YSU becomes full member of SAP University Alliances

Yerevan State University has officially become a full member and partner of SAP University Alliances, gaining access to its extensive educational and technological resources. SAP University Alliances is a global program that connects leading universities with advanced digital technologies widely applied in the business sector. By joining the program, YSU will be able to integrate innovative digital tools into its teaching and research processes, aligning them with international educational standards.

Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs at YSU, Rafayel Barkhudaryan, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, "We will have the opportunity to use the educational resources of SAP University Alliances in our academic processes. It is one of Europe's largest companies and ranks among the world's top 100, making it a major player in the global technology sector. It is therefore extremely important that Yerevan State University has the opportunity to collaborate with such a company. Organizations across various sectors structure their management system using software solutions provided by SAP University Alliances. The global program helps universities incorporate real digital business management tools into the educational process, ensuring an effective combination of theory and practice."

The vice-rector further noted that within the framework of the cooperation, YSU will benefit from SAP University Alliances' educational resources, including ERP systems, data analytics, supply chain management, finance, and other areas. Free training courses will be organized for students and faculty members, and opportunities will be created to earn internationally recognized certifications. Additionally, the partnership is expected to enhance the university's attractiveness among prospective students and employers.

Dr. Igor Belousov, Executive Director of SAP Research, noted that while the groundwork for this collaboration was laid earlier, it is now officially formalized.

"While specific initiatives began several weeks ago, current practical developments already demonstrate the productivity of the cooperation. This year, a professional development course was conducted for lecturers, which, in my opinion, was very effective," he said. "SAP is the largest company developing software for businesses. However, since our primary clients are companies, students are not always well informed about the organization. Therefore, it is important that students not only receive useful information but also clearly understand what specific steps and training opportunities they have with SAP."

Dr. Belousov also clarified his role within the organization: "I represent SAP as a country manager for University Alliances. My role involves two main functions: developing new curricula and coordinating the work of offices in the countries under my supervision, which include Italy, Spain, Armenia, and Turkey."

Reflecting on SAP’s history, Dr. Belousov shared that the company was founded over 50 years ago by five IBM engineers. At a time when IBM was focused on hardware, these engineers proposed developing software for accounting and business process management. When IBM declined to pivot away from hardware, the engineers left to establish their own organization, which eventually became a global tech leader.

The event concluded with a Q&A session where Dr. Belousov addressed student inquiries.

Among the attendees at the meeting were Karlen Khachatryan, Dean of the YSU Faculty of Economics and Management, and Associate Professor Karine Avetisyan, Head of the Chair of Actuarial and Financial Mathematics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics.

Thus, joining SAP University Alliances represents for Yerevan State University not only a new educational opportunity, but also a significant step toward expanding its international cooperation and advancing its technological modernization.