YSU hosts U.S. Chargé d'Affaires David Allen to discuss ongoing and future cooperation

Today, YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan hosted the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Armenia, David Allen. Emphasizing the importance of the high-ranking official's first visit to YSU, the parties discussed a range of issues in education and science. They also referred to the existing cooperation between YSU and various U.S. universities and outlined prospective avenues to further deepen and expand these ties.

The rector presented to the U.S. chargé d'affaires the university's ongoing reforms, current educational programs, scientific potential, and potential areas of cooperation that can further strengthen the partnership.

Speaking about the implementation of research and academic initiatives and the practical steps needed to advance them, Rector Hovhannisyan expressed hope that inter-university contacts between the two countries will be structured through relevant programs and become more systematic.

Rector Hovhannisyan also underscored that mutually beneficial programs have been implemented within the framework of international cooperation with San José State University, Arizona State University, University of California, Berkeley, Georgetown University, and several other institutions.

The rector further highlighted cooperation with the Armenian diaspora, particularly the initiative of the Friends of YSU Foundation, which aims to bring together Armenian-American professionals from various fields and support academic, research, and infrastructural initiatives at Yerevan State University, including the YSU Business Incubator program. To this end, cooperation has also been expanded with the Izmirlian Foundation, the Knights of Vartan, the Union of Armenian Artisans of California, and the Armenian Educational Foundation (USA).

Vice-Rector for International Relations, Development and Innovation Mikayel Hovhannisyan noted that YSU's efforts are aimed at promoting cooperation with partner institutions both in the field of artificial intelligence and in educational and research activities.

Alexander Markarov, Head of the YSU International Cooperation Office, emphasized that the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia prioritizes initiatives to advance the internationalization of universities.

"We expect that new regulations for double-degree programs will soon be introduced, which will help ensure the effective implementation of these programs. In addition to cooperating with partner universities and enhancing the university's appeal to foreign students, we are undertaking other initiatives to promote internationalization. Notably, over the past 24 years, many American students have studied at YSU for one semester through the American Councils program. The majority of them—around 98%—were not Armenian-Americans, but Americans," Markarov emphasized.

Highly appreciating the collaborative work carried out over the years, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires David Allen expressed hope that useful and effective joint programs will continue to be implemented.

Following the meeting, David Allen also met with students of the YSU Faculties of International Relations and Law. During the engaging and productive discussion that followed, he answered questions posed by YSU students.