The first meeting of the “Leadership” training course was held at YSU Ijevan branch, initiated by “Community Center for Development” Territorial Cooperation NGO on October 15, 2018.

Three dozen employees and students of Ijevan Branch of “Yerevan State University” Foundation took part in the training course.

The training was conducted in English by the employee of the US Peace Corps “Community and Youth  Development” program, teacher, trainer and tutor William Joseph (Jody) Dosher, and YSU IB  employee Marieta Sargsyan provided simultaneous translation.

The president of the “Community Center for Development” NGO Hasmik Azibekyan delivered a welcoming speech. She introduced the trainer and emphasized that young people were future leaders, and it was of paramount importance for them to participate in similar programs.

Jody Dosher noted that he had 35 years of experience in teaching and leadership spheres since childhood, being involved in the work of his college, church and other organizations, working in different spheres ranging from restaurant business to pre-election campaigns of the US President.

For him, knowledge was an indispensible part of leadership.

He talked about the prevalence and influence of Twitter, giving a task to the participants to think of a Twitter account with an interesting name, address, and website, which they shared afterwards.

Then the trainer discussed the differences of people perception, gave examples and put forward that one of the important features of the leader was to take care of strangers.

He put forward the following steps of a true leader:

• be there,
• choose your attitude,
• make someone’s day,
• Have fun.

He also considered professional development as one of the key qualities of the leader

Speaking about Martin Luther King, he put emphasis on the spread of Christian values and the accuracy of the words and deeds.

Dosher also touched upon media tools, pointing out that leaders were looking for opportunities and apply their abilities.

Then he brought examples of a number of past and present leaders (Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Barack Obama, Nikol Pashinyan, Robert Kennedy, the Pope, Dalai Lama, Che Guevara, Donald Trump, Dak Prescott, Komitas, Yeghishe Charents, Henrikh Mkhitaryan), mentioned their characteristic features and presented their important deeds.

Summing up the characteristic features of the presented characters, Mr. Dosher highlighted the key features of the leader: the ability to negotiate, use the power wisely, inspire and empower others.

The second meeting will be held on October 22, 2018.

In 2018, on October 10-12, the first stage of the “General Skills of Personal Development” seminar for 30 young people from Tavush and Gegharkunik regions was held in “Arthurs Aghveran Resort” situated in Arzakan village of Kotayk Region.

Slavik Alaverdyan, YSU IB lecturer, students Hrant Gharagyozyan and David Gasparyan, graduates Lilit Voskanyan, Anahit Atoyan, Aghavni Ghazaryan, Lusine Amiryan and Shushan Kharatyan took part in the training course dedicated to introducing the concepts, skills, and competencies necessary for self-development.

The workshop was organized by the “Oxygen” Foundation and the Armenian representation of “Save the Children International” organization. The event was public youth initiative within the framework of the EU-funded project “EU for Youth, Skills for the Future”, implemented by the Armenian representation of “Save the Children International”.

300 young people aged 16-30 from all regions of Armenia and Yerevan participated in the training course.

During the three days of training, the participants not only acquired knowledge about self-presentation, team building, communication, and organizational skills, but also acquired new friends and had fun.

The seminars were conducted by Artak Aloyan, a Certified Management Consultant (Essentials), trainer at  American University of Armenia and of a number of organizations and Director of  AUA Extension, Candidate of “Economics” Sergey Tantushyan, and Gevorg Babayan, an employee of “Oxygen Foundation”, who was in charge of organizational works.

During the training session, participants learned how to prepare for job interviews, how to leave a positive impression on the interviewer or potential employer, and how to navigate tricky and complicated questions and tasks. Participants also learned how to full reveal their componential competence and strength in a timely manner. Artak Aloyan worked with students to help them identify types of job interview questions, personal strength and weaknesses as an interviewee, as well as improve both verbal and non-verman communication.

On the first day, the participants conducted personal SWOT analysis, got acquainted with the stages of team building, conflict resolution styles, divided teams and performed a task, presenting group and team-specific features.

Then Sergey Tantushyan presented the issues of emotional perception, the factors that influence the perception of the surrounding (reality), and frequently encountered emotional mistakes, selective perception, labeling, comparison, and projecting, stereotypical mentality.

At the end of the day and in the morning of the next day the seminar on verbal and non-verbal communication continued.

The participants learned 7 “influential” words, got acquainted with the body language and their cultural peculiarities, 3 types of people (watchers, listeners, touching people) and the nuances of persuasion.

Artak Aloyan continued the second day of training, presenting communication skills, methods of effective listening and persuasive speech.

He particularly mentioned that in order to make the speech persuasive, it is necessary to bring facts and examples, make reference to renowned people or sources, make predictions and reject the opposite viewpoint.

Learners applied the acquired knowledge on the spot trying to justify tricky and complicated ideas.

Then the trainers spoke about personality branding, CV writing and effective written communication skills.

The participants were again divided into teams and prepared CVs and then evaluated the quality of CVs of other teams.

Tantushyan presented such e-mail structure in which the message would be approved by the addressee and the issue would have a positive solution. The participants performed their own task by writing an e-mail on that issue.

On the third day, A. Aloyan presented the SMART Tool for Identifying the Purpose for effective resource management, Time-Management Eisenhower Matrix and other tools.

The participants also got acquainted with the principles of preparing for the job interview, personal qualities appreciated by employers, the nuances of making impression, frequently asked questions, work etiquette, and decision-making steps. At this stage, they discussed working situations and offered some alternatives to their solution.

At the end, the participants were introduced 8 skills, acquired from non-formal learning.

1. Literacy,
2. Knowledge of foreign languages / multilingualism,
3. Mathematical, scientific, technological and engineering skills;
4. Digital ability,
5. Personal, social skills, and “learn how to learn” skill,
6. Active civic viewpoint and ability to participate in various social processes;
7. Entrepreneurship,
8. Cultural awareness and knowledge of expressive means.

The whole training course was in an interactive and engaging atmosphere.

The second stage of the seminar will be held in November, 2018.

 A remarkable display of pavilions for countries of the International Organization of La Francophonie, dubbed as the Francophonie village, officially opened on Liberty Square of downtown Yerevan on October 9-11, 2018.

Anush and Donara Chibukhchyan, YSU IB assistants of the Department of Decorative-Applied Art and Design, members of RA artists’ Union, presented Tavush Region with their works.

The village of La Francophonie has united around members of the international organization of 30 countries.

The Armenian pavilion offers an interesting glimpse into the culture, history, goods of 10 regions of Armenia and Artsakh. The pavilion was prepared by the State Tourism Committee, together with RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development, Republic of Artsakh and 10 regional Government Administrations.

Each region presented graphic images with short and interesting information. Ethnic cultural exhibits typical to that region were also presented.

Armavir Region presented dried fruits, Tavush Region, ethnic balconies, Shirak Region, Avetik Isahakyan’s crib, and Ararat Region presented the Ararat Valley’s crops and goods.

The pavilion also featured carpet weaving, cross-crafting and so on.

YSU IB assistants of the Department of Decorative-Applied Art and Design, members of the RA Artists’ Union, Anush and Donara Chibukhchyan presented Tavush Region with embroidered belts, hats, pockets and delicate unique and colorful lace.

The masters presented the Armenian culture and heritage to the guests, conducting master classes in lace-making and weaving. The visitors were delighted and impressed by the pavilion of Tavush Region.

Head of YSU Ijevan branch library Vladimir Poghosyan took part in the international conference of young public figures of CIS and Eastern European countries and of Russian language and literature teachers in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea of the Russian Federation on October 7-11, 2018.

The visit was organized within the framework of the Rossotrudnichestvo “New Generation” program from Armenia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Abkhazia, Bulgaria and Poland (http://rs.gov.ru/ru/news/35690?category_id=9).

The main purpose of the conference was to establish direct contacts with the multiethnic population of Crimea and to get acquainted with the activity of state and non-governmental organizations of the region.

Within the framework of the visit, the program participants had a meeting with the Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea Vladimir Konstatinov (http://crimea.gov.ru/news/08_10_2018_1), the Minister of Education of the Republic of Crimea Natalia Goncharova and with the professorial staff and students of the Faculty of Slavonic Philology and Journalism of the Crimea Federal University.

Within the framework of the visit, the program participants met with Yalta Deputy Mayor Elena Pereverzova (https://yalta.rk.gov.ru/ru/article/show/11029), and then visited International Children’s Center “Artek”, got acquainted with the activities of the children’s center, education programs and works with children and youth.

Tavush Regional State College hosted a regional forum on “Secondary Education and Labor Market, General Education and Professional Orientation, “Problems and their Solutions”, organized by the “Partnership and Teaching” Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), in particular by NGO Executive Director Artashes Torozyan on October 10, 2018.

The forum was attended by the director of the college, the president of “Young Tavush” Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), the president of “Progress” Social Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), the director and staff of the Regional Employment Help Center, school directors, teachers, college students and other representatives.

The students and staff of YSU Ijevan branch, in particular the director’s adviser Arman Yeganyan, coordinator of the work with the graduates and external stakeholders Erine Gharayan, employee of Human Resources Management Nara Ghazaryan also took part in the regional forum.

The aim of the forum was to discuss with the representatives of educational institutions of the region the issues of secondary education, labor market, professional orientation in the field of General Education and find solutions to the problems.

During the regional forum, a group game-discussion was held; each institution should present the 5 most commonly encountered issues in the labor market.

Due to the thorough discussions and recommendations of YSU IB staff and students, the five most commonly encountered issues were mentioned;

1. absence of workplace,
2. not regarding educational internship as an experience;
3. the topicality of studies,
4. self-development problem,

Wrong professional orientation