People, society, future: YSU marks 40th anniversary of Chair of Applied Sociology

YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan described sociology as an interdisciplinary field that plays a key role in understanding the challenges facing the modern world. He highlighted the conference program's focus on artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing the relevance of discussions about AI's social impact and the role of humans in the emerging technological landscape at international academic forums.

Referring to Professor Lyudmila Harutyunyan's milestone birthday, the rector stressed the importance of recognizing scholars who have contributed to the university's development.

"The university must recognize its professors, who have devoted their entire lives to educating generations, developing new fields of research, and establishing them in Armenia. Professor Harutyunyan's work is a vivid example of such dedication," he said.

Dean of the YSU Faculty of Sociology Professor Artur Mkrtichyan recalled that the Chair of Applied Sociology, established in 1986, was one of the region's earliest chairs of its kind. Addressing the students in attendance, he emphasized their role in advancing the field:

"The future of applied sociology in Armenia depends on you. What you learn today will become your work tomorrow."

Head of the Chair of Applied Sociology, Professor Artur Atanesyan, highlighted the chair's role in training specialists and supporting the country's development through professional consulting. 

Professor Elena Morozova of Kuban State University and Dmitry Dalmatov, Deputy Director of the Sochi branch of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, also delivered welcoming remarks and conveyed messages from their universities' rectors. They highlighted joint projects undertaken with YSU over the years, as well as the research partnerships developed through this cooperation. 

Lyudmila Harutyunyan's academic and teaching career

The conference also highlighted the academic career of Professor Lyudmila Harutyunyan, founder of the Chair of Applied Sociology, on the occasion of her 85th birthday.

Anahit Sahakyan, Associate Professor at the Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies of the YSU Faculty of Sociology, presented an overview of Harutyunyan's career and the main areas of her academic and teaching work. She emphasized Harutyunyan's contribution to establishing applied sociology and social work education in Armenia.

Sahakyan also highlighted the professor's research on demography, migration, quality of life, and national identity, as well as her sustained efforts to represent Armenian sociology at international academic forums and expand its international ties.

On the occasion of the anniversaries, conference participants and representatives of partner universities received commemorative gifts.

From everyday life to artificial intelligence: What researchers discussed

The conference featured three working sessions with presentations on contemporary social change, artificial intelligence, and sociological research methods.

At the intersection of tradition and modernity

Presenters examined transformations in everyday life in contemporary Armenia, post-revolutionary political and church relations, forms of self-organization, forecasting methods in applied sociology, and practices of intergenerational transmission of social memory of the Armenian Genocide.

Artificial intelligence as a sociological issue and tool

Discussions addressed emerging applications of AI in survey research, challenges to digital sovereignty, gaps in institutional frameworks for overseeing generative AI in higher education, and how technology is changing teachers' work.

Social change and new methodologies

Presentations explored access to services after communities were consolidated, changes to the social protection system through digitalization, evolving identities among forcibly displaced Armenians from Artsakh, and young people's values and priorities. Participants also discussed the application of blockchain technology and scientometrics in research management.

The conference concluded with a discussion on new directions for interuniversity cooperation and the development of applied research.