President meets with Luys Foundation scholarship recipients

President of the Republic of Armenia, co-founder of Luys Foundation Serzh Sargsyan hosted today Luys Foundation scholarship recipients for the academic year 2017-2018. The meeting was attended by Luys Foundation-supported students and graduates from the world’s best universities.

The scholarship holders presented to the President of Armenia the projects and activities completed under the Develop Armenia Together Program, as well as their first initiatives and achievements implemented in an effort to put at the Homeland’s service the knowledge and experience gained in the best world’s best universities.

The President handed Luys scholarship certificates to those students recently enrolled in higher education institutions. Note that scholarships have been awarded to 60 students from top 8 universities of the world in 2017-2018.

Serzh Sargsyan congratulated the students and wished them every success in their studies. The President expressed readiness to answer the questions of interest to the participants of the meeting and asked about their plans and ideas.

“I take any opportunity to meet with young people and talk to them as I am sure that this is one of the best ways to keep a hand on the pulse of our country and society, because they have a keen eye; they can see too far and know the best way of navigating in a rapidly changing world.

Of course, what I mean is not an abstract feeling. I think that any person who closely follows our policy can see that the development of education and science has for many years been our chief concern. Luys Foundation, TUMO Creative Technologies Center or, to be precise, the network of centers considering that such centers are currently available not only in Yerevan, but also in Gyumri, Dilijan, Stepanakert and recently in Noyemberyan. I think that in the foreseeable future we will start such work in Vanadzor and other cities of the Republic.

The incentives available at various levels in the field of information technology, the existing network of engineering labs, known as Armat, operational in more than 200, or more precisely, 208 schools nationwide, boast various study groups, which host over 4,500 schoolchildren who get basic engineering skills and even create simple robots.

This is a vivid evidence of the Government’s policy, which undoubtedly is a long-term objective, and we will see their tangible results in the near future. These results will have a positive impact on economic development and our people’s well-being. Nevertheless, even though these programs have long-range goals, we can already talk about specific results.

I would just cite one example from each sphere. I will start with Luys Foundation and say that when we started this program in 2007, we decided to provide financial support and help to young people studying at the top 20 universities in the world, because at that time only a few young Armenians - a small number of young people were studying in these universities. But after a short while, we decided to provide assistance to students from top 10 universities in the world, because their number had increased dramatically. Today, Mrs. Jacqueline and I will present certificates to 60 students who are studying at the top eight universities. This is a progress that we should definitely take note of.

Next: for a long time now, Armenian schoolchildren have been winning about 20 prizes annually in the world subject Olympiads. To have an accurate idea of what it is, we just need to make comparison. For example, Azerbaijan and Georgia together win 10 to 12 prizes annually. Some 20 prizes are won by Turkish schoolchildren representing the 80 million-strong Turkey. I believe that this is just one of our schoolchildren’s numerous brilliant achievements.
I should note with pleasure that during the last competitive period, the student team of Yerevan State University won a prize at the world student contest. This is encouraging indeed, which testifies that our higher education institutions are gradually replenished by students well aware of the importance of knowledge and study.

Literally a few days ago, the youth team of TUMO center won a bronze medal at the USA-hosted Olympiad on robotics. This is really a serious achievement, and I wish to avail myself of this opportunity to extend a vote of thanks to these children - these young people, their parents and teachers in your presence, because achievements like this may bring about a qualitative change in Armenia, because such achievements, if permanent, will provide a great opportunity in terms of prompting other countries to cooperate with Armenia. This is a crucial factor that needs encouraging and emphasizing ahead.

Indeed, victories like that will help us build such an Armenia, cooperating with which, on the one hand, would be honorific for many countries and, on the other - a common phenomenon - because we are filling the ranks of developed countries.

Every successful reform, every success story of a startup is bringing us closer to our goal of being an advanced and safe country. My dear youth, I hope that Luys Foundation’s old and new generations of graduates are well aware of the role they should have in the development of Armenia.

Over the past few years, we have not set forth any precondition or restriction whatsoever on the beneficiaries of Luys Foundation. I feel the time is high to carry out a strategic overhaul of Luys Foundation’s activities and programs, since our country badly needs specialists in specific areas. For example, we need over 10,000 programmers and engineers. As we do not have this resource, we must funnel Luys Foundation’s efforts towards training the necessary quantity of specialists.

Of course, I do not want to discuss these changes now. I am sure that the Foundation’s administration will join my aides to carry out such a revision, and this will be another proof that Luys Foundation will continue and expand its activities in Armenia.

I want each of you to associate your own achievements with the progress of our country. I really want all those young people who have a stock of knowledge to try to achieve their own success in Armenia. I understand very well that this is a difficult task, I understand that Armenia is not offering the most favorable conditions yet, but on the other hand, I want you to understand very well: Armenia will no longer need helpers when it comes to provide such conditions. But each of us is bound by duty to contribute to the creation of such a country.

Congratulating once again all those people whose knowledge has been rewarded, I wish you every success, and as always, I would be pleased to answer your questions rather than send you a message, because this is the most important part of such meetings. This is an opportunity to see through the problems and understand where the youth’s thought is going. I am happy to see that our young people can successfully navigate in a rapidly changing world. I am grateful and ready to answer your questions, hear about your plans,” President Serzh Sargsyan said at the meeting with Luys Foundation scholarship recipients.