New opportunity for foreign students: International program launched at YSU

We spoke with Nane Abrahamyan, Deputy Country Director at American Councils for International Education (Armenia), about the partnership with YSU, the program's defining features, and future plans.

– Ms. Abrahamyan, how was the program developed?

– The development of the RLASP Area Studies program was initiated in the summer of 2025 through the joint efforts of the American Councils Armenia and the YSU International Cooperation Office. By autumn of the same year, the program was officially launched.

The American Councils Armenia has maintained a productive partnership with Yerevan State University since the early 2000s. YSU faculty members and students regularly participate in academic and research exchange programs implemented by the American Councils Armenia. In July 2024, the partnership was formalized with the signing of a memorandum of understanding.   

– What motivated the creation of this program, and what is its core concept, particularly for English-speaking students?

– The program's central objective is to present the South Caucasus as a region rich in history yet marked by many contemporary challenges, helping English-speaking students to develop a deep understanding of the social, religious, and geopolitical factors that both unite and divide the countries of the region.

The program aims to combine academic study with immersive, real-world experience through living in Yerevan, staying with local host families, and active engagement in the university environment.

One of the key motivations was to create a comprehensive and accessible educational platform for English-speaking students, allowing them to study the region's historical, political, and economic processes through English-taught courses, while also learning Russian from scratch, with no prior knowledge required. The program further seeks to develop critical thinking by examining the causes of conflicts and exploring pathways to sustainable peace, using the cases of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and linking these analyses within the academic fields of international relations, political science, and history.

– How significant is this program in disseminating knowledge about Armenia and the region in the English-speaking world?

– This is the first program of its kind in the region, jointly developed by YSU and the American Councils Armenia, and it represents a unique opportunity to advance English-language regional studies in Yerevan for students from the United States and many international higher education institutions. 

From the perspective of disseminating knowledge about Armenia and the South Caucasus in English-speaking academic contexts, the program represents a strategic, long-term initiative. I believe that the knowledge developed through this program will lead to more accurate, better-informed, and longer-term engagement within the international academic community. 

– Who is the program aimed at, and what makes it appealing to foreign students?

– The program targets English-speaking undergraduate and graduate students from the United States and beyond who are interested in international relations, regional studies, and the post-Soviet space. Its appeal lies in the English-language curriculum, which allows them to earn credits recognized by U.S. universities, as well as the opportunity to live with local host families and gain first-hand insight into the socio-political realities of Armenia and the wider region. 

– What are the prospects and plans for further cooperation between the American Councils and Yerevan State University?

– We hope that this initiative will mark the beginning of broader cooperation and the launch of substantive joint programs in Armenia in partnership with Yerevan State University.