This summer AUA hosted a group of students from Northeastern University in Boston for their study abroad program. The students were taught two courses about human rights and current political, economic, and public health issues in Armenia. The classes were held at the newly built state-of-the-art Paramaz Avedisian Building, located at AUA’s Yerevan campus. This is the 3rd year AUA is hosting students from the Northeastern University in Boston. The program is led by one of the AUA’s own graduates, Dr. Lusine Poghosyan, who is currently an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Columbia University. Mr. Gregory Aftandilian, an independent consultant, writer, and lecturer, was the Northeastern University faculty co-leader this year.  Each year, 10 to 14 students have the opportunity to spend 4-5 weeks in Armenia.

In addition to their academic work, the students had the opportunity to visit many historic landmarks and beautiful natural sites during their stay in Armenia, which made their study abroad experience all the more memorable. “The American University of Armenia provides endless learning opportunities,” said Victoria Hines, one of the visiting students. “The academic quality of the program was outstanding. The students and faculty were very welcoming, and did everything to ensure we got the most out of our study abroad experience in Armenia.”

Since its inception, AUA has embraced many challenges and responsibilities, among them the need to serve as a bridge between Armenia and its Diaspora throughout the world.  The Study Abroad Program represents one strategy by which that obligation has been realized.  AUA also believes that diversity is an important principle of college life. The variety of student cultures on campus provides a richness of contrasts and contexts for the intellectual growth of all students, which is very valuable. It is these differences that provide a realistic view of the world, and AUA is committed to fostering such diversity in its academic environment.

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Northeastern University students doing study abroad at AUA

In addition to its short-term summer abroad programs, AUA also offers opportunities for students from outside of Armenia to pursue masters degree studies in the fields of Business and Management, Industrial Engineering and Systems Management, Political Science and International Affairs, Health Sciences, Computer and Information Sciences, Law, and Advanced English Studies.  AUA is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), one of six regional accreditation agencies recognized by the US Department of Education.  Consequently, AUA’s credits can be transferred to US institutions of higher education, and its degrees are recognized in the US. In addition to its primary mission of training students from Armenia, AUA therefore offers students from the Diaspora an opportunity to earn an American-accredited masters degree at a small fraction of American tuition prices, while living and studying in the Armenian homeland.  AUA is committed to increasing its visibility and popularity among students of the Armenian Diaspora in the coming years.