During a working visit to France, representatives of the YSU Faculty of International Relations held a series of meetings and discussions at leading French research institutions, delivered lectures and explored new avenues for international academic cooperation.
In Paris, Tigran Yepremyan, Dean of the YSU Faculty of International Relations, met with representatives of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, including François-Xavier Nérard, Director of the Master's Program in International Relations and Action Abroad (MRIAE), Professor and International Relations Delegate at the Sorbonne School of History, and Antoine Devoucoux du Buysson, Director of International Cooperation at Panthéon-Sorbonne. The discussions focused particularly on academic mobility opportunities for faculty members and students between the two universities. The parties also agreed to promote exchange programs, including through joint applications for Erasmus+ funding.
As part of the visit, Tigran Yepremyan and Gor Petrosyan, Deputy-Dean of the YSU Faculty of International Relations, also visited the Institute of European Studies at Sorbonne Nouvelle University (Paris 3). Meetings with faculty members and international relations officials resulted in agreements to deepen inter-university cooperation, launch joint projects and introduce academic mobility programs. In addition, Yepremyan and Petrosyan delivered a lecture as part of the Europe and Its Neighbors course, introducing students at the institute to recent changes in Armenian politics and regional security challenges.
The YSU delegation then visited the University of Le Havre Normandie, where they delivered a lecture titled "History and Geopolitics of the South Caucasus," exploring the region's historical developments, geopolitical characteristics and strategic significance.
During the visit, the delegation also met with Professor Pierre Chabal, Director of the Institute of European Studies; D. Lefebvre, Vice-President of the University of Le Havre Normandie; and Pierre Barthélemy, Director of the International Relations Office. The parties discussed the next steps toward developing an inter-university agreement, which is expected to be signed by the end of November 2026, followed by a memorandum of understanding by summer 2027. According to preliminary plans, representatives of the University of Le Havre Normandie are expected to make their first visit to Yerevan in late February 2027.
The agreements reached between the YSU Faculty of International Relations and leading French universities mark an important step toward strengthening Armenian-French academic ties, expanding international academic mobility and implementing new educational and research initiatives.
