TCPA Presents Research at 20th Annual Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference in Sheffield, UK
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Valentina Gevorgyan, Research Assistant at the TCPA
Yerevan, Armenia – The American University of Armenia Turpanjian Center for Policy Analysis (TCPA) presented its study on volunteering in Armenia at the 20th Annual Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference held in Sheffield, United Kingdom from September 10th-11th.
Valentina Gevorgyan, TCPA Research Assistant and author of the study, presented the findings.
The study uses qualitative research methods to compare two different perspectives when it comes to the motivating factors for volunteering in Armenia – that of the volunteers themselves and that of the directors and leaders of Armenian NGOs. By contrasting the two perspectives, the paper broadens the understanding of volunteering and its usage by organizations. The implications of the research findings for volunteer-involving organizations are discussed, focusing on the reconsideration of task distribution with the aim to match volunteers’ motivational needs.
The paper was successfully presented and received widespread attention due to the fact that Armenia represented the farthest region to present at the conference. The conference has become the primary event for the voluntary sector and volunteering research community in the UK and was jointly organized by the National Council for Voluntary Organizations (NCVO), the Voluntary Sector Studies Network (VSSN) and the Institute for Volunteering Research (IVR).
In Ms. Gevorgyan’s words, “It was an informative experience with discussions and presentations by academics and practitioners diffusing the knowledge on valuable approaches in research. The conference was a perfect opportunity to present our local study to an international audience willing to learn and provide feedback. As the conference was organized by several institutions it was also a good networking opportunity providing a pool of potential sources to share the future research with and seek an advice through.”
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.