A letter to the editor of Azg daily by one of its readers Mr. Aram Hakopian poses an interesting question concerning the newly established Luyce Fund.
As previously indicated on this blog, the Luyce (or Louys or Luys) Fund is set to provide financial aid to university students, both Armenian citizens and diaspora Armenians, who wish to study abroad at “highly rated” institutions. The beneficiaries have no obligation to return to Armenia upon completion of their studies but if they do, the Fund guarantees a job and subsidizes part of the salary.
The Luyce Fund was created last month by precipitation. No public debate preceded its establishment. The initiative was not discussed either at the National Assembly or in the media. And this in spite of continuous claims of transparency in government operations by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian.
Excerpts from Aram Hakopian’s letter:
I read the interview with Dr. Ishkhanian [a member of the National Academy of Sciences who proposed the creation of the Fund] and got very excited ... The reason this interview interested me so much is that I am somebody who has already received education from a respected foreign educational institution. The difference is that in my case there was nobody back then to help me with paying for my tuition, so I had to find a part-time job at the university to pay for my education and other expenses. But that's not important. What's important is that there are many Armenians like me that left Armenia to get a better education, and we never came back to Armenia after we graduated … I decided to stay here in the United States because of the fear of not finding a job in Armenia. Yes, I received a good education here from a good university (I have PhD in Nuclear Engineering), and … I got a good-paying job. But … I have never stopped thinking about returning home. And I don't expect to be paid even half of what I am paid here.
… when I read the interview with Dr. Ishkhanian about this new program … I immediately asked myself: How about those who have already received that education, and moreover, have a working experience abroad? Don't get me wrong, please, I think this program is one of the best things that has happened to Armenia in its recent history, it will give a wonderful opportunity to many smart young Armenians to get a good education and come back home to contribute to building a better society … But I never heard any Armenian official trying to "encourage me" to come back home. So I am asking “Why not me?” And saying “me” I, of course, don't mean just me, I mean all those young Armenian professionals who got a better education abroad, have a good job, but like me, are dreaming of returning home … we love our country, and we miss it so much. And we are just waiting, day after day, week after week...
Why not he or she?
Aram Hakopian’s question is a simple one but does not have a simple answer. If the Luyce Fund, “one of the best things that has happened to Armenia in its recent history” (?!), intends to build capacity in the county by transferring knowledge from abroad, then why does it only finance the education of some bright students abroad? Why not help those who already have such knowledge to relocate to Armenia?
Isn’t this a less costly option? The Fund will have to spend only on their relocation expenses and subsidize their salaries.
Isn’t this a better option? As in Aram’s case, this group has professional experience in addition to foreign education.
Isn’t this a less risky option? These people are willing to repatriate right now! They are “just waiting, day after day, week after week, …” whereas those who will go abroad now have no obligation to return and therefore may never return.
Isn’t this a fairer option? Aram and people like Aram have received no moral or financial support from Armenia for their studies. Isn’t it morally justified to recognize their commitment to the country and help them return?
According to Aram’s letter, he is/was an Armenian citizen; he emigrated from Armenia to the States 7-8 years ago. But just like the scope of operations of Luyce includes diaspora Armenians, we can expect that a certain Armenian-American Mark or a French-Armenian Jacques ask someday exactly the same simple question as Aram; “why not me?”
We can broaden the scope even further; why not consider non-Armenians? Again, if the purpose behind the Luyce Fund is capacity building, why not seek foreign talent? Isn’t this what almost every other country is doing in today’s globalized world? Even in Armenia, if the football federation and football teams can hire foreign coaches and players, why cannot Armenian public universities, hospitals, banks and IT companies do the same?
Someday the same question will also be raised by a local university graduate who cannot get a job because it has been reserved for a foreign school graduate, or may object to salary subsidies that foreign graduates are entitled to.
Beyond the question of individual stories and destinies, the “why not me?” raises the issue of how the Luyce Fund fits into Armenia’s overall human development strategy and its vision for education (if they exist at all).
As previously indicated on this blog, the Luyce (or Louys or Luys) Fund is set to provide financial aid to university students, both Armenian citizens and diaspora Armenians, who wish to study abroad at “highly rated” institutions. The beneficiaries have no obligation to return to Armenia upon completion of their studies but if they do, the Fund guarantees a job and subsidizes part of the salary.
The Luyce Fund was created last month by precipitation. No public debate preceded its establishment. The initiative was not discussed either at the National Assembly or in the media. And this in spite of continuous claims of transparency in government operations by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian.
Excerpts from Aram Hakopian’s letter:
I read the interview with Dr. Ishkhanian [a member of the National Academy of Sciences who proposed the creation of the Fund] and got very excited ... The reason this interview interested me so much is that I am somebody who has already received education from a respected foreign educational institution. The difference is that in my case there was nobody back then to help me with paying for my tuition, so I had to find a part-time job at the university to pay for my education and other expenses. But that's not important. What's important is that there are many Armenians like me that left Armenia to get a better education, and we never came back to Armenia after we graduated … I decided to stay here in the United States because of the fear of not finding a job in Armenia. Yes, I received a good education here from a good university (I have PhD in Nuclear Engineering), and … I got a good-paying job. But … I have never stopped thinking about returning home. And I don't expect to be paid even half of what I am paid here.
… when I read the interview with Dr. Ishkhanian about this new program … I immediately asked myself: How about those who have already received that education, and moreover, have a working experience abroad? Don't get me wrong, please, I think this program is one of the best things that has happened to Armenia in its recent history, it will give a wonderful opportunity to many smart young Armenians to get a good education and come back home to contribute to building a better society … But I never heard any Armenian official trying to "encourage me" to come back home. So I am asking “Why not me?” And saying “me” I, of course, don't mean just me, I mean all those young Armenian professionals who got a better education abroad, have a good job, but like me, are dreaming of returning home … we love our country, and we miss it so much. And we are just waiting, day after day, week after week...
Why not he or she?
Aram Hakopian’s question is a simple one but does not have a simple answer. If the Luyce Fund, “one of the best things that has happened to Armenia in its recent history” (?!), intends to build capacity in the county by transferring knowledge from abroad, then why does it only finance the education of some bright students abroad? Why not help those who already have such knowledge to relocate to Armenia?
Isn’t this a less costly option? The Fund will have to spend only on their relocation expenses and subsidize their salaries.
Isn’t this a better option? As in Aram’s case, this group has professional experience in addition to foreign education.
Isn’t this a less risky option? These people are willing to repatriate right now! They are “just waiting, day after day, week after week, …” whereas those who will go abroad now have no obligation to return and therefore may never return.
Isn’t this a fairer option? Aram and people like Aram have received no moral or financial support from Armenia for their studies. Isn’t it morally justified to recognize their commitment to the country and help them return?
According to Aram’s letter, he is/was an Armenian citizen; he emigrated from Armenia to the States 7-8 years ago. But just like the scope of operations of Luyce includes diaspora Armenians, we can expect that a certain Armenian-American Mark or a French-Armenian Jacques ask someday exactly the same simple question as Aram; “why not me?”
We can broaden the scope even further; why not consider non-Armenians? Again, if the purpose behind the Luyce Fund is capacity building, why not seek foreign talent? Isn’t this what almost every other country is doing in today’s globalized world? Even in Armenia, if the football federation and football teams can hire foreign coaches and players, why cannot Armenian public universities, hospitals, banks and IT companies do the same?
Someday the same question will also be raised by a local university graduate who cannot get a job because it has been reserved for a foreign school graduate, or may object to salary subsidies that foreign graduates are entitled to.
Beyond the question of individual stories and destinies, the “why not me?” raises the issue of how the Luyce Fund fits into Armenia’s overall human development strategy and its vision for education (if they exist at all).
I am not opposed to helping students who prefer to do their studies abroad and am not trying to play devil’s advocate either. However, I don’t see why the Luyce Fund has become such a priority for the government and do not understand how it complements the other components of what should normally be a coherent and sound educational policy.
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