At the initiative of the YSU Alumni and Career Center and the Faculty of Geography and Geology, the three-day professional camp Career Bridge was held. The program aimed to enhance the professional competencies of students specializing in Service Studies and to facilitate their integration into the labor market, while also creating an effective platform for education–employer cooperation.
Opening day: orientation, theoretical input, and practical work
The camp opened with welcoming remarks and participant introductions. This was followed by a lecture delivered by Mariam Badalyan, Director of Exely in Armenia, on the topic "From Education to Career: What Do Employers Expect?" in which she outlined the demands of the modern labor market and employers' expectations.
During the day, two practical sessions were conducted. Students worked in teams on simulated scenarios in the hospitality industry, proposing effective solutions, and subsequently carried out a SWOT analysis of Armenia as a tourism destination.
The day concluded with a lecture by Areg Gevorgyan, CEO of Armat Gastro Group LLC, Restormania, and Kamancha Restaurant, on "Development of the Restaurant Business," where he presented industry trends and practical insights from his professional experience.
Core principles and practical approaches from industry leaders
The second day of the camp began with a summary of the previous day's outcomes and an overview of the objectives and tasks for the day.
In the first session, Armine Zurabyan, Founder and CEO of the I Travel tourism company, delivered a lecture on "Structure of Tourism Packages and Customer Service Standards," presenting key principles and practical approaches in the field.
The lecture was followed by a practical assignment, during which students were tasked with developing a model tourism package based on the knowledge they had acquired. At the conclusion of the session, participants presented their projects, received expert feedback, and engaged in a joint discussion of the results.
The day ended with a lecture by Saro Tatios, Head of Tatiosa LLC, on "Competitive Tourism Services."
The camp concluded with a summary of the program and the awarding of certificates to participants.
