KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

A group of students from Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) recently visited Lithuania within the framework of the International Summer School 2017. During the ten days spent in the country, the future teachers got acquainted with the educational system and culture of Lithuania.

Lecturers of Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences introduced the visiting guests to the history, culture and language of the Baltic state. From the very first day, the visit was accompanied by walking and sightseeing tours.

The programme participants heard a lecture about Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, visited the Old Town of Vilnius, Kernavė and Trakai (the latter was the country’s capital in the 13th century). At the Trakai Castle Museum, the Armenians students were introduced to different items and objects representing different stages of the country’s history, paintings and manuscripts.

The next stop was Kaunas, the second-largest city in Lithuania, which impressed the Armenian guests with its bookstores, cafés and unique atmosphere.

“It would have been inexcusable for us not to visit Užupis, a neighborhood in Vilnius which was home to artists and differs from other districts with its unique atmosphere, abundance of indoor and outdoor exhibitions,” Astghik Kirakosyan, a student of ASPU, said to old.aspu.am. She also shared with us her experience and impressions about Vilnius University and St. Vartan church, the only Armenian church in Lithuania.

During the 10-day stay, the programme participants also visited numerous museums, ancient buildings, temples and castles where they felt the breath of medieval culture in each and every corner.

Speaking about the International Summer School 2017, the ASPU students stressed that one of the most important goals of the programme was reached – friendly and intercultural ties were established between students from different countries. “Participation in the programme was of special significance. Getting acquainted with representatives of different nations and their culture, we once again re-evaluated our culture,” they said.