KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

The Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) hosted the presentation of a collection of works under the title “Shifts and transformations of Armenians in the 20th Century and Early 21st Century”. The book contains materials of the two international and homonymous scientific conferences held jointly by the Armenian State Pedagogical University and Haigazian University in Beirut.

On this occasion, the delegation of Haigazian University in Beirut led by President, Dr. Paul Haidostian was on a visit to the University.

Rector Srbuhi Gevorgyan attached importance to the cooperation between the two educational institutions and the potential partnership in terms of science, research and methodologies related to the shifts and transformations of Armenians.

Professor Gevorgyan noted that great importance has been attached to these transformations and they have been problematic throughout the past 120 years in terms of the Armenian ethnos, Armenian national identity, history, cultural activities, linguistic changes and change of language, as well as biosocial transformations.

The book features the cornerstone events that took place in the 20th century and early 21st century, including deprivation of homeland and the Armenian Genocide, formation of the Armenian Diaspora, repatriation, divisions amongst Armenians, changes of generations, nation-building, transformation of the world order, etc.

Touching upon the international scientific conferences held at the Armenian State Pedagogical University and later at Haigazian University in Beirut, Srbuhi Gevorgyan attached importance to the fact that progressive representatives of the academic circle have academically reflected on the questions, new speech, approach and vision to which great importance has been attached and which, according to her, will serve as a basis for further developments of the Armenian nation, the interpretation of vitally important issues and the formulation of a strategy, adding that all this lied at the core of the scientific conference, with multi-layered questions that were posed.

As the only higher education institution among Armenian educational institutions in the Diaspora, Haigazian University in Beirut is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, and on this occasion, the ASPU Rector congratulated the University’s representatives and wished them more success and great achievements in education.

President of Haigazian University in Beirut, Dr. Paul Haidostian views the partnership with the Armenian State Pedagogical University as one of the most brilliant examples in his experience, adding that the two Universities have collaborated without hindrances and have been consistent with the joint developments since the very first day the cooperation was established.

Paul Haidostian considers the holding of one of the scientific conference in Lebanon as logical. According to him, when one talks about shifts, he should first be in that shift. Haidostian views the release of this book as a result of valuable efforts and close cooperation, adding that the editorial staff (Associate Professor Edgar Hovhannisyan, Professor Khachatur Stepanyan and Dr. Antranik Dakessian) played a major role in this.

“Talking about shifts and people’s identity, our two Universities attached importance to what we can transmit to the coming generations, what lessons we learned from the past, from our mistakes and the mistakes of others and how to get on track. We need to examine scientifically, always consider our affairs, infinitely devoted to the people and homeland, not a community that pushes forward our preconditions and taste. This devotion should illuminate the path of Armenians leading from the past to the future. We need to stay strong and, as institutions, seriously continue our work in science, without rebounding, getting weak, by learning from the past and looking at what kind of a future we should shape,” Paul Haidostian remarked.

On the occasion of the anniversary of his University, the President of Haigazian University in Beirut granted to ASPU Rector Srbuhi Gevorgyan a commemorative gift as a token of appreciation for jointly carrying out the major academic event.

The ASPU Faculty of History and Social Science played a major role in the cooperation between the Armenian State Pedagogical University and Haigazian University in Beirut. Dean Edgar Hovhannisyan considers the day remarkable. According to him, these meetings not only help present the academic outcome, but also help present a historic page in the relations between Armenia and the Diaspora.

Hovhannisyan admitted that when the cooperation was just beginning four years ago, they were thinking about what could be done to achieve the desired outcome and that the research aspect is added to the conventional directions in Armenian historiography. The historian notes that times are changing, life is being transformed and there is a need to take a look at famous events and historical facts with a new approach and a new methodology. “This book and the topics that it contains are not there to have the last word in this field, but it is very necessary to look at the well-known facts in light of the current transformations. In this sense, this volume has an important mission,” Edgar Hovhannisyan noted and attached importance to the scientific conferences from the perspective of bridging with the Armenia-Diaspora academic community.

Director of the Armenian Diaspora Research Center at Haigazian University Antranik Dakessian also views the book as valuable in terms of the unique content and new concept for approaching issues. According to him, it was necessary to view the thematic issues of the past 120 years and consider them in the new reality and from a new perspective — something that can help make a lot of things crystal clear.

“Each of us aspires to express ourselves in life; as intellectuals, it is necessary to full the obligations as humans, as a nation and as civilians, proceed with our calling, and this partnership provided this opportunity,” the speaker remarked.

Head of the Chair of World History and its Teaching Methods Khachatur Stepanyan, who is also one of the book’s editors, said the study on the shifts of the Armenian people and transformations starting from economy to demography are important also in terms of the current shifts, including the impact of global transformations, from the perspective of putting our country and our people on the contemporary and modern agenda.