PSIA Graduates Join Ministry of Economy
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YEREVAN, Armenia – Three recent graduates of the American University of Armenia (AUA) Political Science and International Affairs (PSIA) program – Alik Sargsyan, Mariana Javakhyan, and Areg Badalyan – have started work at the Ministry of Economy of Armenia in the department of Economic Development Policy and the European Union and World Trade Organization (WTO). They join a PSIA graduate from 2014, Tigran Harutyunyan, who is already working at the ministry. All the graduates are involved in various tasks related to EU–Armenia cooperation on different programs. They also ensure compliance and harmonization of Armenian laws and legal acts with the principles of the WTO agreement, and they research/analyze international experiences on different policy issues and give policy recommendations to different ministries in Armenia.
During a recent discussion, they emphasized that the PSIA program had a large impact on their personal and career development. They gained theoretical knowledge during classes and also developed skills during the process of studying that help them in their current work. Tigran, who works at the European Union and World Trade Organization, stated: “Political Science is a combination of politics, law, economy, philosophy, etc. When studying at PSIA, you gain knowledge in all mentioned fields. WTO is a mixture of global political processes, global economy, international law and free trade and economic integration. No other profession better prepares you to handle the work with an international organization with such a diverse nature as WTO.”
The MA PSIA Capstone project the students completed during the last semester of their studies also helped them in their current job. All final capstone projects were supervised by PSIA faculty member Dr. Arpie Balian. While working on their capstone they learned to systematize work, employ a consistent and objective approach in tackling issues, make in-depth research of an issue before addressing it, and unearth correlations and patterns. As Mariana stated, “I was lucky to have an adviser who gave not only great academic knowledge but also practical skills. While writing my capstone I understood that despite all difficulties no information is impossible to acquire if it is needed for getting precise and correct results. I have thoroughly studied development as a separate discipline and the most important thing I’ve learned is specificities of development assistance in Armenia. Currently my work is tightly connected with development assistance and programs in Armenia, so the knowledge gained from my capstone serves as a basis for my work.”
Dr. Balian said, “I am very proud of all four of our PSIA graduates who are now working for the Ministry of Economy. Throughout the two years together, they have demonstrated a strong will to contribute to Armenia’s development. They now hold the perfect positions to do that! Sure there will be obstacles, and surely they will make mistakes. But I have no doubt, they will excel with their knowledge, hard work, and determination to succeed.”
The PSIA program congratulates its graduates and hopes they will continue to contribute to the development of Armenia.
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.