AUA, YSU Ijevan, ISRC, ArmSec Collaboration Efforts Create a Pillar for Ijevan Educational CyberHub Launch
2 min readIJEVAN, Armenia — On November 20, 2023, the founders of Ijevan Educational CyberHub (cybersecurity awareness, training, and response capacity hub) held the inaugural meeting to present the Hub’s pilot project. The meeting showcased the core ideas underpinning a successful cybersecurity model and laid the groundwork for extending this innovative approach to other regions of Armenia.
The collaborative efforts among Yerevan State University (YSU) Ijevan Branch, the American University of Armenia (AUA), Instigate Scientific Research Center (ISRC), and ArmSec Foundation led to the establishment of the Ijevan Educational CyberHub. Each collaborator played a crucial role in its establishment, from facilitating synergy between the private and educational/research sectors and addressing national and regional cybersecurity challenges of raising community awareness and knowledge through cybersecurity training, acceleration events, and various enabling projects.
With the growing importance of strengthening cybersecurity awareness and extending the capacity of cybersecurity activities on a professional scale throughout the Tavush region, the establishment of the Ijevan Educational CyberHub marks a critical step toward meeting the stated goals.
Recognizing the ever-growing threat of cyber warfare, the Educational Hub emerges as a pivotal player in bolstering Armenia’s resilience against digital threats. The model of this Educational Hub can serve as a cornerstone for the creation of a comprehensive cybersecurity system on a national scale with integrated action between governmental and social entities. The Hub’s research team includes students from YSU Ijevan Branch, AUA, ISRC, and Real School jointly working on research projects with their mentors and supervisors from universities and industry.
The Ijevan Educational CyberHub functions not only as a center for learning, but also as a catalyst for change. Its main purpose includes connecting local government, industry, and academic institutions around joint research initiatives by creating a model lab in partnership with the government and, subsequently, engaging in new research activities in the Hub.
By focusing on education, collaboration, and innovation, the Ijevan Educational CyberHub aims to not only address the immediate needs of the Tavush region, but also lay the foundation for a robust national decentralized cybersecurity framework.
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.
Founded in 1994, the Ijevan Branch of Yerevan State University is an educational and scientific-cultural institution whose main mission is to create, transfer, and spread knowledge within the framework of the State education development strategy.
Established in 2018, Instigate Scientific Research Center (ISRC) aims to create a structure that focuses on conducting research, sponsoring individual researchers, students, and their supervisors for ISRC-approved projects and establish a “Public-Private-Academy” partnership platform, where the state strategic problems are solved by the academy-industry tandem.
Established in 2016, ArmSec Foundation organizes IT, information, and cybersecurity-related development projects, such as courses, seminars, scientific conferences to strengthen the cybersecurity community in Armenia.
