List of Courses taught in Foreign Languages at YSU

Course description

PROMOTING HERITAGE- AND CULTURE-BASED EXPERIENTIAL TOURISM IN THE BLACK SEA BASIN

Tourism and hospitality contribute substantially to the economic growth and employment in the Black Sea Basin due to a favourable mix of rich natural and cultural recourses, skilled labour and competitive prices. It is, however, affected by the main common regional challenges such as climate change, rapid overexploitation of the resources and increasing workforce shortage. In addition, the 2020 pandemic challenged hospitality industry all over the world and raised the need for new approaches in the governance and management of all sectors related to it

Modern tourists become increasingly demanding not only in terms of quality of services, but also in terms of innovative ways of enjoying destinations and of spending their leisure time. The new trend is known as “experiential tourism” and refers to those forms of travelling in which people focus on experiencing a country, city or particular place by connecting to its history, people and culture and participate actively in the experience-creation process. In that, technologies affect experiential travel by far.

PRO EXTOUR is a project that aims to promote experiential tourism as a sustainable development pathway for tourism business in the BSB by valorising the potential of the indigenous heritage and culture, innovative solutions and cross-border cooperation. The project is a joint initiative of three higher education institutions with established applied research expertise in tourism – Varna University of Management (BG), Yerevan State University (AR) and Thessaloniki University (GR), a cultural networking organisation – the Georgian Arts and Culture Centre (GE), and regional hospitality cluster – the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Association (BG).

The project will bring about

- a regional needs assessment report and action plan for encouraging the heritage and culture-based experiential tourism in the BSB,

- inventories of business models, heritage- and culture-based activities and events,

- an on-line repository of resources and tools for experiential tourism,

- a cross-border network of Black Sea Hubs on experiential tourism,

- international conferences and fair on digital technologies, heritage- and culture-based experiential tourism in the BSB.

The transnational cooperation has a high added value since it mobilises the capacity of the regional actors and leads to tailor-made solutions, economic and social viability in tourism and hospitality.

PRO EXTOUR stands for “Promoting Heritage- and Culture-based Experiential Tourism in the Black Sea Basin”. The project is implemented between 1.06.2020 and 30.11.2022 with the support of the ENI CBC Black Sea Basin Programme 2014-2020 and a budget of 913 380.00 Euro.

PROMOTING HERITAGE-AND CULTURE-BASED TOURISM IN THE

BLACK SEA BASIN (PRO EXTOUR)

National Workshop/Focus group discussion

You are cordially invited to attend the National workshop/Focus group discussion as part of the project national awareness raising events in the frames of PRO EXTOUR project which will take place on June 11, 2021 at YSU Faculty of Geography and Geology, Room 419. During the workshop the Regional Action Plan on Vision and goals of Heritage and Culture-based Experiential Tourism such as raising the level of internationalization and publicization of the intangible cultural heritage of the RA and ways of creation a culture-based international tourism image for the RA will be presented. Throughout the session stakeholder’s opinions, perceptions and recommendations on the prioritisation of experiential tourism in the BSB will also be discussed.

Tour operators, representatives of tour agencies, guides, managers of cultural/heritage sites, festival organizers, representatives of local authorities are expected to attend the session.

Event agenda:

10.00-10.30 Registration

10.30-10.45 Introduction of the Project and its objectives

10.45-11.00 Presentation of the Needs Assessment Report

11.00-11.30 Presentation of the Regional Action Plan 

11.30-12.30 Group work

12.30-13.00 Coffee Break

13.00-14.15 Group work presentations/discussions

14.15-15.15 Q/A session

15.15–15.30 Coffee Break

15.30-16.30 Final Discussions

PRO EXTOUR Project Brief information

PRO EXTOUR is a project that aims to promote experiential tourism as a sustainable development pathway for tourism business in the BSB by valorising the potential of the indigenous heritage and culture, innovative solutions and cross-border cooperation. The project is a joint initiative of three higher education institutions with established applied research expertise in tourism – Varna University of Management (BG), Yerevan State University (AR) and Thessaloniki University (GR), a cultural networking organisation – the Georgian Arts and Culture Centre (GE), and regional hospitality cluster – the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Association (BG).

It replaces and brings together seven existing programs, including Tempus and Erasmus Mundus.

The international higher education dimension of the Erasmus+ program includes:

Key Action 1:
- Credit mobility
- Degree mobility through joint master degrees

Erasmus + Partner Universities

Lille University of Science and Technologies (Lille, France)

Paul -Valery University Montpellier 3 ( Montpellier, France)

Aix Marseille University (Aix en Provence, France)

Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic)

University of Pavia (Italy)

L'Orientale University of Naples (Naples, Italy)

Ca'Foscar University (Venice, Italy)

University of Bologna (Bologna, Italy)

University of Granada (Granada, Spain)

University of Valencia (Valencia, Spain)

Université catholique de Louvain (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)

University of Hasselt (Hasselt, Belgium)

Jagellonian University (Krakow, Poland)

University of Saarland (Saarland, Germany)

Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (Jasi, Romania)

Silesian University of Technology (Gliwice, Poland)

University of Salzburg (Salzburg, Austria)

University of Tartu (Tartu, Estonia)

Varna University of Management (Varna, Bulgaria)

University of Minho (Minho, Portugal)

Middle East Technical University (Ankara, Turkey)
University of Cadiz

Key Action 2:
- Capacity Building projects
- Knowledge Alliances and Strategic Partnerships that are open to partner country’s participation.

 Key Action 3:
- Teams of Higher Education Reform Experts
- Commission’s policy dialogues with the partner countries/regions
- Studies
- Regional chapters of Erasmus+ Alumni associations in the partner countries

The program was founded in 1990 by the Council of Ministers of the EU, and then was extended four times. Currently, the extension of the program is in force until 2013.

Tempus I - 1990-1994
Tempus II -1994-1998
Tempus II bis -1998-2000
Tempus III - 2000-2006
Tempus IV - 2007-2013

Tempus promotes the development and revision of training programs in the field of higher education, mainstream education centers and/or improvement of university management. Tempus provides assistance through grants aimed at increasing cooperation between the EU and partner countries' universities.

Basic information about the program is available on the Tempus website www.eacea.ec.europa.eu and the national office of the Tempus program.

The Erasmus Mundus program offers cooperation:

• Higher education institutions wishing to conduct joint programs at post-graduate level or approve the cooperation between the European institutions and key third countries
• Individual students or young tutors and researchers who want to be trained or study in the above-mentioned joint programs
• Any organization involved in the field of higher education which is ready to develop programs aimed at improving the attractiveness, fame and visibility of European education.

Erasmus Mundus conducts programs:
• Step 1. Conducting joint master (Action 1 A) and doctoral (Action 1 B) programs and the allocation of individual scholarships for participation in these programs,
• Step 2. Formation in the framework of the Erasmus Mundus program of the cooperation between European universities and third countries, including scholarships at all academic levels,
• Step 3. Progress in the sphere of European higher education

The strategy of Centre on Sustainable Development (CSD) involves: 1) Examination of the safe and effective means of mine raw materials and water resources utilization in Armenia. This aims to solve the social-economic problems faced by the country and to provide sustainable development without depriving future generations of their possibility to utilize the above mentioned resources. 2) Support the RA Government to fulfill the UNO Sustainable Development Package on national and local levels, providing the participation of the society in all the stages of discussion and decision-making on environmental issues.

CSD has regularly organized round-table discussions on the following issues: problems of technogenic mine wastes of the RA mining industry, reduction of impact risk on the environment, water resources management, etc.

The implemented activities result in formation and introduction of concrete suggestions about possible problem solutions to the RA Government, as well as in publication of scientific works.

Expectable results of the carried out programs involve changes in the Legislative Framework and contribution to the elaboration of the RA Natural Resources management strategy. In 2014, CSD was in involved in the elaboration processes of “Natural Resources Management Strategy” and “Conceptual Approaches to Additions and Amendments in the RA Mining Code”. The suggestions drawn forward by CSD have already been included in the project papers of the latter. The main suggestions developed by the Centre have also been included in “Mining, Ecology and Human Health” section of “Rio+20” summit decisions of the National Strategic Plan 2015-2025 concepts.

The CSD activity plan intends:

1. To analyze the present state of mineral mine exploitation in Armenia, the level of complex procession of ores, as well as the possibilities of secure preservation and secondary use of mining wastes. This aims to reduce environment pollution and to preserve the natural environment.
2. To examine the present state of water resources management in Armenia, reveal the flaws in this issue, make suggestions about activities directed to water resources utilization, preservation and management.
3. Organize round tables, discussions and seminars with the participation of interested sides in order to support the Government in fulfilling a corresponding policy and programs.
4. To reinforce the abilities of the YSU and, as a powerful scientific and research center, fulfill development programs appropriate to the Rio principles.

The programs in the CSD have been carried out with the direct support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

You can find information about the YSU CSD’s activity reports and news in the official webpage of CSD in www.aarhus.am.

Contact
Address: Al. Manoogyan str. 1, 0025, Yerevan, Armenia
Yerevan State University, Building 1, Geography and Geology Faculty, Office 317
Head of CSD: Ruben Movsesyan
Tel: (+374 60) 710 452, (+374 93) 85 98 93
E-mail: rubmov@ysu.am

SDC
Tel: (+374 60) 710 453
E-mail: info_sdc@aarhus.am

On June 9-12, 2009 Moscow hosted an international forum, headed "Creating Open Network University of Independent States", during which members of the consortium signed an agreement on the establishment of the Network University of the CIS.

The main objective of the Network University is the enhancing cooperation and academic progress, the development of inter-institutional ties in higher education, as well as improving the quality of higher education in the CIS.

The project aims at organizing and implementing the joint master's degree programs, mobility of PhD students and highly qualified specialists, strengthening international cooperation, joint research in order to prepare candidate's theses.

Network University of CIS is an educational program between a number of universities, which gives students the opportunity to study at two partner universities at the same time (one year in their own university, the other year in the partner institution), and students finally receive diplomas from two universities .

Training programs are approved by the relevant structures of the partners of the Network University.

Network University has got a number of advantages: the duration of training is two years training is implemented on the joint training program and consists of two rounds. Entrance examinations are held only in one of the universities.

In 2010, YSU became a partner of the CIS Network University. Thus, YSU became 16th HEI to join the Network University of the CIS. The partner sides are the universities of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Ukraine.

In the framework of the cooperation YSU Vice-rector on Academic Affairs Alexander Grigoryan participated in a coordination session of the Network University in the capital of the Russian Federation from May 30 to June 1 of 2011.

In 2010-2011 academic year Network University organized an entrance on the following programs: "Jurisprudence in the field of international law", "Management", "International Management" and "Management of international projects", "Economy": "International trade", "Philology": "Russian language and literature". The Republic of Armenia presented four places in the following specialties, and students were trained at the Russian Peoples' Friendship University.

Funding for training at the Network University of the CIS countries in 2011-2012 academic year is provided in two ways: via the budget of the Russian Federation and the allocations, made by the Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund. The tuition fees of 8 students from Yerevan State University will be covered from the state budget of Russia: "Economy", "Management", "International Politics", "Philology" and "Jurisprudence". And at the expense of the Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund 4 students will be trained, majoring "Philology" and "International Politics".

Activities of the Network University at Yerevan State University are coordinated by the following people: K. Gevorgyan (Faculty of Law), P. Balayan (Faculty of Russian Philology), V. Aglyan (Faculty of International Relations) and A. Arakelyan (Faculty of Economics).

Program coordination is carried out by the Office of International Cooperation of YSU.