YEREVAN, Armenia — On December 18, the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted the Master of Science in Management Analytics (MSMA) capstone project presentations, highlighting student-led, data-driven research developed in collaboration with industry partners, public institutions, and innovative organizations across Armenia.
Faculty members emphasized that the capstone projects reflect the MSMA program’s strong focus on applied analytics and real-world relevance. “These projects clearly demonstrate how students transform data into strategic insights that can support both private sector growth and public policy development,” noted Dr. Sevag Agop, MSMA program chair, during the event.
Held at AUA, the event marked a significant academic milestone for MSMA students, who presented applied analytics projects addressing real-world challenges in technology, education, tourism, finance, and public administration. The capstone projects demonstrated how advanced analytical tools, data analysis, and strategic thinking can generate actionable insights and measurable impact.
One of the featured projects examined the position of Triosoft LLC in the Armenian point-of-sale (POS) software market, analyzing competitive dynamics, market structure, and customer needs. The study, supervised by AUA Associate Professor Dr. Agassy Manukian, provided strategic recommendations to support Triosoft’s growth and positioning within Armenia’s evolving digital payments ecosystem.
Another capstone, conducted in collaboration with the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, explored how data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance student chat experiences. By leveraging user interaction data, the project illustrated how AI-powered solutions can improve engagement, personalization, and responsiveness in educational environments. The project was supervised by AUA adjunct lecturer Ani Baghdasaryan.
A tourism-focused project analyzed visitor behavior, motivations, and satisfaction in the Tavush region, based on a comprehensive 2023 survey of visitors. The findings offered data-backed insights to support destination marketing, service improvement, and sustainable tourism development in the region. The project supervisors were Dr. Vache Gabrielyan, dean of the AUA Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics and Zarmine Zeitountsian, program director of the AUA Graduate Certificate in Hotel and Hospitality Management program.
In the public sector domain, MSMA students developed and tested a creditworthiness assessment framework for non-financial firms, designed for potential use by the State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Armenia. The framework, supervised by Dr. Agop, aims to strengthen data-informed decision-making and risk assessment practices within public administration.
Additionally, students presented a go-to-market strategy for Daniam, outlining customer segmentation, market entry options, and growth pathways supported by analytical research. This project was supervised by AUA adjunct lecturer Arsine Sarikyan.
Alongside the team-based capstone projects, individual theses addressed advanced analytical and policy-relevant topics. Thesis 1, supervised by Sarikyan, explored advanced machine learning techniques for tax fraud detection, including Isolation Forest and K-means clustering. Thesis 2, supervised by AUA adjunct lecturer Ruben Osipyan, examined key barriers affecting Armenian startups’ access to external finance.
The presentations concluded with an open academic discussion, during which attendees engaged with students on methodology, findings, and practical implications of their research.
Through close collaboration with industry partners and public institutions, the MSMA capstone projects reaffirm AUA’s commitment to advancing evidence-based decision-making, innovation, and analytical excellence in Armenia.
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.
