Social solidarity at the center of discussions among scholars from YSU and abroad

From April 4-6, an international conference titled "Social Solidarity as a Foundation for State Consolidation" is being held in Tsaghkadzor. The conference is organized by YSU Research Laboratory of Applied Sociology and the Armenian Association of Social Workers. The event is dedicated to World Social Work Day, which carries the theme "Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity for Sustainable Well-Being."

Within the framework of the conference, Armenian and international researchers and scientists are discussing the role of social cohesion, collective identity, and civic engagement in strengthening state institutions, promoting national unity, and ensuring sustainable development. The goal of the conference is to bring together scholars, policymakers, and civil society representatives to discuss strategies for increasing social trust, reducing societal divides, and promoting inclusive governance as pillars for a strong and cohesive state.

The conference features several prominent experts from different countries, including Brita Gierstad, Associate Professor at the Department of Social Studies at the University of Stavanger, Norway, a long-time partner of Yerevan State University, Emanuela Chiapparini, Professor at the University of Bern, Switzerland, and Head of the Institute for Childhood, Youth, and Family, and Veronika Odinokova, PhD, Executive Director of at Astra Foundation for Health Protection and Prevention of Violence.

During the conference, participants are addressing pressing topics such as "Solidarity and Social System," "Solidarity: After Artsakh Crisis," "The Role of Social Workers in Building Social Cohesion," and "Solidarity in Times of Transformation."

A separate session of the conference is dedicated to the research activities of YSU Applied Sociology Research Laboratory, where researchers are discussing topics including "The City as a Refuge: Displaced Persons from Artsakh in Yerevan Between Inclusion and Exclusion," "The Crisis in Small Towns of Armenia," "The Crisis of Sovereignty in Armenia: An Attempt of Analytical Operationalization," and "University Career Centers in Armenia and Georgia: A Comparative Analysis of Post-Soviet Development."

Yuliana Melkumyan, Head of the Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies at YSU, is emphasizing the significance of the conference, stating, "This annual conference provides a unique platform for representatives from social policy, science, and practical fields to discuss and develop conceptual approaches and strategies that can contribute to the formation of a stronger and more unified society."