The YSU Faculty of Economics and Management, together with the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) and the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology (SCZHE) of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, has been implementing the "Ecosystem Services Assessment Through a Participatory Approach for Sustainable Water Resources Management in Armenia" project (EcoServ). This project is funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) through the Austrian Partnership Programme in Higher Education and Research for Development (APPEAR).
As part of the project, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management Karlen Khachatryan and Nonna Khachatryan, Associate Professor at the Chair of Management and Business, along with EcoServ project partners, organized and carried out various activities during June and July.
In order to develop the capacities of women and girls in the communities of the Hrazdan River Valley, business training was held for start-ups and operating businesses related to ecosystem services within the framework of the grant competition announced by EcoServ. About 25 participants developed business plans and submitted them to the evaluation of the grant competition committee, as a result of which 5 grant recipients will soon start their businesses with EcoServ grants.
Based on the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation, a two-day professional seminar was organized in Aghveran, which was aimed to promote the interaction between specialists in different fields for the sake of wider implementation of education in the field of ecosystem services and effective management of water resources. The seminar brought together teachers from leading RA universities and more than two dozen experienced educators from the most diverse settlements of the Hrazdan River Basin. In line with the project content, field research and a number of activities aimed at developing skills and abilities to implement projects were carried out.
A six-day summer school was held in Aghveran, attended by students, university teachers from various disciplines, and local residents. The goal was to evaluate the ecosystem services of the Hrazdan River Basin and promote effective water resources management. Citizen science, participatory, and interdisciplinary approaches are at the core of the EcoServ project. During the summer school, 20 students enhanced their knowledge and skills, were introduced to specific methods related to these approaches, and had the chance to apply them in practice through fieldwork in the Bjni and Arzakan communities.
The YSU Faculty of Economics and Management attaches importance to implementing interdisciplinary programs, enhancing international cooperation, and integrating research into teaching through real-life case studies. The faculty is committed to participating in various initiatives that enhance the provision of competitive professional educational services.
