KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

From November 21 to 22, the Complutense University of Madrid hosted the first conference of Armenian Studies Centers operating at foreign universities.

Vice-Rector of the Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) for HR Management and International Cooperation Marianna Harutyunyan was among the members of the delegation led by Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia Artur Martirosyan. Other representatives of various government agencies and universities also participated in the conference.

The conference was moderated by Professor Sona Harutyunyan from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Established in 2022 as part of the Faculty of Geography and History at Complutense University, the first Chair of Armenian Studies in Spain operates through funding provided by the Government of the Republic of Armenia and is under the direction of Professor Francisco Zoryan.

Artur Martirosyan expressed greetings to the participants and considered symbolic the fact that Complutense University is hosting the first-ever conference devoted to Armenological centers. The Deputy Minister expressed gratitude to the University’s administration and the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Spain for providing the opportunity to host the conference, as well as to the directors and representatives of the Chairs of Armenian Studies for their efforts, vigor and the work that they have done.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Kingdom of Spain Sos Avetisyan expressed his greetings and wished the participants success and fruitful work.

The directors of the Armenian Studies Centers based at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Sapienza University of Rome, University of Salzburg, Leipzig University, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Democritus University of Thrace, John F. Kennedy University, National University of Rosario, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg and several other foreign universities, who were attending the conference, presented slide shows devoted to the activities and implemented programs of their respective Chairs of Armenian Studies and Centers for Armenian Studies.

The current sector-specific issues, paths for development and prospects for cooperation between the institutions in the Republic of Armenia and the Centers for Armenian Studies operating at foreign universities were discussed during the conference.