Data Analytics and Decision Support
Aghveran, Armenia, 1-5 June, 2015
Destination > NATO ARW
Armenia
Armenia has millennia-old history of education and culture. In 301, Christianity was declared the state religion and in the beginning of the Fifth Century in 405-406 AD, Mesrop Mashtots created the Armenian alphabet. From the Sixth to the Fourteenth Centuries there was tremendous scholarly activity at numerous centres of higher education. Among the medieval Armenian centers of learning, especially noteworthy were the Universities of Gladzor and Tatev (13th, 14th Centuries). Contemporary thinkers referred to them as the "Second Athens" and the "Capital of Wisdom." The State University of Armenia (subsequently renamed Yerevan State University) was founded in 1919. Wikipedia lists 16 public and over 20 private, 6 inter-governmental and 5 international private universities in Yerevan. The artner country Co-director of this ARW is Dr. Gevorg Margarov, who is the head of Information Security & Software Development Department at the State Engineering University of Armenia, which was established in 1933 as the Yerevan Polytechnic Institute. Also on 25 November 1943 the Armenian Academy of Sciences was founded on the basis of the USSR Academy of Sciences' Armenian Branch, organized in 1935 that includes numerous institutes. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the large number of existing and newly graduated specialists in Armenia as well as in most former Soviet republics have gained freedom and successfully have collaborated and partnered internationally in various advanced science and technology centres, however they also have had fewer resources enabling them to actually contact such centres and offer their expertise for partnerships.
Yerevan
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Yerevan is situated in the Ararat valley
by the river Hrazdan. It lies about 1.500 metres above sea level. King Argishti
I founded it in 782 BC when he built the fortress of Erebuni at the site,
the remains of which can still be seen in the southeastern part of the city.
Yerevan later became strategically important as a commercial centre for trade
caravans going between Europe and Asia. It is first mentioned as the capital
of East Armenia in chronicles from the 14th century.
Weather
Additional Information
Armenian cooking is based on lamb, either grilled and served as shashlik with flat bread, or
prepared as soup (bozbash) or stew. Armenian brandies are excellent. Restaurants and nightclubs
are increasing in number, especially in Yerevan. Opera, theatre and ballet performances are
cheap and of a high standard.