Prime Minister’s Recent High Tech Excursions in California

To attend the annual Armenian technology congress (ArmTech) that this year took place in California, Prime Minister Mr. Tigran Sargsian and his delegation that included the Minister of Economy spent almost a week in the U.S.A., mainly in Northern California.

The PM had, in fact, a very busy program mainly focused on learning more about California’s ICT and high technology hub, including the Silicon Valley. Among his visits, the followings are worth being mentioned and recorded:

He met the V.P. of Intel Mr. John Davies in Santa Clara. Mr. Davies briefed Tigran Sargsian on his company’s four main development areas: Accessibility, development of communication facilities, education and training, and content of information services. During this meeting Mr. Sargsian said his government’s programs are in harmony with Intel’s visions and stressed the importance of joint educational endeavors on computer literacy and Internet accessibility.

He claimed that the ongoing projects in Armenia will ensure a breakthrough in Internet services. To provide for continuity in the implementation of educational programs and the agreements reached during the meeting, Armenian Economy Minister Mr. Nerses Yeritsian was told to continue negotiations with Intel on the matters discussed, the Armenian government press service said.

The Armenian delegation also had a meeting with Cisco CEO Mr. John Chambers. They discussed Internet accessibility, making Gyumri a technology city, and the development of Armenia’s postal system. The new areas of cooperation were said to allow new possibilities for effective interaction.

Mr. Sargsian also met with several other high ranking officials at Synopsys, Renesas Technology, Mentor Graphics, Sequoia Capitals, and others.

University Visits

Mr. Sargsian visited Stanford University, the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, which was related to his government’s accelerator project at Yerevan Institute of Physics.

The PM also attended the University of California at Berkeley, School of Information. Here he took part in a panel presentation and discussion entitled “Armenia’s competitiveness agenda: Partnering across networks.”

The panel featured some of the same speakers as the ArmTech Congress:
Mr. Sargsyan, Prime Minister
Mr. Pegor Papazian, Director of the National Competitiveness Foundation
Ms. AnnaLee Saxenian, Dean of the UC Berkeley School of Information
Ms. Jacqueline Karaaslanian, Director of the Luys Foundation
Mr. Andre Andonian, Partner and Director of McKinsey and Co, Munich Office

The speakers discussed Armenia’s recent initiatives and investment projects, and introduced and reviewed the work of the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia.

They presented and discussed various projects ranging from tourism product development and broadband infrastructure to nuclear medicine and the 'Yerevan Innovation Triangle'.

The absence of Armenia’s academic authorities such as Minister of Education and Science and President of the Academy of Sciences in the week-long visit to the U.S. innovation hub in California and particularly during PM’s visits to American universities and research centers was strange and surprising.

Conclusion: Armenia’s Place in the Future World Unknown

At the end of his visit, the PM took part in a gala evening to celebrate Craig Barrett, holder of a presidential award for significant global contribution to the development of information technologies.

Speaking at the gala, Mr. Sargsian said that during his stay in Silicon Valley it became clear to him that it was necessary to make changes in Armenian government’s projects in the area of internet technology.

“They grew outdated over the time we were trying to implement them,” he stated. “It turns out that we have to review and revise; an opportunity that ArmTech provides.

Secondly, during our meetings with a major company an idea was proposed that, firstly, made me astonished, that it’s not Armenia that must go to global companies, but rather, major companies must come to Armenia. The world is becoming very small, and global companies are competing there. There are no longer any places.”

Then the PM discussed his third conclusion: “The competition among the world’s global companies is not in finding a place in the present market, since there is no more unexplored space. Moreover, all the spaces in the future market are also occupied, which makes the Blue Ocean Strategy very timely, since all those territories where we try to position ourselves are occupied today and tomorrow. We are late: this means we must find our ocean, our space, where we will have our relative advantage.”

The prime minister considered the question “What is Armenia’s place in the future world?” to be pivotal. “No global company thinks [about this], other than us; they think about their own business. And ArmTech must provide assistance in finding the answer to the question.”

'The Armenian World'

In the context of the meetings and discussions held recently, Sargsian also referred to ‘the Armenian world’: “The Armenian world is a reality. The rapidly changing and diminishing world showed that. It is not the formation of the Armenian world that should interest us, since it already exists, but its future: What changes we must undergo, how we must change the Armenian world’s traditional structures, and our country.”

Artsakh State Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary

The Artsakh State University celebrated its 40th anniversary on 11 November 2009. The Public Radio of Armenia reports that on this occasion, the President of Artsakh (de facto independent republic of Nagorno Karabakh) Mr. Bako Sahakian, issued the following congratulatory address:

“The Alma Mater of Artsakh celebrates its 40th anniversary. It is a holiday for our entire nation and the whole republic because during all these years the University has been one of the most important centers of preserving national identity. It stood at the origins of the liberation struggle.

In 1992 the institution was granted the status of university. This was not only of scientific and educational, but also of political importance for our young independent republic.

Nowadays, Artsakh State University as one of the key educational institutions of our country continues to play a major role in the difficult process of educating the young generation, preparing the necessary cadres, as well as building the State.

In the current situation, the University faces new, different challenges that require persistent, purposeful and regular work on a daily basis. It is important to deepen and expand ties with universities in Armenia and other countries, and to use every single opportunity to secure continuous development and improvement.

Our goal is to have a modern and competitive educational center meeting international standards. The administration of the University with the support of the State should do everything possible to achieve it.”

Cooperation Plans

On 13 November 2009, Mr. Sahakian received a group of Armenian scholars who arrived in the capital city Stepanakert in the framework of Artsakh State University’s 40th anniversary celebrations.

Artsakh Minister of Science and Education Mr. Vladik Khachatrian, President of Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences Mr. Radik Martirosian, the Rector of Artsakh State University and those of a number of Armenian universities were present at the meeting.

Welcoming the guests, Mr. Sahakian noted that the goal of his invitation was to devise a cooperation program with the scientific and educational institutions of Armenia.

Within this cooperation and thanks to the involvement of Armenian scholars, it is expected that problems in key economic sectors of the Republic will be examined and solutions identified.

Turkey to Intensify Efforts to Attract International Students

Zaman Turkish daily claims that Turkey’s efforts to play a role in regional and global diplomacy may favor the country’s emergence as an international education center. Up to now, Turkey has failed to attract students from non-Turkic countries or regions.

The paper argues that Turkey has increased its prestige abroad by creating stronger and warmer ties with its neighbors and other world countries. The nation has made great progress in the political and economic lanes and is also taking important steps in education.

Stagnating Numbers Despite Increased Capacity

In a sign of the importance the current AK Party government assigns to higher education, 63 universities have been established in the last 7 years; 41 state and 22 private. Boosted by the new schools, a 23 percent increase in academic publishing has been realized.

Following a slew of diplomatic overtures that led to closer ties with other nations, Turkey should be able to expect a surge in foreign students. However, a number of roadblocks are preventing the international enrollment numbers from reaching the desired levels.

The situation is bad; the number of foreign students going to Turkey the last academic year was lower than the same figure 10 years ago. While in the 1998-99 school year 18,350 international students studied at Turkish universities, this figure was 18,158 in 2008-09.

At the beginning of the current academic year, 103,000 spots at state and private schools remained vacant.

Currently, most international students studying in Turkey come from the Turkish occupied Northern Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Turkmenistan, Iran and Mongolia.

International students usually enroll at Istanbul University, Ege University, Fatih University, Gazi University and Hacettepe University.

Branding Turkey Better

Zaman spoke with the rectors of 3 Turkish universities to discuss their recommendations with regards to increasing international enrollment at Turkish institutions.

Dr. Yunus Söylet, the Rector of Istanbul University, said Turkey in general and his university in particular entered the game late in terms of reaching out to international students.

“We have to market our brand better both at home and abroad. Bearing globalization in mind and the amazing developments in communication technologies, we have to use distance education and foreign-based campuses to reach out,” he said, adding that in addition to English-language education, which he calls the first and best method of teaching in the world, education in other languages should also be a priority, to reach out to those in Turkic, Balkan and Arab countries.

Tackling Bureaucratic Hurdles

Ankara University Rector Dr. Cemal Taluğ expanded on these concerns, saying: “With its culture and history, Turkey deserves to be one of the leading nations accepting foreign students. Our first problem is the lack of sufficient marketing, and the second is the lack of sufficient infrastructure to support international students at many universities.”

The other major problem, Taluğ said, was the bureaucratic difficulty in admitting and enrolling foreign students. “It must be made easier for international students to enter, and universities have to be able to operate more flexibly in this regard. We must attract many more students to master’s and doctoral programs, and we should even be admitting some with scholarships.”

Still, Turkey has the potential, and it’s not too late to capitalize upon it, he added. “I believe from the bottom of my heart that Turkey will become one of the global leaders in attracting international students. Culturally speaking, foreign students will be comfortable here; they’ll be greeted by hospitality in the streets,” Taluğ asserted.

Non-financial Intensions

Dr. Reşit Özkanca, the rector at the recently established Melikşah University, said that likewise, his institution believes that Turkey can become a leader in international higher education.

His university will apply to the Higher Education Board (YÖK) for permission to enroll international students next year, he added. “Next year we want to take in students from across Africa and Asia, from Pakistan, the Middle East and the Balkans. We want to achieve an international status for our university, and we’ll do so through cooperation with universities and schools abroad.”

He noted that their aim in attracting foreign students was not to make money but to increase brotherhood between Turkey and other nations. “Turkey is a great world nation,” he said. “As much as is in its power Melikşah University wants to contribute to this.”

Government Plans

Turkey’s Higher Education Board (YÖK) is aware of and working on the procedural problems stemming international enrollment at Turkish universities, YÖK head Dr. Yusuf Ziya Özcan told Zaman.

According to him, as part of a package of improvements the institution is working on, YÖK plans in the future to accept exams from different countries that are the native equivalent of the Student Selection Examination (ÖSS) instead of requiring that all incoming international students take the Foreign Student Examination (YÖS).

“We’ve been working on the YÖS problem for some time. Either we’re going to develop a new YÖS system that will eradicate these issues, or if there’s a better alternative we’ll get rid of it altogether,” he added.

In addition, YÖK intends to internationalize its student and faculty exchange program, Farabi. Beginning this school year, the new Farabi exchange program is similar to the European Union’s Erasmus program, which arranges the exchange of students among EU member and candidate countries. It provides incentives for professors and students from different parts of Turkey to spend a semester or two at an institution in another region.

“Internationalizing this program would work to market Turkey, to draw more students and to bring new perspectives to our own universities,” Özcan said.

Saakashvili’s Geometric Vision of Georgian Education

Another great speech by Mr. Saakashvili, President of Georgia, who claims is building a democratic system in Georgia and leading the nation towards European integration. The ‘cornerstones of modern Georgia’, according to Mr. Saakashvili, include military-patriotic education as well as “the integration” of national minorities.

On 6 November 2009, he had a televised meeting with a group of students from the Tbilisi-based Ilia Chavchavadze University. According to Civil, a Georgian online magazine, Mr. Saakashvili said that “military-patriotic education” is among the elements of those two “key triangles and cornerstones” based on which “modern Georgia” should be built.

Two Key "Triangles"

Mr. Saakashvili explained his vision, drawing on a board, and told the students: “We should understand what those two triangles are on which success is based in modern life.”

He listed “history of multiethnic Georgia”, as well as Georgian language and “military-patriotic education” as elements of the first triangle.

On military-patriotic education he said that Georgia planned to reestablish a school of cadets, where it will be able to launch military education starting from the age of 14.

“The second triangle, without which modern, competitive Georgian cannot exist – it is, of course, computer skills, Mathematics and knowledge of foreign languages,” Saakashvili said.

“These two triangles – computers, Mathematics, foreign languages and on the other hand, History, [Georgian] language and military-patriotic education with taking into account the necessity of integration of our national minorities - are those major cornerstones, those cornerstones on which modern Georgia stands and through which we will achieve success and defeat egoistic and particularistic mentality,” he said.

Education Insurance in Turkey

A new horizon for the region’s insurance industry has been opened: Education insurance. It has already been launched and has spread in Turkey. According to Hürriyet Turkish daily, it is surely not as widespread as health, life, retirement or natural disasters insurance, but education insurance is gaining acceptance. Some Turkish parents and grandparents insure their children’s and grandchildren’s education whereas some benevolent families buy education insurance for needy families.

Hürriyet reports that a typical education insurance policy in Turkey covers the life-long educational costs of a student in cases of death, permanent injury or terminal disease of parents. In cases where parents lose their jobs, 12-month insurance for school fees is also provided.

Children or youth up to age 18 are insurable. It is generally parents whose children attend private schools that insure their children’s education.

People between the ages of 18 and 60 can purchase the insurance, with no blood relationship necessary between the insurer and the insured: Any person can buy an educational insurance policy as a charity. Some families buy the insurance for the children of relatives as a gift.

Premiums can be paid in Turkish Liras or a foreign currency and can be made in monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual payments. The lowest monthly premium is 50 liras (34 USD), while the maximum depends on the insurer.

The overall rate is determined according to the annual educational costs of the student. For example, if a student’s annual tuition costs 5,000 liras, this figure is multiplied by eight for the elementary level insurance.

Educational insurance can be extended to cover private courses, tuition and international education costs. If more than one child is insured, companies may offer discounts or favorable payment schemes.

ArmTech Congress 09 Examines Critical High Tech Topics

ArmTech Congress 2009 was held in Silicon Valley, U.S.A., 5-8 November, and featured Armenian and U.S. leaders. The event was conceived under the theme of "learning from the past and inventing the future."

The annual event links Armenian professionals from around the world to focus on high technology and business development. It is attended by representatives from business, government and academia who want to share ideas about high technology and business development opportunities in Armenia.

ArmTech's goals include providing networking and community resources for Armenian high-tech professionals worldwide; showcasing the global contributions of Armenian professionals in high-tech and allied fields; attracting global participation by individuals and entities that can benefit from involvement with the Armenian high-tech community; promoting opportunities to do business, recruit and invest in Armenian high-tech; highlighting the rise of Armenia's strategic high-tech industry; and promoting international interactions and investments for further growth.

High-profile Line-up of Speakers

According to Reuters news agency, this year the event featured a keynote from Prime Minister Mr. Tigran Sargsian. Other presenters included:
Mr. Nerses Yeritsian; Armenia’s Minister of Economy
Mr. Vahram Nercissiantz, Chief Economic Advisor of the President of Armenia
Mr. Areg Galstian, Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Mr. Pegor Papazian, Director of National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia
Mr. Joe Simitian, California State Senator
Mr. Chi-Foon Chan, President and COO of Synopsys
Mr. Daniel M. Mahoney, President and CEO of Renesas Technology
Mr. Gregory K. Hinckley, President of Mentor Graphics
Ms. Lisa Kalustian, Chief Deputy Director, Office of Governor of California
Mr. Andre Andonian, Director at McKinsey & Company
Mr. Arpit Joshipura, VP at Ericsson Silicon Valley

As in the past, the Minister of Education and Science had unfortunately not been included in the Armenian delegation.

The 3-day program examined critical high-tech industry topics by featuring parallel track sessions in the following areas:
- Software Industry and Services
- Telecommunications and Internet
- Renewable and Green Energy
- Microelectronics Design and Test
- Investment Projects
- Higher Education and Research
- Digital Media
- Biotechnologies
- Engineering/Instrumentation Design
- Advanced Materials
- Professional Networking

ISRIA reports that in his speech the PM announced that: “High technologies continue to be an important part of economic competition. In our capacity of a leader in the field of information technologies, we wish to push ahead with the development of bio-technologies, fundamental research, nuclear physics, green energy and information services. Innovation, aspiration and active efforts are pre-requisites to success.”

Mr. Sargsian referred to last forum’s outcome, spoke about the efforts made so far to address the tasks set previously, touched upon his government’s anti-crisis action highlighting the infrastructure-focused projects, inclusive of the North-South transport corridor, the new nuclear power plant, the Internet and computer accessibility, pension reform and the activities of the National Competitiveness Council.

The head of government also spoke about the establishment of Luys Foundation and All-Armenian Bank: “The All-Armenian Bank has already been established in line with Armenia’s legislation. A specialized company has been invited to assist us with the design of a business plan.” To begin with, the Bank will act as an investment fund raising funds for national competitiveness-oriented projects: “Though we cherish a more ambitious vision, namely to make of it an institution serving pan-Armenian goals as the financial dimension of the Armenian world,” the Prime Minister noted.

Georgia’s Tricky Policy on Minority Higher Education

The Georgian authorities have finally reacted to various pressures exercised by European institutions, human rights NGOs, their own ethnic minorities, and their neighboring countries regarding the educational rights of their non-Georgian population. They, however, seem to favor the most limited and conservative measures and therefore do not seem to be willing to solve the problem.

We have discussed several times on this blog the discriminatory policies that the Georgian state exercises vis-à-vis its ethnic minorities, including the Armenians and the Azerbaijanis.

What these minorities have been requesting since Georgia regained independence are some fundamental cultural rights; the right to offer primary and secondary education in their mother tongues, the right to open up HEIs, the right to preserve and manage their cultural and religious sites, etc. To organize all these, they have also requested that the regions where they live earn administrative autonomy (on this one, Armenians have been much more vocal than the Azerbaijanis).

These rights are recognized by various European conventions and are respected by all multi-ethnic European states. However, Georgia, despite all its claims to democracy and its desire to integrate into the European Union, continues to disrespect these fundamental rights and this, in turn, antagonizes and radicalizes ethnic minorities. Even after their bitter experiences with Ossetians and Abkhazians, the Georgian state refuses to truly decentralize and democratize.

Amending the Law on Higher Education

According to Trend Azerbaijani news agency, “higher education will become more accessible for Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Georgia”. The Committee on Education, Science and Culture of the Georgian Parliament is set to approve certain amendments to the Law on Higher Education.

The bill that was initiated by the government aims to promote “integration of Georgian citizens of Armenian and Azerbaijani nationality in the Georgian society,” as they form the largest part of non-Georgian language population. Both Nika Gvaramia, Minister of Education and Science, and Maia Kopaleishvili, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, have actively participated in the Committee’s deliberations.

Under the amendments, Armenian and Azerbaijani applicants will be expected to pass the university entry examination in only one section - the general skills - in their native language.

Then they will enroll in a special 1-year program of Georgian language. If they succeed, they will be allowed to choose a specialty and continue their studies at a university in the Georgian language.

In other words, the government is proposing a general preparatory year for ethnic minorities. This is usually called the “zero year” in Armenia (and elsewhere), and different HEIs offer it to their foreign students who do not speak Russian or Armenian (depending on the HEI’s language of instruction).

Ridiculous Window Dressing

It seems that the Georgian authorities are trying to pretend that the new policy is a kind of affirmative action program in favor of the ethnic minority youth.

The main question, however, still remains unanswered; why Armenian and Azerbaijani students cannot have the choice to study in their mother tongues? Why is that in Belgium university students can study in French or in Dutch, in Switzerland they can study in German or in French but in super European multi-ethnic Georgia, everyone must study in Georgian?

According to the Messenger, a Georgian online newspaper, the government will be even sacrificing some financial resources. The 1-year training program “will be financed by the state; its essential condition being that the students collect 60 credits after a 1-year course and continue to study in Georgian.”

Evidently, the “60 credits” has been thrown into the picture to make the bill look European. It is, however, unacceptable to grant academic credit for pre-university level coursework, including language courses, and everyone with some knowledge of the Bologna Process knows it.

I hope the European institutions will criticize and challenge the new Georgian policy, and will stop the Georgian authorities from cheating their minority youth.