Homecoming to the university: YSU hosts its first-ever alumni forum

YSU Alumni Forum provides an opportunity for YSU graduates to discuss contemporary issues, share their professional experiences and achievements, as well as collectively address the challenges and opportunities present both in Armenia and on a regional and global scale. 

The forum was inaugurated with the national anthem of the Republic of Armenia and the anthem of YSU, symbolizing the significance of the event and its academic mission.  

The event featured speeches from President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan, Chairman of YSU Board of Trustees and Minister of Defense of Armenia Suren Papikyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia Zhanna Andreasyan, and YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan.

President Vahagn Khachaturyan warmly welcomed the organization of the first-ever YSU Alumni Forum, emphasizing its importance and expressing hope that it will lay the foundation for a new and valuable tradition.

"YSU, as the alma mater of Armenia, has been and remains one of the backbones of our scientific and intellectual potential. It is here that numerous specialists are trained, as well as active and responsible individuals who often lead the development of our state. Today, our society and state face numerous profound challenges in the realms of security, economy, culture, and moral-psychological well-being. The long-term and fundamental resolution of these issues is only possible through an educated society with critical thinking, professional and civic responsibility, and a high regard for knowledge. This is where the role of the university and its community lies—as a 'forge' of science, knowledge, and progressive ideas," stated the president, adding that the forum provides a unique opportunity to reassess academic connections, strengthen alumni unity, and create a unified knowledge and education platform that will be capable of responding to both contemporary demands and the needs of our country.  

Suren Papikyan, Minister of Defense of Armenia, Chairman of YSU Board of Trustees, and YSU alumnus, emphasized the importance and promising nature of this initiative in his address. He noted that the idea of organizing the first alumni forum arose from a simple yet profound realization—that the university is not merely a space for education and science. 

"The university is a living and evolving system, and its endurance is possible only when the past, present, and future are connected through a real, practical chain, where alumni stand beside YSU not just in memory, but through their presence, participation, experience, and contributions, and when the university continues to serve as a platform for opportunities and communication for its alumni. The Board of Trustees views this initiative as a strategically important step. We do not want being a YSU graduate to remain just a biographical fact. We want it to become a platform for returning, investing, teaching, learning, and bringing bold ideas to life," stated Suren Papikyan. 

Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of Armenia and YSU alumna, emphasized the significance of the fact that university alumni have gathered to mark the commencement of YSU Alumni Forum. She highlighted the importance of such meetings in strengthening the large YSU community.

"Universities are, first and foremost, public institutions that, aside from conducting educational, scientific, and research activities, also have a significant public mission. Our primary task is to develop the progressive and enlightened ideas that continuously emerge within the educational and research community, transforming them into public behavior norms, thus contributing to the development of society. I am convinced that YSU Alumni Forum is precisely the platform where a complete set of tools is being formed to achieve these goals. Within the framework of YSU Alumni Forum, people who share the same educational experiences and have different life paths and practical experiences come together, and through mutual enrichment, they are able to advance the university as well," said the minister.

The Rector of Yerevan State University and YSU alumnus, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, emphasized that the first Alumni Forum is a historic event for the university. Today, university members have gathered in a place that holds special significance in their lives and in the formation of their memories. The rector highlighted that the university is more complete today with the presence of the participants, and that this meeting is all the more valuable.

"This first alumni forum is a new platform for communication, collaboration, and shared responsibility. When we say 'YSU Alumni Forum,' many perceive it as a meeting with the past, yet this is a meeting with the future. Yes, the past is here—in our memories, values, and within these walls. However, the goal of this event is also to shape the path we must follow going forward," said Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, pointing out that the university today, more than ever, needs a strong and united alumni community.

Emphasizing the role of YSU alumni in the university’s development, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan added, "This forum sends a clear message: we believe that the greatest potential of the university lies in its people. And if we want true transformation, we need the participation of each and every one of you, through ideas, initiatives, and collaboration."

The opening speeches were followed by the keynote speeches. 

President of the Republic of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan, delivered a speech on the topic "Knowledge-Based Society: Priorities and Challenges," presenting his vision for a knowledge-based society. In turn, YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan addressed the significance and role of the university in Armenia’s educational, scientific, and social life. 

Following the keynote speeches, two panel discussions took place.

The panel discussion titled "Higher Education in 21st Century Armenia: Approaches, Expectations, and Formats" featured speakers such as Chairman of the Armenian Higher Education and Science Committee Sargis Hayotsyan, Dean of Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics at the American University of Armenia Vache Gabrielyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth, and Sports of the Armenian National Assembly Sisak Gabrielyan, and Partnerships and Development Finance Adviser at United Nations Arevik Anapiosyan.   

Sargis Hayotsyan addressed the issue of integrating education and research as part of the new draft law on Higher Education and Science. He stated, "The research process must be an integral part of education, and higher education must be research-based. This means that at any stage of their education, students must be able to engage in research."

Vache Gabrielyan noted that, for example, the challenge of the 20th century was the lack of information, whereas now, the flood of information is the challenge. "Artificial intelligence, by entering our lives, is changing the process of education, its structure, and the criteria for quality assessment. The greatest beneficiaries of artificial intelligence are students, which presents a challenge for all of us. Today, there is a need to address the correct application of artificial intelligence," he added. 

Sisak Gabrielyan underscored the necessity and long-term impact of upcoming reforms and emphasized that the education sector is currently on the brink of serious and systemic changes. According to him, there are two key documents that need to be adopted.

"The first is the strategy of the 'State Program for the Development of Education in the Republic of Armenia until 2030,' which clearly defines the state’s expectations from the education sector. The second is the "Academic City" project, which is a mega-project aimed at aligning the higher education environment with European standards," said Sisak Gabrielyan. 

Arevik Anapiosyan, when discussing the application of artificial intelligence, stated: "AI is often seen as a threat or challenge, and there is some truth to this. From the perspective of academic integrity, it can present certain problems. However, if we consider AI not as a threat, but as a partner with whom we can talk, discuss, and even debate, then the opportunities will be significantly expanded. There is an interesting reality: AI learns from everything we give it. And if we provide it with diverse and high-quality information, then through this collaboration, we can generate new ideas and even shape new disciplines."

The discussion titled "The State and Society's Expectations from Universities Today and Tomorrow" featured speeches from Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of Armenia Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of Armenia Mikayel Hayrapetyan, and Prosecutor General of Armenia Anna Vardapetyan.

"Regardless of how technologies evolve or which historical period we are referring to, society's expectation from higher education and science remains the same: higher education and science must be the link through which the development of both society and the state becomes possible. We must discern how this expectation is realized at both the individual and state levels. Higher education and science, which provide each individual the opportunity to discover and develop their abilities and to realize them in their future life, seem to contribute to the self-actualization of the individual," said Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of Armenia Zhanna Andreasyan.   

Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan emphasized the urgent need to change the format of knowledge delivery. 

"This change entails a shift from knowledge based on mechanical memorization to knowledge that develops analytical abilities. Mechanical memorization remains widespread, particularly in the social sciences. The knowledge being transferred must, first and foremost, be structural. In general, our way of thinking is structural. Today, we must work with our students on the core concepts and the relationships between them that form the framework of this way of thinking. Our collaboration with YSU Legal Clinic will move forward specifically in this direction. First and foremost, students must learn to analyze — never to place theoretical knowledge below practical knowledge, but rather to combine them and be ready to use them to serve society," emphasized Anna Vardapetyan.   

Mikayel Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of Armenia, spoke about the significant role of university education in creating human capital, emphasizing that YSU should be a leader in preparing and supplying the economy with highly qualified professionals.

"For the development of industry, in addition to advanced technologies and infrastructure, highly qualified specialists are key. YSU has a historical mission and commitment to train high-quality specialists and ensure the progress of various sectors of the economy, which it has been doing for decades. With a focus on research, knowledge, and innovative solutions, we must contribute to the development of industry by aligning educational services and their content with the emerging directions of the economy," said M. Hayrapetyan, emphasizing the importance of the university's collaboration with the private sector, which, according to him, is both efficient and beneficial for both students and the private sector. 

One of the key components of the event was the photography exhibition organized in YSU Central Building, dedicated to the 106th anniversary of YSU’s founding.

As a reminder, the forum's discussions are organized around four thematic areas: "Physical World," "Space and Technologies," "Society and Economy," and "Language, Culture, History, and Tradition."

In addition to the official discussions, the forum also creates a platform for informal interaction, collaboration, and the development of future initiatives among alumni.