Experts discuss methods and content of teaching history at YSU international conference

Highlighting the participation of representatives from Armenian academic and general education institutions, other bodies under the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, as well as professors and experts from abroad, Dean of the Faculty of History Mkhitar Gabrielyan noted that the conference aims to address several significant questions in the field.

"For the Faculty of History, as one of the primary units offering educational services, it should be a priority to analyze what we teach, what the main content of our educational offer is, on what conceptual approaches our educational services are based, and what methodology underpins the approaches at various levels," he stated. 

Mkhitar Gabrielyan emphasized that with the collapse of the Soviet Union, serious issues emerged in the humanities, as much of the theoretical and methodological work previously undertaken suddenly became largely irrelevant and unacceptable in a very short period.

"One of the main challenges at that time became the question of how to proceed. The what—in the fields of historiography, archaeology, ethnography, cultural studies, art history, Caucasus studies, and other academic courses—did not change drastically, but the how became one of the most pressing questions. In some areas this was successfully resolved, while in others it remained problematic," he explained.

According to the dean, the constructive discussions and debates held within the framework of the conference serve as an opportunity to address existing issues in the field and move forward.

"We expect that the presentations and ideas voiced at the conference will contribute to revising and improving educational outcomes, as well as fostering greater cooperation," Gabrielyan added.

He also noted that the results of the conference will be published in a special issue of the journal "History and Culture".

The international conference brings together representatives of leading research institutions from Armenia, as well as from Georgia, Russia, France, Germany, Hungary, Nigeria, and other countries.

Among the topics discussed were the significance of the "Kingdom of Van (Urartu)" course taught in the history faculties of Armenian universities and "Teaching the History of the Armenian Diaspora in the Early Modern World: Conceptual Challenges and Historiographical Tensions". Another presentation was delivered on the topic "Application of Contemporary Methods in Presenting Armenian History at the History Museum of Yerevan".

The conference program includes reports on a wide range of topics and will continue on December 12.