The Faculty of International Relations at Yerevan State University recently concluded a lecture series titled "Contemporary Eurasia: Regionalism, Security, and Interconnections", aimed at deepening students' theoretical and practical knowledge of political, security, and economic processes in contemporary Eurasia.
The launch of this program marked a significant achievement for YSU. The university became one of approximately 600 higher education institutions worldwide, and the first and only in the South Caucasus, to receive a grant from the Japanese Eurasia Foundation from Asia. This recognition highlights the growing international reputation of the YSU Faculty of International Relations, as well as the quality and competitiveness of its academic programs.
The lecture series was designed using a modern interdisciplinary approach, combining international relations theory, regional studies, security studies, and global interconnectivity analysis. Within the program, students had the opportunity to attend both introductory and advanced lectures on topics related to their fields of specialization, delivered by world-renowned experts.
Speakers included distinguished members of the international academic community: Anders Wivel (Denmark), Laure Delcour (France), Adrian Brisku (Czech Republic), Fabienne Bossuyt (Belgium), Changzoo Song (New Zealand), Elena Kolesova (New Zealand), and Armenian experts Ruben Azizian (New Zealand), Georgi Derluguian (UAE), Alexander Iskandaryan (Armenia), Eduard Abrahamyan (UK), Narek Sukiasyan (Armenia), and Erik Davtyan (Armenia). Their lectures addressed political dynamics in the Eurasian region, security challenges, models of regional cooperation, and the interactions between global and local processes.
The academic staff of the YSU Faculty of International Relations also played a crucial role in the program. Lectures were delivered by Faculty Dean, PhD, Associate Professor Tigran Yepremyan, Deputy Dean Gor Petrosyan, and Associate Professor Narek Galstyan, providing scientific analyses and expert insights on contemporary regional and international relations issues.
A key component of the program included presentations on the mission and main activities of the Eurasia Foundation from Asia, delivered by Foundation Director Sato Yoji and Senior Researcher Joon-Kon Chung. Their talks gave students and lecturers a clearer understanding of the foundation's regional programs, research priorities, and opportunities for academic collaboration.
Notably, several guest lecturers also participated in the YSU Faculty of International Relations' annual conference, delivering presentations and engaging in professional discussions. This represented another step in broadening the faculty's international connections, promoting scholarly collaboration, and providing students access to the international academic environment.
At the conclusion of the "Contemporary Eurasia: Regionalism, Security, and Interconnections" series, participating students were awarded certificates.
