AUA Students Visit CRRC-Armenia
2 min readYEREVAN, Armenia — On December 2, students enrolled in the Statistics for Humanities and Social Sciences course at the American University of Armenia (AUA) took a study tour of the Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC). The immediate goal of the visit was to establish a direct link between the students and Armenia’s social science research community to enhance the students’ understanding of actual research processes of the Center.
“This is not the first time we are organizing such a visit for the students enrolled in this course,” explains AUA College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) Adjunct Lecturer Dr. Tatevik Movsisyan, “Two mutual visits were organized a year ago with CRRC research managers. We found this to be an effective method for directly engaging the students with this important research institution, which is not only a valuable source of data, but also a key source of relevant expertise.”
This particular course in statistics is designed for students in the social sciences and humanities, aiming to develop their skills from data collection to analysis, interpretation, and presentation, as well as their ability to identify and critique the misuse of statistics as intelligent consumers of information. Specifically when it comes to social science and public policy research in Armenia and the South Caucasus region, CRRC has accumulated a rich experience to complement classroom learning.
A commitment to ethical research and professional integrity is another topic of mutual interest. “We remain honest, transparent, and committed to doing what’s best for our donors, clients, stakeholders, and CRRC-Armenia,” asserted Lilit Yezekyan, research director at CRRC-Armenia, “We maintain high ethical standards and have no tolerance for political and hidden agendas and manipulation of data. We believe building trust builds a stronger organizational environment and research community.”
Following the visit, students were eager to share their reflections on this unique opportunity:
- “CRRC showed us the real behind-the-scenes process of a research project, portraying what it entails and how it operates. The staff were highly professional and warmly welcomed us in the nicest possible way.” Kyourk Arslanian (BAPG ’26)
- “The visit to the CRRC research center was an interesting experience that demonstrated a well-balanced combination of intellect and creativity. The friendly researchers’ work was precise and important, demonstrating the center’s dedication to advancing research in a welcoming and cooperative setting.” Suzan Sabonjian (BAPG ’26)
Dr. Movsisyan noted that the visit to CRRC-Armenia may also create potential professional opportunities for students with a demonstrated interest in the field. “Ultimately, what the students learn in class has to connect with the outside world,” she said, “A simple visit like this may serve a number of purposes: it demonstrates how their learning can be functional; introduces the students to a potential venue of collaboration for future research; and provides a personal connection to facilitate future interaction with relevant institutions for professional development. That is to say, if the student has developed interest in the field, here is one future possibility he or she may imagine and pursue.”
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
featured photo: CRRC Research Director Lilit Yezekyan and Deputy Research Director Hayk Smbatyan, who presented the CRRC research process to AUA students and answered their questions.
