Ambassador of Switzerland to Armenia Visits AUA

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YEREVAN, Armenia — On February 8, the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Swiss Confederation to the Republic of Armenia H.E. Lukas Rosenkranz. The Ambassador was welcomed by AUA Interim President Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian, Assistant to the AUA President on Academic Affairs Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan, and College of Business and Economics (CBE) Dean Dr. Vache Gabrielyan. 

Dr. Der Kiureghian gave a short briefing on AUA, noting its affiliation with the University of California and accreditation with the WASC Senior College and University Commission. He also described the University’s structure, management, and governance.

During the meeting, educational opportunities and areas of collaboration between AUA and Swiss universities were discussed. Dr. Gabrielyan introduced the Graduate Certificate in Hotel and Hospitality Management offered by CBE, as well as AUA Open Education (OE) tourism and hospitality management courses aimed at developing the sector in Armenian regions, noting that both the certificate program and OE would significantly profit from collaboration with specialized Swiss tourism management schools. In his turn, Dr. Ter-Matevosyan spoke about past joint projects with Swiss universities and scholars, highlighting that AUA is open for new collaborative arrangements.

The Ambassador expressed his willingness to expand existing collaborations and establish new ones between AUA and Swiss universities. He introduced the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, which awards postgraduate scholarships to foreign students and researchers, highlighting the wonderful opportunity it would create for AUA graduate students who wish to pursue further studies in Swiss universities. The group also discussed possible faculty and student exchange opportunities between Swiss universities and AUA.

The meeting was followed by a tour of the AUA campus, during which the President and the Ambassador stopped at the AGBU Papazian Library, the Agbabian Hall, the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center, the Student Union, the Akian Gallery, and the “ChangeMaker” wall, among other stops.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.