Preserving Armenian identity: YSU students' internship abroad

13 students from the "Archaeology and Ethnography", "Armenian History" and "Caucasus Studies" bachelor's and master's educational programs at the YSU History Faculty participated in the internship held in Russia. They were accompanied by Associate Professor Eduard Zohrabyan, Head of the Chair of History of Neighboring Countries of Armenia, and Professor Edik Minasyan, Head of the Chair of Armenian History. 

As part of their educational internship, YSU students, organized into groups, delivered lectures at the Southern Federal University to students from the Institute of Sociology and Regional Studies. Additionally, they delivered lectures at Sunday schools in the Armenian settlements of Shakhty, Chaldr, Bolshiye Saly, Novocherkassk, and Bataysk in the Rostov region, engaging local students and parents.

Associate Professor Eduard Zohrabyan, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Head of the Chair of History of Neighboring Countries of Armenia at the YSU Faculty of History, noted that as part of a prearranged program with Southern Federal University, approximately 90 lectures covering different periods of Armenian history, as well as Armenian culture, art, and sports, were delivered.

"Through organizing internships for our students at the Southern Federal University, we attempt to share their knowledge with Armenian communities across the Rostov region. In terms of solving the problem of Armenian identity preservation, this can be considered not only a production internship, but also a "pilgrimage", as our students forge connections with local Armenian students. Following their internships, our students continue to contribute by teaching Armenian language and history remotely to students in those communities," Eduard Zohrabyan said. 

Speaking about the lectures, Nadya Torosyan, a second-year student from the "Caucasian Studies" master's educational program at the YSU History Faculty, mentioned that when presenting Armenian history to foreign students at the Southern Federal University, it turned out that some of them had not even heard of Armenia.

"The audience was interested in the history of Armenians, often drawing parallels with Russian history and raising various questions related to Armenian culture and the development of statehood," Nadya noted.

A group of YSU students also had access to the library at the Southern Federal University.

"There is an extensive collection of literature in that library. Our students had the chance to explore the list of literature and access all online books for free and without time limits through a QR code," noted Eduard Zohrabyan. He also mentioned that an agreement was reached with partners of the Rostov National Archive to receive necessary materials.

"Students studying the history of the peoples of the North Caucasus and Armenian communities will have access to the national archive there," he pointed out.

Eduard Zohrabyan noted that there is currently significant global interest in the history of the Caucasus, driven by the region's heightened attention in the context of the evolving global order.

"In this regard, the anthropological, archaeological, ethnographic, ethnic, religious, cultural, political issues of the Caucasus population are important and worth studying. And Caucasology encompasses all these facets, spanning from ancient times to the present day," emphasized Eduard Zohrabyan. 

It is important to note that the 14-day educational and production internship concluded with a certificate handover ceremony for the students.