YSU and United Nations Population Fund sign memorandum of understanding

With the signing of this memorandum, both parties aim to exert all possible efforts to establish long-term cooperation and partnership in advancing the agenda for sustainable development, particularly in the fields of demographic resilience, youth empowerment, gender issues, data management, research, and the promotion of corporate social responsibility.

The cooperation will focus on strengthening academic and institutional capacities in areas such as demographic resilience, capacity development, data management, and population forecasting. It will also involve integrating UNFPA’s knowledge and expertise, developing new courses, and enhancing existing programs. Additionally, online courses will be organized as part of YSU educational programs and continuous professional development initiatives for civil servants.

Within the framework of their collaborative activities, the parties will develop and implement initiatives and events to promote the exchange of knowledge. These will include seminars, workshops, and conferences delving into demographic resilience, the results of conducted research, and international best practices in policy-making.

YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan emphasized that a significant step is being taken today towards the implementation of new projects in the fields of education and scientific research.

"As you know, we have established the Center for Demographic Studies, where we plan to carry out in-depth, comprehensive, and multifaceted work. Our main partners will be the UNFPA, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia, thus transforming this initiative into a tripartite collaboration. With this, we are laying the cornerstone of a process that will undoubtedly bear fruit in the future," said the rector.

Speaking about the significance of the memorandum, Lusine Sargsyan, Head of the UNFPA Armenia Office, remarked, "It is a great joy and responsibility to sign a memorandum with YSU, as we are beginning a new cooperation with immense potential. This is crucial both for us, to support the implementation of our programs, and for the state, to bring its initiatives to life and improve people's lives. We believe we can be of help by offering what can enhance that potential."

According to Lusine Sargsyan, the cooperation is expected to help improve public services, as the majority of experts in this field are graduates of YSU.

This cooperation will open up opportunities for students and researchers to exchange knowledge, while also fostering and strengthening connections in areas of mutual interest.