On March 3, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the YSU Faculty of Law and the Probation Service of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia. The document was signed by Faculty Dean Harutyun Khachikyan and Probation Service Head Gurgen Afrikyan.
Dean Khachikyan noted that the memorandum aims to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions, support the improvement of legal education, and contribute to the training of legal professionals equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Emphasizing the particular importance of the legal profession, he referred to provisions of the Law on Higher Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia, noting that law is considered a regulated profession that requires additional education and professional experience after graduation in order to practice independently. In this context, he stressed the importance of cooperation with the Probation Service, as it provides students with opportunities to gain practical experience and professional skills.
Highlighting the significance of the partnership with the YSU Faculty of Law, Probation Service Head Afrikyan noted that the Probation Service is a relatively young institution compared with the university. He presented the service's mission—to ensure the resocialization and reintegration of individuals who have committed crimes—and emphasized the importance of organizing professional internships that allow students to apply their theoretical knowledge in practice.
Professor Anna Margaryan, Doctor of Law, also underscored the importance of signing the memorandum, noting that the two sides had cooperated previously, but the memorandum now formalizes their partnership. Graduates of the YSU Faculty of Law have joined the Probation Service, while students have previously completed internships there. The memorandum formalizes this mutually beneficial cooperation: YSU students will be able to complete their professional internships at the Probation Service and later pursue employment there, while the service will have the opportunity to strengthen its human resources and incorporate innovations and knowledge generated through academic research into its daily work.
Participants also emphasized the importance of developing a joint action plan to ensure the effective implementation of the memorandum. Planned initiatives include meetings, roundtable discussions, joint research projects, training programs, and other collaborative activities.
