Collaboration Between PSIA Programs of AUA and University of Salzburg

The Political Sciences and International Affairs (PSIA) program has signed an inter-institutional agreement with the Political Science department at Paris Lodron University of Salzburg in Austria, under the European Union’s Erasmus+ Mobility Program. PSIA master’s student Anahit Yeghiazaryan and bachelor’s student Shoghik Mkrtchyan from English and Communications will spend the 2016 fall semester as exchange students in Salzburg. Further arrangements are underway for two more students to visit in early 2017.

 

The students were selected by the selection committee composed of PSIA faculty as well as a representative from the University of Salzburg. Academic merit, students’ motivation and future plans, as well as knowledge of German language were taken into consideration. Under the program, students will have the opportunity to take courses in Political Science, such as ‘Gender, Society and Politics’ and ‘Parties, Voters, and Elections.’ The program will help AUA students experience not only alternative ways of learning, but they will also be able to meet people from around the world with different backgrounds and make valuable new connections.

 

PSIA Program Chair Dr. Simon Clarke headed a team which set up the agreement. “We worked hard to make this a reality,” he commented. “The application was a complicated process, and there were times when we thought the logistics would be too difficult. However, arrangements are now in place and students will benefit greatly from these opportunities.”

 

The collaboration between the universities will enable AUA to exchange students and faculty with the University of Salzburg for studies and trainings in future. The EU Erasmus+ Mobility Program covers the travel and living expenses as well as tuition for student participants.