President meets with representatives of Luys Community in Dilijan

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan paid a working visit to the Tavush Marz. The visit started in Dilijan where Armenia’s president had a meeting with representatives of the 200-member Luys Community at the Central Bank Education and Research Center in Dilijan. The representatives included board members, scholars, alumni, new students and participants of the Global Teaching Lab.

Prior to it, at the foyer of the center, the teams participating in the Luys Develop Armenia Together Program presented to the president the projects implemented in their communities. The teams have tried to use the knowledge received at leading higher educational institutions of the world, their experience and contacts to make Armenia a more prosperous country.

Following the brief description of sub-projects implemented in five communities and the summing up of intermediary results by Armenian pupils in International Science Olympiads, the Luys alumni, who live and work in Armenia, presented their works, the foundation’s special working groups their works done in the areas of education, architecture, entrepreneurship and data science and the winners of the Start Armenia Entrepreneurship Fund Competition their projects. Armenia’s president handed over diplomas and decorations to the winners of the Start Armenia competition.

According to tradition, RA President Serzh Sargsyan, Co-Founder of the Luys Foundation, handed over Luys scholarship certificates to the new students. 53 new students have won the 2015-2016 scholarships and 54 students continue their education by the help of the Luys Foundation.

Serzh Sargsyan congratulated the students and wished them further success in their education and in realization of future objectives. Indeed, every year I look forward to this meeting. First of all, I would like to congratulate this year’s beneficiaries of the Luys Foundation; all those who have entered the world’s leading universities and have already got support from the Luys Foundation. I think that in our time, there is no need to talk about the importance of education, especially with you. But as the president of the Republic of Armenia, I would like to assure all of you that your Motherland and your state are always ready to stand beside you, as you embark on the path of improving your professional skills and your knowledge. All countries need smart people and competitive specialists, not to talk about our country. Hence, I repeat once again that we will spare no effort to help you utilize your full potential. Today the world is changing rapidly, and in this rapidly developing world every next generation needs to receive better education than its predecessor; it needs to be smarter, better informed and make right decisions. In this respect, I am glad that Armenia is bringing up a good generation, the very generation coming after you, which simply made me happy during the last week. Probably, you know, if not, then be aware that three International Science Olympiads took place last week – in physics, mathematics and biology – where out of 15 Armenian participants 14 won medals,” said President Serzh Sargsyan, comparing those results with the number of medals won by foreign pupils, according to which Armenia has quite a big advantage.

The president thanked the Luys students and alumni who receive education at the world’s leading universities, return to the Motherland and use that knowledge to make our people prosperous. “I am confident that many of you can remain and work there. It is an option too, but I think not the best one. The best option is this moment when all of you gather in Armenia; one goes to Gargar, the other Shushi, the third to Gyumri, and tries to be of help to our country. You have implemented good projects. Well done. I would like to conclude my brief speech by your very slogan – “Develop Armenia Together.” Otherwise, amid these geopolitical shifts, we might suddenly fall behind. On you depends the international role to be played by Armenia in the coming decades, and most importantly, if Armenia will gain the right to exist forever or not. I am sure that today we have that right, have that opportunity, and, of course, I am hopeful that you will hold that right firmly. After 10 to 15 years, the people sitting in this hall are going to govern our country. I wish all of you success and I really want you to use your time and age to gain knowledge and human qualities,” said President Serzh Sargsyan.

Later on, the president left Dilijan for Berd. As part of his working visit to the Tavush Marz, the president visited a number of border settlements.