On September 2, the Russian-Armenian University celebrated the Day of Knowledge and the start of the new academic year.

 

Rector of the Russian-Armenian University, Doctor of Economics of the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation Professor Edward Sandoyan congratulated students and lecturers on the holiday.

 

"Dear students, I congratulate the start of the academic year. Today, both the format and the content of everything are changing in your life: from today on you will already be independent, because university studies are fundamentally different from school education. Here you will not be taught, but you will study yourself, and we will help you gain knowledge, acquire skills.

 

RAU is famous for its leadership in many areas of science and education for many years; about 5,000 people study at our university: these are students, schoolchildren, and postgraduates. Today we have more than 13,000 graduates. Our students study according to the state educational standards of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia.

 

You will study together, at one university! Today we represent the best scientists and lecturers of the country. Our educational process is enriched by the presence and participation of the best and leading scientists - these are lecturers of the best universities of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia. We employ the strongest practitioners, leaders in various areas of activity, business sectors. All this will give you the opportunity to feel like a professional already during the learning process. We have been ranking first in international ratings for many years; our university has the highest reputation, but our strongest asset is our students!" the rector said, congratulating the students.

 

At the ceremony on the occasion of the Day of Knowledge, students and lecturers were also congratulated by the representative of the Russian Embassy in Armenia Denis Nazarov a head of the Russian House in Armenia (Rossotrudnichestvo) Vadim Fefilov. They wished the students to study well and acquire new skills and knowledge, no matter what path they choose. Vadim Fefilov also spoke about the opportunity of obtaining free education in Russia.

 

According to the well-established tradition, students of the Usmunk school of RAU also spoke to the audience. After the ceremony, the first-year students were invited to the House of Culture of the Russian-Armenian University, where RAU Rector Edward Sandoyan delivered parting words.

 

He noted that for the second year in a row, RAU has had an unprecedentedly large reception. The rector recalled that the university began operating in 1997: then there were about 60 students, and today there are already about 5,000 young people.

 

"We are proud that the reputation of our university is so strong that we are forced, unfortunately, not to admit everyone who wants to. Many tried very hard, but did not pass our examination standards. Therefore, we congratulate the winners: today you are already students, and this in itself is a great achievement."

 

The RAU Rector emphasised that throughout the entire period of the university's functioning and development, the direct and significant support of the founders of the university, the governments of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia, has been constant.

 

"Today I thank our founders, representatives of the Russian Embassy, the Russian House in Armenia, all our friends, people who care about the fate of our university. In just a few days, a historic signing of the intergovernmental agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation on the functioning and development of the Russian-Armenian University will take place. The most recent such agreement was signed in 2003 as amendments and additions to the main agreement signed in 1997. This will be a major event in the life of our university, because it emphasises the importance and significance of the existence of the university itself, because we have absorbed and implemented in the educational process and in scientific activities all the best there here is in the educational standards and research environment of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia. It is important to note that over the years we have managed to attract the best specialists from all the leading universities of Armenia, but at the same time, today the backbone of our teaching staff is already our graduates. RAU graduates are the best brand, and you should know that, as a student and especially a graduate of the university, you become providers, if you like, agents of influence, a component of the entire complex called the Russian-Armenian University. And the stronger and better the university itself is, the better and more effective you will be in the labour market and in life in general. That is why we place great emphasis on the success of our graduates. Today, I will not even list them: there are many in all areas of public administration, business, politics, in international organisations, banking, financial systems, etc.

We are proud of this, this is our main product, the main outcome of our activities," assured Edward Sandoyan.

 

He also emphasised that RAU has an active student life, many interesting events and activities.

 

 

Translated by Mari Stepanyan,    
I year Master’s Student in Translation & Interpretation, RAU