THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA:

A University that is as American as any in the U.S. and as Armenian as any in

Armenia

Haroutune K. ArmenianHaroutune K. Armenian

President EmeritusPresident Emeritus

OBJECTIVES OF THE TALK

Historical perspectiveHistorical perspectiveSome Guiding PrinciplesSome Guiding PrinciplesAn American UniversityAn American UniversityAn Armenian InstitutionAn Armenian InstitutionFuture perspectivesFuture perspectives

Higher Education in Armenia - 1

Visiting student model – Syriac, Greek – Visiting student model – Syriac, Greek – Students seeking the sources of knowledgeStudents seeking the sources of knowledge Professor is the sourceProfessor is the source

Monastic model – Datev, Narek, Gladzor, Monastic model – Datev, Narek, Gladzor, Kosh, but also Venice and ViennaKosh, but also Venice and Vienna Professor is the source but large repository of Professor is the source but large repository of

manuscripts and books manuscripts and books

Higher Education in Armenia – 2

American Missionary CollegesAmerican Missionary Colleges

- Central Turkey College – Aintab – 1874- Central Turkey College – Aintab – 1874

- Euphrates College - Kharpert – 1878- Euphrates College - Kharpert – 1878

- Anatolia College – Marsovan – 1886 - Anatolia College – Marsovan – 1886

- etc.- etc.

Liberal Arts CollegesLiberal Arts Colleges

Mostly Armenian studentsMostly Armenian students

Higher Education in Armenia – 3

European – German – Russian model European – German – Russian model universities:universities:Nikol Aghbalian and Yerevan State Nikol Aghbalian and Yerevan State University in 1920University in 1920Professor centered systemProfessor centered systemEmphasis on teaching Emphasis on teaching Research is primarily the role of the Research is primarily the role of the institutes of the Academy of Sciencesinstitutes of the Academy of Sciences

AUA is the return of the American Liberal Arts higher educational tradition to Armenia after a severance of 70 years.

Lessons from American Universities of the past Universities and Colleges that operated Universities and Colleges that operated

within the boundaries of their campuses within the boundaries of their campuses For the LocalsFor the Locals: Colleges that were the : Colleges that were the

institutions of the American missionariesinstitutions of the American missionaries For the US PublicFor the US Public: Charitable institutions : Charitable institutions

with a missionary (religious?) objective with a missionary (religious?) objective targeting Middle Eastern youth targeting Middle Eastern youth

PARTNERSHIP PARTNERSHIP -American University of Armenia -American University of Armenia

CorporationCorporation -Government of the Republic of Armenia-Government of the Republic of Armenia

Armenian General Benevolent UnionArmenian General Benevolent Union University of CaliforniaUniversity of California US Government SupportUS Government Support

INTRODUCE THE UNIVERSITY

Adversity is an opportunity for positive achievement.

UNIQUENESS OF AUA

Historical circumstancesHistorical circumstances Synergy of institutionsSynergy of institutions American model in the Soviet and Russian American model in the Soviet and Russian

cultural environmentcultural environment Graduate university geared to developmentGraduate university geared to development Most efficient operationMost efficient operation Vision for the future Vision for the future

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHYEDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION:LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION: -Virtuous Person = Broad skills and -Virtuous Person = Broad skills and

knowledgeknowledge - Research and Problem Solving - Research and Problem Solving

competenciescompetencies - Democracy at the root of liberalism- Democracy at the root of liberalism

Student

Student

Student

Student StudentStudent

StudentStudent

StudentStudent

Traditional University

FACULTY

Library Labs Computers Data Experts

Graduate American University

STUDENT

Data

Library

Library

Library

Data

Experts

Computers

Computers

Experts

LabsExperts

Labs

FacultyData

Student

LabsCompetitor

StudentData

Labs

Computers

Student

An Ideal University: U VA

An ideal community … a small republic, finding in itself all An ideal community … a small republic, finding in itself all that is necessary in the way of government and the pursuit that is necessary in the way of government and the pursuit of happiness. It is democratic as far as its government is of happiness. It is democratic as far as its government is concerned….concerned….

The atmosphere of this college world is ideal. Here a man’s The atmosphere of this college world is ideal. Here a man’s consequence is not determined by his wealth nor by his consequence is not determined by his wealth nor by his antecedents, but by his character… There is absolute antecedents, but by his character… There is absolute equality of opportunity, a thing necessary in an ideal equality of opportunity, a thing necessary in an ideal republic, and the thing which was really demanded by the republic, and the thing which was really demanded by the Declaration of Independence. Declaration of Independence.   

Patton JS, Doswell SJ. The University of Virginia. Glimpses of its past and Patton JS, Doswell SJ. The University of Virginia. Glimpses of its past and present. Lynchburg, VA: J.P.Bell Company; 1900present. Lynchburg, VA: J.P.Bell Company; 1900

THE ROLE OF AUA

AMERICANAMERICAN - Liberal Arts Education- Liberal Arts Education

TRANSFORMATIONALTRANSFORMATIONAL - Choice- Choice - Quality- Quality - Entrepreneurship- Entrepreneurship - Technology- Technology

UNIVERSALITY

UniversitiesUniversities: universal heritage and values: universal heritage and valuesAUA: global roots AUA: global roots StudentsStudents: operate within global society and : operate within global society and

economyeconomy

Not an alienation from the local culture but Not an alienation from the local culture but enriching its potential and global reach enriching its potential and global reach and exposure. e.g. Armenian Digital and exposure. e.g. Armenian Digital LibraryLibrary

EXCELLENCE

- - Aiming beyond the standard and the averageAiming beyond the standard and the average

- We may start at different levels but aim for We may start at different levels but aim for the largest numbers achieving the best the largest numbers achieving the best possible resultspossible results

- From a bell shaped distribution to a From a bell shaped distribution to a distribution skewed to the leftdistribution skewed to the left

Knowledge Society

Is a society where the Is a society where the intellectual productintellectual product is pre-eminent over the is pre-eminent over the materialmaterial

Is a society where Is a society where creativity and creativity and innovationinnovation is encouraged over is encouraged over sensory sensory pleasurepleasure

Is where Is where spiritualityspirituality is enhanced because is enhanced because of the intellectual and creative experiences of the intellectual and creative experiences of the individualof the individual

What is an American Higher Institution? a

AAICU Meeting May 25-26, 2007AAICU Meeting May 25-26, 2007

Curricula, calendar, creditsCurricula, calendar, credits FacultyFaculty Teaching and LearningTeaching and Learning

What is an American Higher Institution? b

Incorporation and Accreditation in Incorporation and Accreditation in the USthe US

Academic Freedom and DiversityAcademic Freedom and Diversity Student Services and Extracurricular Student Services and Extracurricular

ActivitiesActivities Governance, Administration, Governance, Administration,

FacilitiesFacilities

A Institution that is Armenian 1

Partnership with Armenian GovernmentPartnership with Armenian Government Armenian diasporan engagement and Armenian diasporan engagement and

leadership – AGBUleadership – AGBU Broader objective of impacting higher Broader objective of impacting higher

education in Armenia education in Armenia Majority of students and faculty Majority of students and faculty

ArmenianArmenian

A Institution that is Armenian b

Development and research projects Development and research projects targeting development in Armeniatargeting development in Armenia

Change agents of Armenian modelsChange agents of Armenian models A model. Ex. Transparency - Avedisian A model. Ex. Transparency - Avedisian

buildingbuilding Examples: ACE, CHSR, TCPA, Digital Examples: ACE, CHSR, TCPA, Digital

Library, TRDPLibrary, TRDP

An Equilibrium

Guilt vs. Shame Guilt vs. Shame based cultures or internal and based cultures or internal and external locus of controlexternal locus of control

It is important that the AUA maintains an It is important that the AUA maintains an equilibrium between its American existence equilibrium between its American existence and its Armenian missionand its Armenian mission

It is important for it to be accepted as It is important for it to be accepted as American as any in the US and adopted as American as any in the US and adopted as being as Armenian as any institution in being as Armenian as any institution in Armenia and the diasporaArmenia and the diaspora

¶ñÇ·áñ ¼ûÑñ³å

àõëáõÙÁ ÏÁ ëáñíáõÇ µ³ñáÛ³Ï³Ý »õ àõëáõÙÁ ÏÁ ëáñíáõÇ µ³ñáÛ³Ï³Ý »õ Ùï³õáñ³Ï³Ý ½³ñ·³óÙ³Ý Ñ³Ù³ñ, »õ áã Ùï³õáñ³Ï³Ý ½³ñ·³óÙ³Ý Ñ³Ù³ñ, »õ áã ¹ñ³Ù ߳ѻÉáõ:¹ñ³Ù ߳ѻÉáõ:

¸³ëïdzñ³ÏáõÃÇõÝÁ áõ ÏñÃáõÃÇõÝÁ ¸³ëïdzñ³ÏáõÃÇõÝÁ áõ ÏñÃáõÃÇõÝÁ ³ñÑ»ëïÇ Ñ»ï å¿ïù ã¿ ß÷áûÉ. ÙÇÝ ³ñÑ»ëïÇ Ñ»ï å¿ïù ã¿ ß÷áûÉ. ÙÇÝ ÏñÝ³Û Í³é³Û»É ÙÇõëÇÝ, µ³Ûó ÏñÝ³Û Í³é³Û»É ÙÇõëÇÝ, µ³Ûó Ýå³ï³ÏÝ»ñÁ ï³ñµ»ñ, µáÉáñáíÇÝ Ýå³ï³ÏÝ»ñÁ ï³ñµ»ñ, µáÉáñáíÇÝ ï³ñµ»ñ åÇïÇ ÙݳÝ:ï³ñµ»ñ åÇïÇ ÙݳÝ:

¸³ñ³í»ñçÇÏ ¸³ëïdzñ³ÏáõÃÇõÝ, 1890¸³ñ³í»ñçÇÏ ¸³ëïdzñ³ÏáõÃÇõÝ, 1890

Krikor Zohrab

Education is learning for moral and Education is learning for moral and intellectual development and not for intellectual development and not for monetary gain.monetary gain.

One should not confound education and One should not confound education and culture with craft or trade. One can serve culture with craft or trade. One can serve the other, but their objectives are the other, but their objectives are different and will stay entirely different.different and will stay entirely different.

End of Century Education, 1890End of Century Education, 1890