Swedish Ambassador Pays Visit to AUA

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YEREVAN, Armenia – His Excellency Marten Ehnberg, Acting Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden in Armenia, paid a visit on January 22 to the American University of Armenia (AUA). He was accompanied by Anna Edsjoe, a Swedish consultant hired by the Embassy to develop strategies to “improve” the country’s image among Armenians.

During a conversation they had with AUA President Armen Der Kiureghian and Provost Randall Rhodes, Ambassador Ehnberg and Edsjoe expressed interest in collaborations between AUA and Swedish universities. Der Kiureghian and Rhodes shared one of AUA’s priorities with the guests—that of increasing opportunities for student mobility and of setting up more study abroad programs for AUA students. 

Following a tour of the university, Ambassador Ehnberg and Edsjoe visited AUA Senior Lecturer Arto Vaun’s creative writing course, where Edsjoe asked Vaun’s students what they know about Sweden and what they would recommend to improve Sweden’s image. The students shared their thoughts and ideas, as well as their expectations from a study abroad experience in general.

Opportunities for experiencing new cultures, as well as open-mindedness and creativity; similarity to a US-style education as experienced at AUA; the overall quality of education; and financial support figured as important considerations by the students when searching for study abroad opportunities.

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 US-style education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.