YEREVAN, Armenia — On March 2-6, Narek Ghazaryan, chief communications officer at the American University of Armenia (AUA), visited AAB College in Pristina, Kosovo, to participate in International Staff Week. The event served as an important platform for strengthening international cooperation, exchanging experiences and best practices, and fostering professional development through workshops, discussions, and networking activities.
International Staff Week opened with an official ceremony moderated by AAB College Vice Rector Venera Llunji, followed by welcoming remarks from Rector Blerim Olluri.
Following the opening session, representatives from participating universities presented their institutions, academic programs, and opportunities for collaboration, exploring possibilities for academic mobility and joint projects within the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme.
Throughout the week, the program combined academic sessions with interactive workshops, institutional meetings, and cultural activities designed to promote intercultural understanding and partnership-building. By bringing together professionals from different disciplines and institutional backgrounds, the International Staff Week aimed to create a dynamic environment for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration while also introducing participants to the culture and natural landscapes of Kosovo. They also had the opportunity to tour AAB College’s facilities and infrastructure, gaining firsthand insight into the modern resources that support teaching and research.
As part of the visit, Ghazaryan served as a guest speaker in the Digital Projects Design class within the College’s Economics program. During the session, he shared insights from his professional experience in communications, offering an international perspective on current challenges and developments in the field. Students actively engaged in the discussion, asking questions and sharing their perspectives on digital communication strategies and project development.
Reflecting on the experience, Ghazaryan remarked: “It was a pleasure to visit AAB College and Kosovo. The experience was extremely rewarding, particularly the opportunity to meet colleagues from different universities and engage in meaningful discussions on strengthening international collaboration in higher education. As part of my visit, I toured AAB College’s ATV, its dedicated television network and media platform, and met with the department leadership to explore opportunities to further strengthen collaboration between AUA’s Media Lab and ATV. I am very grateful to the team at AAB College for their warm hospitality and for organizing such a productive and engaging week.”
The visit opened opportunities to explore potential collaborations between AUA, AAB College, and other participating universities and colleges, fostering dialogue that could lead to future joint initiatives in academics, research, and digital projects.
Participating institutions included Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland; NEWTON University, Czech Republic; SMK University of Applied Sciences and Šiaulių Valstybinė Kolegija, Lithuania; University of Debrecen, Hungary; Algebra Bernays University, Croatia; Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences, Germany; University of Lille, France; the American University of Armenia; Varna Free University, Bulgaria; İzmir Katip Çelebi University, İnönü University, and Koç University, Turkey; Universiteti Mesdhetar i Shqipërisë, University of New York Tirana, Canadian Institute of Technology, and Aldent University, Albania.
Ghazaryan’s visit was partially funded by the AUA Professional Development Grant designed to provide individual faculty and staff members with funding to carry out projects in the categories of instructional or professional development.
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.
