DIALOGUE FOR EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC FUTURE

On 7-9 June 2024 Yerevan School of Political Studies in close cooperation with the Tbilisi School of Political Studies organized a conference under the “Dialogue for European Democratic Future” project in Dilijan, Armenia.

The conference gathered more than 70 participants and guest speakers - representatives of Yerevan and Tbilisi Schools of Political Studies, Ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions, Armenian, Georgian and international experts and guest speakers.

Key topics discussed included the importance of European perspective for the South Caucasus, recognition and resilience to disinformation and propaganda, geopolitics and its implications on the South Caucasus, European good governance practices, hybrid warfare, security environment and digital crisis management, the pivotal role of civil society in shaping a democratic future.

YSPS ALUMNI GATHERING

On 24-26 November 2023, YSPS alumni gathering was held in Tsaghkadzor. Issues of strategic content were included in the agenda, where six out of ten thematic discussions were delivered by YSPS alumni.

During the seminar President of the Republic Vahagn Khachaturyan delivered lecture on "Challenges of Armenia: Efficiency of Governance".

Ms. Riina Kaljurand, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Estonia in Georgia and in Armenia, Mr. Vassilis Maragos, Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia and Mr. Lukas Rosenkranz, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland in Armenia also delivered separate lectures which addressed the features of relations with Armenia and possibilities of cooperation.

YSPS would like to thank both the seminar guest speakers and lecturers as well as all the participants for the high-quality, healthy discussions and motivated participation.

PRACTICING DEMOCRATIC CITIZENSHIP: FIRST TIME VOTERS

ELECTION SIMULATIONS


In the framework of the EU funded “Elections4All-2021 - Domestic Observations and Citizens Empowerment by Civil Society” project Yerevan School of Political Studies organized Election Simulations in 50 schools of Armenia.

Series of events were conducted within the framework of “Practicing Democratic Citizenship: First Time Voters” awareness raising initiative aiming to inform young generation on electoral systems, the rights and obligations of voters, functions of state institutions, culture of debates, voting procedures. The project bridges the gap between theory and practice by giving high schools’ pupils an opportunity to experience the electoral process for the first time in their schools.

The Election Simulations were held from September till December 2021.

The project involved over 8500 high school pupils from all regions of the Republic of Armenia.

PRACTICING DEMOCRATIC CITIZENSHIP: FIRST TIME VOTERS - TRAINERS TRAINING

In the framework of the EU funded “Elections4All-2021 - Domestic Observations and Citizens Empowerment by Civil Society” project Yerevan School of Political Studies organizes trainings of educators as well as voting simulation games in 50 schools of Armenia.

The training of trainers took place on 17-18 September 2021 in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia.

The event was conducted within the framework of “Practicing Democratic Citizenship: First Time Voters” awareness raising initiative aiming to inform young generation on electoral systems, the rights and obligations of voters, functions of state institutions. The project bridges the gap between theory and practice by giving high schools’ pupils an opportunity to experience the electoral process for the first time in their schools.

During the two-day event 50 representatives from 50 different schools carried out discussions on participatory democracy, education, elections and voting procedures, issues of formulation of civic positions. The group of educators looked into the existing gaps and challenges, as well as underlined the importance of education and large public awareness raising activities in order to empower mature citizens to have direct participation in public life, to get a better understanding of democratic election procedures, their rights and obligations as voters and to promote their ability and readiness to discuss different problems, participate in decision-making, influence civic processes and be responsive.

THE EU FUNDED PROJECT “ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN PLATFORM FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT” PRESENTS ACHIEVEMENTS AND RESULTS

On 3 September 2020 the Yerevan School of Political Studies, jointly with the Tbilisi School of Political Studies held an online meeting to present Policy Recommendations setting forth a joint strategic vision of young leaders from Armenia and Georgia focusing mainly on tourism for economic growth, fight against corruption and discrimination. The Policy Recommendations have been elaborated within the framework of “Armenian-Georgian Platform for Policy Development” project funded by the European Union. The project contributed to the creation of a sustainable network of Armenian-Georgian young professionals, on one hand helping to strengthen the cross-border cooperation and on the other hand creating a platform for multifaceted policy dialogue between the two countries.  

Head of the European Union Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Director of the Yerevan School of Political Studies Mr. Armen Zakaryan and Representative of the Administration of the Tbilisi School of Political Studies Mrs. Nana Tsertsvadze welcomed the participants.

ԵՎՐՈՊԱԿԱՆ ՄԻՈՒԹՅԱՆ ԿՈՂՄԻՑ ՖԻՆԱՆՍԱՎՈՐՎՈՂ «ՔԱՂԱՔԱԿԱՆՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՄՇԱԿՄԱՆ ՀԱՅ-ՎՐԱՑԱԿԱՆ ՀԱՐԹԱԿ» ԾՐԱԳԻՐԸ ՆԵՐԿԱՅԱՑՆՈՒՄ Է ՁԵՌՔԲԵՐՈՒՄՆԵՐՆ ՈՒ ԱՐԴՅՈՒՆՔՆԵՐԸ

2020թ. սեպտեմբերի 3-ին Քաղաքական դասընթացների Երևանի դպրոցը Քաղաքական դասընթացների Թբիլիսիի դպրոցի հետ համատեղ անցկացրեց առցանց հանդիպում, որի ընթացքում ներկայացվեց Հայաստանի և Վրաստանի երիտասարդ առաջնորդների միացյալ ռազմավարական տեսլականը  զբոսաշրջության՝ որպես տնտեսական աճի գործոնի, ինչպես նաև խտրականության և կոռուպցիայի դեմ պայքարի խնդիրների վերաբերյալ: Առաջարկությունների փաթեթը մշակվել է Եվրոպական միության կողմից ֆինանսավորվող «Քաղաքականության մշակման հայ-վրացական հարթակ» ծրագրի շրջանակներում: Այն օգտակար էր հայ և վրացի երիտասարդ մասնագետների կայուն ցանցի ստեղծման առումով, մի կողմից նպաստելով միջսահմանային համագործակցության ամրապնդմանը, իսկ մյուս կողմից էլ` երկու երկրների միջև բազմակողմանի գործունեության վերաբերյալ երկխոսության հարթակի ստեղծմանը:

Մասնակիցներին ողջունեցին Հայաստանում Եվրոպական միության պատվիրակության ղեկավար, դեսպան Անդրեա Վիկտորինը, Քաղաքական դասընթացների երևանյան դպրոցի տնօրեն Արմեն Զաքարյանը և Քաղաքական դասընթացների Թբիլիսիի դպրոցի տնօրինության ներկայացուցիչ Նանա Ցերցվաձեն:

THE EU FUNDED PROJECT “ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN PLATFORM FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT” ORGANIZED DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN LEADERS AND EXPERTS

In the framework of the EU funded “Armenian-Georgian Platform for Policy Development” project the Yerevan and Tbilisi Schools of Political Studies organize a series of focus group meetings on fight against corruption, anti-discrimination and tourism for economic growth. The third meeting had to be organized in an online format conditioned by the pandemic situation. Armenian-Georgian focus group discussions on anti-corruption took place on 8-10 May 2020 via online platform.  

During the three-day online discussions 19 representatives from Yerevan and Tbilisi Schools of Political Studies carried out discussions on practical steps to prevent and fight corruption in Armenia and in Georgia. The group of young leaders looked into the existing gaps and challenges, as well as underlined the importance of education and raising awareness of the population in order to establish perception of justice and “zero tolerance” towards corruption culture in the societies. The participants attached the importance to the lessons learnt, exchange of good practices and finding new niches for mutual cooperation.

THE EU FUNDED PROJECT “ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN PLATFORM FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT” ORGANIZED ITS SECOND FOCUS GROUP MEETING OF ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN LEADERS AND EXPERTS

In the frameworks of the EU funded “Armenian-Georgian Platform for Policy Development” project the Yerevan and Tbilisi Schools of Political Studies organize a series of focus group meetings on fight against corruption, anti-discrimination and tourism for economic growth. The second Armenian-Georgian focus group meeting on Anti-discrimination took place on 8-9 February 2020 in Dilijan, Armenia.
 
During the two-day event 20 representatives from Yerevan and Tbilisi Schools of Political Studies carried out discussions on equality, human rights and non-discrimination issues in Armenia and in Georgia. The group of young leaders looked into the existing gaps and challenges, as well as underlined the importance of the education and large public awareness raising activities in order to establish culture of tolerance and diversity and to percept equality as a core element for human rights.

THE EU FUNDED PROJECT “ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN PLATFORM FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT” LAUNCHES FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS OF ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN LEADERS AND EXPERTS

In the frameworks of the EU funded “Armenian-Georgian Platform for Policy Development” project the Yerevan and Tbilisi Schools of Political Studies launch a series of meetings of focus groups on fight against corruption, anti-discrimination and tourism for economic growth. The first focus group meeting on “Tourism for Economic Growth” was held on 16-17 November 2019 in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia.
 
During the two-day event YSPS-TSPS participants carried out discussions on tourism development potential between Armenia and Georgia. The group of young leaders from the two neighbour countries looked into the existing gaps and challenges and exchanged of views on new perspectives ensuring sustainable development through tourism.

THE EU FUNDED PROJECT “ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN PLATFORM FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT” LAUNCHES IN BATUMI, GEORGIA

On 17-18 August 2019 the launch of the EU funded project “Armenian-Georgian Platform for Policy Development” was held in Batumi, Georgia. The joint seminar of the Yerevan and Tbilisi Schools of Political Studies addressed such topics like fight against corruption, tourism for economic growth and non-discrimination.

The participants were welcomed by H.E. Mr. Piotr Antoni Świtalski, Ambassador, Head of the European Union Delegation to Armenia, Mr. Armen Zakaryan, Founder and Director of the Yerevan School of Political Studies and Mr. Armaz Akhvlediani, Founder and Director of the Tbilisi School of Political Studies.