AI and fintech seminar series concludes at YSU

The four-day seminar series was organized by the Student Council of the YSU Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics and the Chair of Actuarial and Financial Mathematics, in cooperation with the NextGen AI community and within the framework of the US Department of State's Professional Fellows Program (PFP). Educational materials for the program were provided by the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute.

The seminar series combined academic and practical expertise, allowing participants to explore the latest developments in AI along with their applications in the financial system. The initiative was particularly important for students seeking to develop their knowledge and practical skills and pursue careers related to artificial intelligence, data science, financial mathematics and technology. 

According to Karine Avetisyan, Head of the Chair of Actuarial and Financial Mathematics, the financial sector is currently undergoing rapid digital transformation, with traditional financial processes gradually changing to become faster, more accessible and more convenient. In her view, this process requires a combination of not only programming skills but also in-depth knowledge of finance. 

"One of the key objectives of the initiative is to involve students and professionals in the changes taking place and promote the dissemination of knowledge about artificial intelligence and financial technologies. The broader the awareness among the public and professional communities of the changes taking place in the field, the faster and more effective the digital transformation of the financial sector will be," she emphasized. 

Avetisyan said the seminars had attracted strong interest, with more than 90 people registering on the first day alone, prompting the organizers to expand participation opportunities. More than 100 participants registered for the seminars, mainly students, professionals from the banking and financial sectors, as well as representatives of IT companies developing software solutions for the financial industry. Representatives of universities abroad, including several universities in China, also expressed interest in the seminars. 

According to Rafik Arakelyan, Co-Lead of the NextGen AI community, the seminar topics were selected because artificial intelligence has already moved beyond scientific research and is being actively applied in business, banking, education, programming and other fields. 

"We are entering a new phase with the development of agentic AI. In the past, we would mainly ask AI a question and receive an answer. Today, systems are being developed that can independently break a task down into steps, use different tools and carry out an entire process," he said, stressing that the aim of the initiative was not only to discuss artificial intelligence, but also to demonstrate how the knowledge gained could be applied to solving real-world problems and developing new technological solutions.

Arakelyan stressed that making modern technological knowledge accessible to young people and professionals in Armenia was particularly important.

"We have strong potential in mathematics, engineering and programming. If we provide these people with access to modern AI tools and knowledge, they can not only use technologies that have already been developed, but also create their own," he added.

International exchange of professional expertise was another important component of the seminars. As part of the initiative, international experts delivered presentations at YSU, providing insights into international experience in artificial intelligence and modern technological solutions. 

"Students should see artificial intelligence not as a competitor, but as a powerful tool that can expand their capabilities and create new career opportunities," said Dr. Mariofanna Milanova, NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute Ambassador, who served as the keynote speaker for the seminar series.

Milanova, Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the author of numerous academic articles and books, also addressed agentic artificial intelligence during the seminars. In an interview with us, she said that to succeed in the new environment, students first need AI literacy, an understanding of its capabilities and limitations, and the ability to use AI tools effectively. 

According to Milanova, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are also essential, as students need to be able to assess information generated by AI and apply it appropriately. They should also develop practical skills for working with AI, including prompt design, data literacy, automation and the integration of AI tools into workflows. 

At the same time, human skills such as creativity, communication, leadership and teamwork are becoming increasingly valuable.

"In a rapidly evolving technological environment, one of the most important skills is the ability to keep learning and adapt to change. The tools we use today may look very different five years from now," she said, adding that one important step for universities was to integrate AI throughout the curriculum rather than limit it to computer science programs.

She also stressed that critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity and practical experience are becoming increasingly important in the age of AI.

Commenting on the potential of Armenian students and Armenia's AI ecosystem, Milanova said her first impression was very positive. She noted that Armenia's strong traditions in mathematics, science, engineering and computer science provide a solid foundation for the development of AI.

"What particularly interests me is the potential of Armenian students. In the age of AI, a country's greatest resource is human capital. Armenia has an educated technology community, a developing startup culture, strong universities and important ties with the Armenian Diaspora. This combination can create significant opportunities for AI research, entrepreneurship and international cooperation. I also see an opportunity for Armenia not only to become a consumer of AI technologies but also to become a country that creates AI solutions. Areas such as generative AI, agentic AI, cybersecurity, financial technologies, computer vision, robotics, healthcare and education can create excellent opportunities for Armenian students and researchers," she stressed.

Another speaker in the seminar series was Vladimir Karyan, Head of Operational Risk Management at Acba Bank, who shared his professional experience and observations from the financial sector.

During the seminars, participants not only gained theoretical knowledge but also had an opportunity to apply it in practice by working with modern AI tools. The program also covered topics related to various applications of AI, fraud detection and financial technologies.

As part of the practical component of the seminars, participants in NVIDIA workshops had an opportunity to receive official company certificates and free software licenses.