YSU oriental studies students visit St. Petersburg to present research and expand academic cooperation

The visit marked another important step in the cooperation between the YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies and the department of the same name at Saint Petersburg State University. A significant foundation for this cooperation was the ORBELI Oriental Studies School held last year in Vanadzor, bringing together students and lecturers from universities in Moscow and Saint Petersburg at YSU. Following those meetings, new agreements were reached on initiating joint conferences, collaborative programs, and reciprocal visits. 

The students who participated in the visit to Saint Petersburg had previously submitted their academic papers, which underwent a selection and peer-review process. The papers were prepared with the support of academic supervisors and adapted to meet the requirements of international conferences.

Mane Mamyan, a first-year master's student in the "Turkish Historiography" program at YSU, pointed out that the visit was her first professional international trip, distinguished by a strong sense of responsibility and new experiences.

"I had very high expectations. It was my first time traveling abroad for academic purposes in this format, and it significantly motivated me to present my topic in the best possible way and engage with an international audience," she said. 

For Milena Papazyan, a third-year student at the Chair of Turkology, this was also her first major conference experience.

"When I learned that I had been selected to participate in the program, I felt very positive emotions. My expectations were high, and they were fully met—I gained new knowledge and valuable experience," she said.

For fourth-year student Luiza Hambardzumyan, the visit also provided an opportunity to renew professional connections established the previous year. 

"We had already built connections during the ORBELI Oriental Studies School, and this visit allowed us to meet our partners again, get to know the university more closely, and once again test ourselves in an academic environment."

Fourth-year student Meline Datoyan highlighted that although she had previously participated in various programs, this trip stood out for its professional focus.

"This was one of my first professional programs where I presented academic research. Despite the pressure, with the support of the faculty and our supervisors, we were able to present our work successfully," she stressed.

Within the framework of the program, students had the chance to engage not only with their Russian colleagues but also with participants from other countries. According to YSU students, this was an important experience for young researchers, particularly in terms of working within an environment of open professional dialogue.

It is also noteworthy that the multilingual proficiency of YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies students proved to be a significant advantage in communication. Their command of Russian, English, Turkish, and Azerbaijani enabled them to fully engage in academic discussions.

The students also took part in cultural activities. They visited the Hermitage Museum, became acquainted with the activities of the university's faculties, and visited the library of the Faculty of Law, where important legal documents dating back to the era of Catherine the Great are preserved.

During the visit, new foundations for cooperation were also established. In particular, an agreement was reached between the YSU Student Scientific Society and the student academic body of Saint Petersburg State University to implement joint programs.

In Saint Petersburg, the students presented reports on various topics related to Turkology. Milena Papazyan discussed the historical and political significance of the 16 stars on the emblem of the President of Turkey and their use in modern propaganda. Mane Mamyan addressed the factors shaping Turkey's foreign policy and its institutional foundations. Meline Datoyan presented the tools of Turkey's public diplomacy, using the activities of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities as an example, while Luiza Hambardzumyan examined the features of Turkey's policy toward Muslim communities in the Balkans.

According to the students, the presentations received strong interest and sparked professional discussions, contributing to the further development of their research topics.

The visit also had a significant impact on the students' future professional decisions. Luiza Hambardzumyan noted that participation in the program contributed to her decision to pursue her master's studies in Russia.

According to the participants, such programs not only provide valuable academic experience but also build confidence for future participation in international conferences and in pursuing their professional development.