Newly appointed Iranian ambassador visits YSU to strengthen academic ties

During the meeting, Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan and Ambassador Khalil Shirgholami addressed a range of issues pertaining to the field of education. Highlighting the historically allied relations and current collaborations between Armenia and Iran, they explored opportunities to strengthen and expand existing partnerships.   

Hovhannes Hovhannisyan noted that Iranian Studies is one of the most highly developed fields in Armenia, particularly represented by Yerevan State University. This is evidenced by the fact that the YSU Chair of Iranian Studies is a regional leader in its activities, underscoring the necessity of strengthening and deepening the centuries-old amicable ties between neighboring peoples and states, as well as the continuous development of shared interests.

According to the YSU rector, the current scope of cooperation encompasses the sphere of culture—including language, literature, and history; however, joint initiatives could be broadened into the natural sciences, thereby effectively utilizing existing capabilities. 

Ambassador Khalil Shirgholami, conveying his positive impressions of the YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies, particularly the Chair of Iranian Studies, highlighted that it stands as the preeminent institution in the region within this field. He reaffirmed the necessity of sustaining cooperation and investing the required efforts to foster scientific and educational ties between the Armenian and Iranian academic communities.  

The ambassador further noted that enhancing scientific collaboration is driven by the deepening of mutual understanding. Accordingly, both sides intend to continue implementing previously initiated measures, including memoranda of cooperation between YSU and Iranian universities, tuition reimbursement programs, and similar initiatives.

To ensure the effective implementation and advancement of educational and scientific processes, Khalil Shirgholami expressed a strong interest in developing bilateral programs for academic collaboration, professional training of personnel, reciprocal visits of delegations, and other related activities. He also highlighted a new Iranian initiative to translate and publish the most significant monuments of Armenian classical literature in Persian.

During the meeting, YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan and Iranian Ambassador Khalil Shirgholami reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the implementation of ongoing bilateral undertakings and to the sustained development of Armenian-Iranian scientific and academic ties.