PSIA Students Reflect on Their Semester Abroad

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YEREVAN, Armenia — The American University of Armenia’s (AUA) Political Science and International Affairs (PSIA) program continues to foster a dynamic learning environment, creating opportunities for students to study abroad. In the 2022-23 academic year, five PSIA students were selected to spend a semester abroad under the Erasmus+ exchange program.

Thus, the selected students spent a semester at Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (PLUS), Austria, Freie Universität Berlin (FUB) in Germany, and the University of Iceland.

PSIA’s collaboration with PLUS dates back to 2016 when the university embraced that study abroad program for PSIA students studying there. Reflecting on their semester at PLUS, students Davit Serobyan and Anna Harutyunyan shared their impressions and key takeaways. Serobyan noted, “Studying and traveling around in Austria was a unique experience. Learning under the roof of a centuries-old university with a professional faculty and always-smiling students from countries around the world with different backgrounds and academic experiences had a huge impact on me. The intensive class discussions and debates, along with other student activities, leveled up my learning experience and knowledge and helped me better understand the bigger world. Traveling around in Austria and to other European cities and villages or just taking a walk around town with different groups, and making new acquaintances each time, made my entire journey memorable. Besides, it also improved my English.”

A more recent addition to the exchange program was the opportunity to study at the Freie Universität Berlin (FUB). Syuzi Shahbazyan and Lusine Grigoryan were the first students to spend a semester there as Erasmus+ exchange students. Grigoryan commented on her experience, “Since it was my first time abroad for such an extended period, the exchange program at FUB was indeed a life-changing experience. Though it was challenging to study in an environment considerably different from what we are used to at AUA, the skills, and knowledge our home university has instilled in us helped us overcome those challenges. Besides being academically rewarding, the Berlin experience also enriched me with a new outlook on life.”

Pleased with Nane Manukyan’s rewarding experience at the University of Iceland in 2021, PSIA sponsored a second student, Knarik Jalatyan, to spend a semester there. Jalatyan commented on her experience, “Other than the academic exposure, I had a transformative experience in Iceland. I enhanced my communication skills and made very good friends, which was the best reward of my semester abroad. I also had fabulous emotions watching the northern lights and exploring Icelandic waterfalls and other wonders of that amazing country. Excitement is one word that can be used to describe this journey that made even the coldest days in Iceland way more bearable.”

During their semester abroad, the students were impressed by the enchanting sightseeing, the hospitability of locals, and the rich culture of the host countries. They were able to engage with individuals from different backgrounds, gain insight into international relations in a broader context, and establish new connections. Overall, their Erasmus+ mobility experience exceeded their expectations, leaving them with cherished memories and invaluable personal growth.

The Political Science and International Affairs program of the American University of Armenia (AUA) equips students with advanced analytical reasoning, critical thinking, and communication skills through the study of political science and international affairs, emphasizing local and global perspectives and practical applications of theory. The program provides world-class teaching and research, producing graduates who can best contribute to the development of the nation.