For the first time, Yerevan State University is hosting a YSU Alumni Forum to establish a communication and cooperation platform for the university community.
YSU alumni from different years will have the opportunity to discuss current issues, share their professional experience and achievements, and address the opportunities and challenges existing in various fields in Armenia, the region, and globally.
President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturian, ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan, Chairman of the YSU Board of Trustees, Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan, and YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan delivered opening addresses at the event.
RA President Vahagn Khachaturian emphasized that the YSU Alumni Forum will mark the beginning of a new tradition, uniting the university community: “Today, our society and the state face a number of profound challenges, the long-term solution of which is possible only through an educated society with critical thinking, professional and civic responsibility, and this is precisely the role of the university and the university community.”
ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan greeted the attendees and underlined the significance of holding the forum, emphasizing that universities, in addition to conducting education, science, and research, have an important public mission.
“Our primary task is to develop the progressive, enlightened ideas constantly emerging in the educational and research community, turning them into a public code of conduct, thereby also contributing to the advancement of society. I am confident that the forum has a real toolkit to achieve these objectives,” stated Zhanna Andreasyan and added: “The ESCS Ministry always supports the initiatives that bring significant qualitative changes.”
Wishing the participants a productive process, she expressed hope that the discussions held within the framework of the forum will serve as the basis for the greatest initiatives.
As stated by Minister of Defence Suren Papikyan, the YSU Board of Trustees considers this initiative a strategically crucial step: “We strive to combine innovation and our national and academic priorities, remaining committed to values while being open to progress. The real transformation in this process occurs when the graduate becomes a strategic partner of the university, and this partnership is an essential value for us.”
According to YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, the holding of the first forum is an important event for the university as a new platform for communication, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
The forum features panel discussions, presentations, and informal communication opportunities. It is anticipated that the issues, challenges, and priorities identified by the forum participants will serve as a basis for organizing the further activities of the alumni community. As a consequence, a series of discussions will also be held during the event to contribute to the establishment of the YSU alumni community and enhance the efficiency of its activities.
The outcomes of the forum will be summed up with the presentation of conclusions from sectoral discussions and the presentation of awards for excellence to YSU graduates.
