Students and employers on one platform: "Learn & Work: YSU Expo 2026"

Key components of university education include gaining professional knowledge and understanding how that knowledge applies in the labor market, what skills employers expect, where students can gain their first professional experience, and how they can build their future careers. "Learn & Work: YSU Expo," now in its fourth year at the university, is designed to strengthen this connection.

At the opening of the event, YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan stressed that "Learn & Work: YSU Expo" is an important platform where students can meet and communicate with employers and gain insight into future career opportunities.

"We attach great importance to holding this expo and are pleased that it has already become one of our university's key events. In previous years, it was held in May, but this year we decided to organize it in September. The reason is very simple: we want our first-year students to have the opportunity, from the very beginning of the academic year, to learn about the university's faculties, the opportunities offered by YSU and our partner organizations, so that they can make use of these opportunities in the future," he said, highly appreciating the support provided by all sponsors and partners of the initiative. 

Armenian Minister of Labor and Welfare Arsen Torosyan noted that such initiatives have become considerably more common in Armenia in recent years, which is particularly encouraging when they are held in an educational environment. 

According to him, education is sometimes perceived as an obligation, something a person is expected to pursue while growing up. However, the connection between education and future employment and well-being is not always clearly understood. He noted that such events help establish that connection by demonstrating how education can later translate into employment, professional advancement and well-being. 

"When we clearly see this connection, we try to find employment and become competitive. At the same time, employers compete for good employees. In this respect, such events are also a platform for competition among employers, as they seek to attract skilled and well-prepared professionals through initiatives of this kind," Torosyan said.  

He emphasized that the government also considers such events important and is working to develop platforms that will allow people to find employment between events of this kind.

The event gave students and graduates the opportunity to meet with representatives of organizations from various sectors, learn about their activities, current vacancies and internship programs. At the same time, employers engaged directly with the university community, identified prospective professionals and built a pool of candidates for future employment. 

Partners of "Learn & Work: YSU Expo 2026": bringing labor market and university community together

Employers and partner organizations were another key component of "Learn & Work: YSU Expo 2026." This year, the expo brought together 38 partner organizations, whose representatives met YSU students and graduates and presented their activities, current vacancies and internship opportunities.

For the organizations, the expo also served as a platform to connect with prospective professionals, identify promising candidates and lay the groundwork for future cooperation. The format of the expo allows this interaction to extend beyond job advertisements, creating opportunities for two-way communication and the development of professional connections.

This year's main partner of "Learn & Work: YSU Expo 2026" is Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC).

Founded in 1952, the company is one of the largest organizations in Armenia's mining sector. Mining is at the core of the company's operations, while it also prioritizes the development of the sector, contributions to the country's economy and adherence to sustainable development principles.

According to Vardan Jhanyan, First Deputy General Director of Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine, such initiatives are important because they allow students and recent university graduates to gain a clearer understanding of their professional future.

"I am convinced that this event will produce results. Students and recent university graduates need to know where they are going and what kind of work they will have. Events of this kind should be organized more frequently. Armenia's economy is indeed growing, and that growth is naturally reflected in the creation of new jobs and the development of business," Jhanyan said.

In his view, such platforms allow young people to envision their professional path while still at university and consider the employment opportunities they may have in the coming years. He also linked this to the country's economic growth: "This is also very important for ensuring our economic growth," he emphasized. 

As part of the event, representatives of many leading organizations from Armenia's public, research, banking, manufacturing, industrial, international development, cultural, communications, service and other sectors presented their employment opportunities to visitors, spoke about their achievements, and conducted interviews and organized competitions with the aim of recruiting new employees.

Career Lab: from job search to new career opportunities

One of the first steps in entering the labor market is often establishing the right professional connections. This year, the career component of "Learn & Work: YSU Expo 2026" was expanded, creating new cooperation opportunities for employers, students and graduates.

In addition to communicating directly with students and graduates during the expo, participating employers reviewed candidates' CVs in advance through an online database. This allowed organizations to select participants of interest and arrange more targeted meetings on the day of the event.

The format facilitated the candidate search and selection process, while saving time and providing a more targeted way to identify prospective candidates.

The Career Lab featured three interactive components. The first was a panel discussion titled "First Steps in Career: Employer Expectations." Students and graduates discussed the recruitment process, actual labor market requirements, possible career development paths and the importance of professional connections with HR specialists.  

The second component was HR consultation corners, where specialists from partner organizations provided participants with individual advice on improving their CVs, preparing for job interviews, enhancing their LinkedIn profiles and presenting their professional potential more effectively. 

The Career Lab's third component was the Speed Chat game competition. Top participants had the opportunity to visit organizations' booths, complete special tasks and speak with employer representatives in a "speed dating" format.

The Career Lab combined information, individual consultation and practical experience, helping students and graduates enter the labor market better prepared and establish direct contact with prospective employers.

According to Tatevik Hovhannisyan, Director of the YSU Alumni and Career Center, direct interaction with employers helps students understand labor market requirements, explore career development opportunities and envision their professional path.

"At the same time, for employers, this is an opportunity to learn about the potential of young professionals through direct interaction, present the opportunities offered by their organizations and establish continuous and effective cooperation with the university," she said, emphasizing that this year "Learn & Work: YSU Expo" went beyond its traditional format, becoming not only a meeting point for organizations, students and graduates, but also a platform for cooperation.

"Real professional connections are established here, young talent is identified, career opportunities are presented, and conditions are created for bringing students' ideas to life," Hovhannisyan said.

Student ideas as new opportunities for cooperation

Another important component of this year's expo was the "Learn & Work: Student Initiatives 2026" program.

The program featured innovative projects and ideas developed by students of YSU and STEM High School. This initiative allowed them to present university-based ideas not only within the academic environment but also to prospective partners and organizations. Organizations, in turn, had the opportunity to select projects of interest and participate as partners or sponsors. 

All teams developed their ideas during the "Learn & Work" summer school-workshop; students from different YSU faculties spent several days developing their ideas and seeking to turn them into feasible projects. The topics were diverse, ranging from educational, social, cultural and technological issues to environmental protection.

University life: from education to culture

"Learn & Work: YSU Expo 2026" was not limited to career and employment opportunities. As part of the education fair, YSU faculties, institutes and centers, administrative units and student organizations, as well as YSU STEM High School, presented their educational and internship programs and organized quizzes and competitions. YSU Ijevan Branch also participated in the event, presenting its educational services and displaying works by students of the Faculty of Applied Arts.

YSU academic units participated in the event with interactive booths, presenting their academic programs and the opportunities they offer. The exhibition also showcased work by students from the Ijevan Branch, allowing expo visitors to see their creative potential. 

Alongside career opportunities, the expo also featured cultural and entertainment initiatives. During the event, students learned about the activities of the YSU Charles Aznavour Cultural Center. Students wishing to join the center had the opportunity to take part in a preliminary selection. YSU Band also performed musical pieces as part of the event's cultural program. 

Meetings and discussions were also held throughout the day, allowing participants to establish new connections and develop future cooperation. 

Thus, "Learn & Work: YSU Expo 2026" brought together various aspects of university life in a single day, from education and careers to culture, student initiatives and new partnerships. The expo became a platform where the university community and the labor market not only came together, but also established new connections and developed ideas for future cooperation.