Yerevan State University Marks 100th Anniversary of its Founding

Staff Report

Armenian Studies Program Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian participated in the celebratory activities marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of Yerevan State University, which were held in Yerevan, Armenia, September 26-27, 2019.

Yerevan State University was established in 1919 and the first classes were held in Alexandropol (today’s Gyumri), Armenia, as sufficient facilities were not available in Yerevan. Classes were held in Alexandropol from February to May 1919. Among the prominent faculty that taught during the first year of the university were Manuk Abeghian, Bishop Garegin Hovsepian, Stepan Malkhasyants, and Hagop Manandyan. There were 262 students enrolled in the first year of the University, with 32 faculty members.

Dues to war conditions in late 1919 and the Sovietization of the Republic of Armenia in 1920, classes were interrupted and did not resume until January of 1921. By then the decision had been made to move the University to the capital of Yerevan, in a refurbished building, the Sev Shenk (Black Building-named for the black stone from which it was constructed) on Abovian Street.

In 1953, new buildings were constructed at today’s site of the University, located at 1 Alex Manoogian Street in Yerevan. Today the University is thriving with more than 22,000 students and over a thousand-member academic staff. YSU has more than 50 Bachelor’s programs and 120 Master’s programs, as well as more than 90 Doctoral programs.

Presidents and faculty from leading universities across the globe participated in the September events. On Thursday, September 26, the university delegations arrived at the Yerevan State University main campus to congratulate Acting University President Dr. Gegham Gevorgyan, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the University. Among the many guests were Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of Haigazian University; Dr. Andrei Karol, Rector, Belarus State University; Dr. Vahan Agopyan, Rector Universidade de São Paulo; Dr. Tasos Christofides, Rector of the University of Cyprus; Dr. Giorgi Sharvashidze, Rector, Tbilisi State University; Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Berberian Coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program, and Dr. Kevork Bardakjian, Manoogian Professor of Armenian Language and Literature at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

In the afternoon guests were given a tour of the Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran (State Library of Ancient Manuscripts), followed by a visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum. Dr. Harutyun Marutyan, director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, gave a tour of the Memorial and the Museum, and then the guests planted a memorial tree in the Genocide Grove, to mark the anniversary of the University.

Friday, September 27, marked the main day of activities, opening with a symposium entitled, “Higher Education, Research and Innovation in the 21st Century.” Following the symposium, guest donned their university robes and a group photograph was taken in front of the main building of YSU. The participants then walked from the University to the A. Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet National Academic Theatre, where a special commemorative event was held, including a musical concert, and a congratulatory address by Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia.

The evening concluded with a gala dinner at the Florence Restaurant.