs, new offers and opportunities (referring to Full-time learning of the Faculties of “Environment and Nature Management”, “Applied Art” and “Psychology”), exam materials and changes in university admission exams.

For the purpose of deepening the school-university connection, being useful to the applicants, it was proposed to conduct periodic visits to the university, as well as to organize thematic lectures and discussions at schools with the participation of YSUIB lecturers.

During the meetings, the students received answers to their questions related to educational process, tuition fees, discounts and privileges for students, admission exams and subjects.

At the end of the visit, the school and university representatives agreed to further strengthen and deepen the bilateral cooperation.

 On November 22th, 2018, on the initiative of Ijevan mayor V. Ghalumyan, Mr. Karapetyan, President of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy visited YSU Ijevan branch.

The purpose of the visit was to conduct a discussion on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the activities of the Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy.

The discussion was attended by Mayor of Ijevan V. Ghalumyan, other high-ranking representatives, YSUIB Acting Director A. Tsutsulyan, other representatives of professorial and administrative staff, mainly students of the Faculty of Humanities.

Agenda:

• When and where the office of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy was established?
• What is its mission?
• Which are the main spheres of its activity?
• What works have been done so far?

Particularly, it was mentioned that European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, non-governmental organization (EAFJD) was founded in 2000, in Paris.

Since 2002, EAFJD office has been moved to Brussels (Belgium). The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, EAFJD, is a grassroots organization, representing the European citizens of Armenian origin. It is the main interlocutor promoting the Armenian issues in the European Union and international organizations, such as the Council of Europe and the OSCE. Along with its traditional advocacy activities, the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy organizes a series of awareness-raising events for the European community, including conferences, with participation of prominent international scientists, discussions, photo-exhibitions, film watching.

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy coordinates the activities of the Armenian Federation in 13 European countries. Armenian Federation Committees operate in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, the UK and Spain.

The main areas of activity of the European Armenian federation:

• EAFJD advocates for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and its condemnation by Turkey and European Parliaments 
• Protection of the fundamental rights of the Artsakh people and elimination of imposed isolation, coordination of international observation missions in the electoral processes of Artsakh
• Strengthening and deepening of Armenia-EU relations
• Protection of Middle East Armenians rights
• Protection of the rights of the Armenian population in Javakhq region

It was emphasized that the important sphere of the European Armenian Federation is the strengthening and expansion of Armenia-Europe relations. In this connection, the Armenian National Committee (ANCs) considers important the signing of a comprehensive and expanded partnership contract between Armenia and EU on November 24 2017.

Through the joint efforts of the European Armenian Federation and the Armenian mission in the EU, the EU-Armenia Friendship Group was formed in the European Parliament in 2013. In 2015, after the European Parliament elections, the friendship group with Armenia has been reorganized. Now the group consists of more than 50 deputies and aims to strengthen cooperation between the parties.

Having close ties in the European Parliament, the European Armenian federation supports Armenian delegates in the Euronest and PCC parliamentary formats. The Federation is also active in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, cooperating with the Armenian delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly.

“Vahan Hovhannisyan Educational Work Program” initiated by the European Armenian Federation, launched in 2018, promotes Armenia-EU relations. Within the frameworks of the project, Armenian youth, who have passed the selection round, have the opportunity to gain practical skills and knowledge at the European Armenian Federation and get acquainted with EU structures, especially the daily activities of the European Parliament.

The trainer added that in order to make the European Armenians’ voice heard, the European Armenian Federation was organizing a “Congress of European Armenians” in Belgium every four years, which was a platform for Armenian and European politicians, diplomats, religious leaders, academic circles, non-governmental organizations, representatives of Armenian communities, individuals to discuss modern challenges and ways to overcome them. The last congress was held on October 18-19, 2018, in Brussels.

The European Armenian Federation also cooperates with the Armenian offices of the Armenian National Committee, including the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), the Armenian National Committee of Australia, the Armenian National Committee of the Middle East, the Armenian National Committee of South America.

During the discussion, YSUIB students of “History” Department addressed the president of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy their questions related to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and Turkey’s compensation, the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border, issues related to our historical homeland: Western Armenia and received answers. The questions were mainly related to the issues that were still in process as both Mr. Karapetyan emphasized in his closing speech and YSUIB Acting Director A. V. Tsutsulyan in his speech addressed to the trainer.

  On November 21th 2018, 5th-year students of YSUIB Faculty of Part-time learning “Service”, under the guidance of Levon Lachikyan, member of the RA Artists’ Union, Assistant of Department of Tourism Management and Culturology, visited “DILIJAN HOTEL RESORT AND SPA” complex.

According to Mr. Lachikyan, the student who has chosen  “Service” specialty (both Full-time and Part-time learning), parallel with theoretical knowledge, moreover, they need to acquire more practical skills, regularly visiting various service sector institutions. In his conviction, one private or individual visit, and the visit with a group and a specialist were different things.

Most of the students were in  “DILIJAN HOTEL RESORT AND SPA”  complex for the first time and were naturally interested in all the services, rooms (70 rooms), fitness center, medical and massage rooms, swimming pool and dining room.

The hotel guide kindly provided information about the prices, the applicable discounts, the general attendance, and the expected human flows during the upcoming New Year.

In the conference hall, a seminar was organized within the framework of the training,  the students learned about the nuances of working with tourists, disciplinary rules of the hotel, ways of  solution in case of conflicts, and many other important issues.

At the end of the visit, Melina Hambardzumyan, course monitor, on behalf of her coursemates, expressed contentment to the university for paying due attention to the organization of educational internships.

 On November 21th, 2018, YSU Ijevan Branch Student Council organized an event dedicated to the Students’ International Day.

The event was attended by YSUIB Acting Director A. V. Tsutsulyan, governor of Tavush Region, Vahe Ghalumyan, Primate of Tavush Diocese, Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, managers of Ijevan bank branches, representatives of administrative and professorial staff of the university, students of Full-time and Part-time learning systems and guests.

Acting Director of YSU Ijevan Branch Artak Tsutsulyan, Tavush region Governor Vahe Ghalumyan and Primate of Tavush Diocese, Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan delivered opening speeches.

During the event dedicated to the Students’ International Day, YSUIB talented students made musical and dance performances.

The event was humorous: the students presented several interesting episodes related to student life, university environment.

There were also special performances accompanied by guitar and piano.

The celebration ended with a reception.

 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.