Georgian Minister of Education, Science and Youth discusses ways to expand academic collaboration at YSU

YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Artur Martirosyan, and academic staff members of the YSU Faculty of History took part in the meeting.

Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan briefed the delegation on the university's ongoing efforts to advance Georgian studies and the steadily growing interest among students in this field.  

He presented the main areas of activity of the Georgian Studies Center within the Faculty of History, which include conducting scientific research and implementing academic programs.

"Within the framework of the 'Caucasus Studies' program of the Faculty of History, we offer Georgian language courses, participate in various exchange and research initiatives. We expect our cooperation to continue expanding and strengthening," said the rector. 

Dean of the Faculty of History, Mkhitar Gabrielyan, noted that for more than a decade, YSU has offered students the "Caucasus Studies" bachelor's program, which includes courses on Georgia's history, culture, and language.  

"The 'Caucasus Studies' master's program offers a more detailed study of Georgia's history, culture, and language. I should also mention that this is the second year that YSU is implementing the 'Caucasus Studies' master's program, and next year we will have its first graduates," the dean noted.  

In discussing interstate cooperation, Mkhitar Gabrielyan proposed establishing student exchange programs and organizing summer and winter camps. He emphasized the importance of such exchanges for YSU master's students specializing in Georgian studies and for Georgian students studying Armenian studies, allowing them to spend a semester in Georgia or Armenia to further develop their language skills.

To strengthen academic ties, participants also proposed allowing postgraduate students specializing in Armenian studies at Georgian universities to defend their dissertations at YSU, and allowing YSU postgraduate students in Georgian studies to defend theirs in Georgia. The necessity of launching joint research projects was also underscored.

Georgian Minister of Education, Science and Youth, Givi Mikanadze, welcomed the steps taken by YSU to advance Georgian studies, noting that since the opening of the Georgian Studies Center last year, four official visits from Georgia to YSU have taken place. He added, "We value the fact that the Georgian Studies Center is developing and expanding its activities, which is important for both countries."

The minister expressed support for organizing summer and winter camps, involving master's students in one-semester exchange programs, and exploring a double diploma program. Regarding dissertation defenses, Givi Mikanadze noted that the matter would be examined in line with relevant legislative changes.

He also stated that a working group composed of deputy ministers from the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports and the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science and Youth is expected to be formed, meeting quarterly to discuss the implementation of planned programs.

At the end of the meeting, Minister Givi Mikanadze presented YSU with several copies of Georgian history textbooks.