Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Staff Report
As part of International Education Week at Fresno State, the Armenian Studies Program organized a presentation on Wednesday, November 17 on “Armenia Today: Fresno State Projects in Armenia and Opportunities for Study Abroad.” Participating were three Fresno State faculty who have traveled to Armenia during the past several years: Dr. Sasan Fayazmanesh, Professor of Economics, Tom Burns of the Management Department and Barlow Der Mugrdechian of the Armenian Studies Program.
Bill Erysian, director of grants and international projects and coordinator of International Education Week for the Division of Continuing and Global Education, opened the program and welcomed the audience. He then introduced Barlow Der Mugrdechian, who is the project coordinator for the partnership project between Yerevan State University and Fresno State.
The project, called “A Faculty and Development Program in Business and Economics,” matched the YSU Faculty of Economics and the Fresno State Craig School of Business. In 1999 this project was given a $100,000 grant from the Newly Independent States College and University Partnership Program of the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the United States State Department, and was subsequently renewed for three more years with an additional $300,000. The grant is scheduled to conclude in December of this year.
Yerevan State University is the largest university in Armenia, with a student population of about 10,000. Some 1,200 of these study in the Faculty of Economics, including more that one third of the top high school seniors in the country.
The project’s main means of implementing its goals was through the planned exchange of faculty from both universities for periods of from two to three weeks. During the past five years more than 10 faculty from Fresno State have traveled to Armenia, and some 18 faculty and administrators have visited from Armenia. Faculty have worked with their counterparts in discussing curriculum and learning about possibilities to modify or change courses. Faculty on both sides have learned a great deal in the interchange, which has been a valuable part of the experience.
Der Mugrdechian explained that higher education in the former Soviet Union was supported entirely by the state and students enjoyed a free education.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, and Armenia’s subsequent independence on September 21, 1991, responsibility for funding of the higher education system fell entirely to the government of Armenia. The entire education system had to face what the rest of the country faced, a dramatic decrease of funding due to the economic collapse in Armenia.
The financial problems were the main but not the only issues to be faced by the university. Among the non-financial issues faced were the ability of the university to attract students, competition from newer private universities, and the need to completely reform curriculum, a curriculum that was thoroughly imbued with communist ideology.
The Armenian educational system was traditionally very strong in many areas, thus the project did not aim to replace the old curriculum completely, but rather to present faculty with choices based on what could be best applied for Armenia.
The project provided three fully equipped computer laboratories plus computers and printers for each department office. In addition, internet access, which also was lacking, was provided for the students. The entire building where the Faculty is housed has recently been wired for internet access.
Der Mugrdechian then introduced Professor Tom Burns, director of the Executive MBA program at Fresno State, who traveled to Armenia in the summer of 2002. Burns presented a power-point presentation on his activities in Armenia. In particular he had worked with a group of five students from Armenia, who had participated in a distance learning program, which also involved five students from Fresno State. Together they produced an economic report on two countries-Armenia and Ireland.
Burns gave many interesting insights into the business environment in Armenia, noting in particular how Armenian society and ways of doing business were different from American society.
Der Mugrdechian next introduced Dr. Sasan Fayazmanesh, who teaches the history of economic thought and monetary theory in the department of economics at Fresno State. Fayazmanesh returned on November 16 from his first trip to Armenia, where he had the opportunity to interact with students and faculty. He gave a power-point talk about his experiences in Armenia emphasizing especially the warm hospitality of his colleagues. While at YSU he gave several presentations to students and faculty on a variety of topics in his field of expertise.
Der Mugrdechian closed the program with a description of the Armenian Studies Semester Abroad program, which will begin in Spring 2005. Initiated by the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno state, the Semester Abroad Program gives students from all over the United States the opportunity to spend one semester living and studying in Armenia. Students will take a variety of Armenian studies related courses while in Armenia.
The evening was an inspiring look at the achievements of both Armenian and American faculty in working together to assist educational development in Armenia.