Opportunities to expand cooperation with Qatar discussed at YSU

Reflecting on collaboration with Qatar, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan stated: "The longstanding friendly relations between our two countries provide a solid foundation for deepening partnerships in the field of Oriental studies. Thanks to the ongoing cooperation, a number of students from the YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies have had the opportunity to travel to Qatar for the study of Arabic. I think our cooperation should not be limited to student programs alone. Armenia and Qatar have established strong relations based on mutual respect, and it is important to build on this foundation to develop deeper and more multifaceted cooperation." 

Ambassador Mansour Abdulla Salem Saad Al Sulaitin, emphasizing the importance of strengthening ties with YSU, said: "We highly value the role of education in the development and progress of the state, and establishing and reinforcing collaboration with partner universities is of great significance for us. I am convinced that all initiatives and programs envisaged under the agreements and memoranda concluded with YSU will be successfully implemented in practice."  

The ambassador also highlighted Qatar's investment initiatives and a recent sporting event held in Armenia, underscoring the importance of practical collaboration. 

Mikayel Hovhannisyan, YSU Vice-Rector for International Relations, Development, and Innovation, spoke about the future of cooperation: "In addition to student exchange programs, we can also initiate faculty exchanges, joint research projects and educational programs. Establishing a structured cooperation framework will allow us to explore and envision professional collaboration on a broader scale."

He stressed that, from a practical standpoint, any signed agreement should be accompanied by a clear action plan, defined steps, and responsible bodies. Without such specificity, cooperation risks being ineffective; therefore, establishing direct communication channels between partner institutions and organizing substantive discussions should be a priority.

Ruben Melkonyan, Dean of the YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies, noted: "YSU is the primary center in Armenia for teaching Arabic and training specialists in Arabic studies. Additionally, Armenian society receives fundamental information about Arab countries through our faculty. Our lecturers act as a bridge between the Armenian and Arab peoples."

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides expressed hope that the outlined initiatives will strengthen scientific and educational cooperation between higher education institutions in Armenia and Qatar.