From October 8-10, 2024, the YSU Faculty of Economics and Management hosted an international three-day conference titled "Transformative Economy: Digital Technology, Spatial Disparities, and Quality of Life," marking the 90th anniversary of the faculty's establishment.
The purpose of the conference was to create a platform for the popularization of innovative research results, contributing to the strengthening of cooperative relations between various scientific and educational institutions and experts of the world. It was a science festival at the YSU Faculty of Economics and Management. With nearly a century of experience, the faculty served as an important platform for presenting innovative research for the three-day conference.
About 40 renowned scientists from various universities such as Harvard, Sorbonne, M. Lomonosov Moscow State University, and St. Petersburg University, as well as Harvard Business School, gathered in Armenia from over 22 countries, including the USA, Brazil, Chile, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Russia, and India, to analyze current socio-economic challenges and propose potential solutions.
About 100 participants, including distinguished scientists, experts, and professors, as well as representatives from the Armenian government and the financial and banking sectors, took part in the conference.
YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Dean of the YSU Economics and Management Faculty Karlen Khachatryan, Governor of the Central Bank of RA Martin Galstyan, President of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI) Hans Westland, Chief Executive Officer of "Byblos Bank Armenia" CJSC Hayk Stepanyan, Professor of the Open University of the Netherlands, Vice-President of the Regional Science Academy (TRSA) Peter Nijkamp, one of the top 30 world-renowned economists, Editor-in-Chief of Regional Science Policy and Practice Thomas Dentinho made speeches at the official opening ceremony of the conference.
During the conference, more than 70 papers were presented both in-person and online across seven thematic sections: Global Economic Trends and Policy, Sustainable Development and Integration, Innovation and Data Analysis, Historical and Theoretical Perspectives, Financial Markets and Management, Labor, Entrepreneurship and Resilience, and Behavioral Economics and Decision Making.
The conference contributed to enhancing the reputation of the Economics and Management Faculty on prestigious scientific platforms, as well as increasing the involvement of the faculty's teaching staff in international research projects. Within the framework of the conference, agreements were reached to foster further cooperation and implement new joint projects. Additionally, the conference provided valuable opportunities for scientists and researchers from other Armenian universities to share experiences, engage in new research programs, and identify scientific directions.
Dean of the faculty Karlen Khachatryan, highlighted the interesting presentations and active participation of all attendees in the conference discussions. He emphasized that it is a great honor for the faculty to organize a scientific conference of this international scale and diverse representation, underscoring the Faculty of Economics and Management's commitment to contributing to global economic research, education, and science.
The dean expressed hope that the conference would significantly contribute to the development of economic thought, expand the faculty's international relations, and promote the internationalization of scientific thought. He assured that he would make every effort to make the conference an annual event, transforming it into an effective platform for generating new ideas and addressing the most important issues in the global economy.
The conference was organized as part of the cooperation between the YSU Faculty of Economics and Management, the Regional Science Association International (RSAI), the Caucasian Association of Regional Science (CARS), the Regional Science Academy (TRSA), and the Regional Science Policy and Practice (RSPP).
The graduates of the faculty play a significant role in organizing the international conference. "Byblos Bank Armenia" CJSC served as the general sponsor for all jubilee events celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Faculty, including the conference. The Faculty also received substantial support from several partners, including "Yerevan Brandy Factory" CJSC, "Tashir" Group of Companies, "EcoVille" LLC, "Bellart" LLC, "Arm Construct" LLC, and "Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine" CJSC.
