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08.07.2015

DIASPORA’S CONTRIBUTION IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCIENCE SYSTEM IN ARMENIA

   

Vahram Hovyan
Expert, Centre for the Armenian Studies, Noravank Foundation

Science is one of the important areas of Homeland-Diaspora ties. This critical infrastructure is aimed at securing the development of countries. Without development, any country is doomed to stagnation and “colonization” by more powerful states. This is especially applicable to Armenia, which has small territory, unfavorable geographic location (as it is landlocked) and adverse political surroundings (blockaded by Turkey and Azerbaijan).

It has to be noted that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, science in Armenia suffered a powerful blow along with economy, culture and other areas of public life. This was caused by the following main factors:

1. Drastic drop in financing. The overall economic crisis also resulted in drastic decline of government funding of science. In the Soviet period the funds allocated to science comprised an equivalent of about $600 million annually1, whereas currently this amount is about $25 million2;

2. Disintegration of high-tech industry. Against the backdrop of overall economic decline a number of science-driven industries disintegrated and many high-tech plants were shut down. Consequently, the need for relevant research and development for those high-tech industries decreased, along with the demand for highly qualified workforce (such as engineers, software developers, etc.).

3. Brain drain. Stagnation and breakdown trends in science prompted emigration of a great number of scientists. In addition, brain drain in science also denotes the scientists stopping their professional activities and switching to another type of work.

4. Breakup of scientific ties with other ex-Soviet countries. The former Soviet countries were integrated not only economically, politically and militarily, but also in terms of science. Armenia was uniquely positioned in the USSR science system and serviced the needs of this huge empire. With the collapse of the USSR, on one hand, scientific ties with other Soviet republics were disrupted, and on the other hand, Armenian science no longer serviced the needs of the Soviet Union and was committed to a new mission of servicing only the needs of Armenia. This abrupt change in role and mission of science led to a crisis. To overcome it, an adjustment period was required so as to adapt to the new realities, which still continues.

In difficult times for the homeland, the Diaspora offered support not only in economic and social issues, but also in the area of science, appreciation of which is one of the objectives of this article. Diaspora’s contribution in preserving and developing science in Armenia can viewed in two dimensions: specific projects and institutional mechanisms. Specific projects are small one-time or individual projects to tackle specific science-related problems. Institutional mechanisms entail establishment and operation of structures that conduct continuous scientific activities to make fundamental and sustainable contributions in preserving and developing science in Armenia.

Specific projects mostly constitute the following:

• Renovation of buildings to improve housing conditions of scientific institutions;

• Supplying equipment (computers and other equipment) necessary for research and normal operation of scientific institutions;

• Financing specific individual research;

• Sponsoring publication of specific individual research results; etc.

There are numerous specific projects that continue to date. Contribution of both Diaspora’s structures and individual benefactors in implementing those is great, but we shall not elaborate on this.

Rather, we shall focus on institutional mechanisms, which as it was already mentioned, are aimed at bringing fundamental benefits to the science infrastructure of Armenia. In the context of support to development of science in Armenia, the institutional structures established by Diaspora could be divided in two types:

1. Scientific and educational institutions;

2. Structures that systematically promote scientific research.

In terms of scientific and educational institutions established by Diaspora in Armenia, two large projects are noteworthy. First, American University of Armenia (AUA) was founded in 1991, and second, Vazgenian Theological Seminary (named after Vazgen I, Catholicos of All Armenians) was established on Sevan peninsula in 1993. Implementation of such large projects requires sizeable funding and it is no surprise that the largest philanthropic structure of Diaspora, the Armenian General Benevolent Union, financed both of the mentioned projects.

Establishment of the American University of Armenia3 perhaps, introduced the new, Western science/education culture in Armenia, which greatly contributed to preservation and development of scientific/educational system that had been on decline since the collapse of the Soviet Union. This reinvigorated the competition between scientific/educational institutions, helped prevent further stagnation of the area and boost its development. This competition was not only and not so much between the existing older and new (such as AUA) scientific/educational institutions in Armenia, but more between the different scientific/educational models (Western and Soviet).

The Armenian University of Armenia, an affiliate of the University of California, initially had only Master’s Degree programs. Since 2013 undergraduate programs were also launched for some specializations. The development of the higher education institution implies creation of new structural units (departments and other), as well as expansion to post-graduate program.

AUA set an example for establishing other foreign higher education institutions in Armenia, such as French University in Armenia, Armenian-Russian (Slavonic) University, European Regional Academy, Yerevan Branch of Moscow State University, etc., and this bolsters the development of science/education sector in our country through the factor of competition between various universities.

As for the Vazgenian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, it is one of the most prominent scientific/educational structures in Armenia in the area spiritual (religious, theological) studies and Armenian Studies, and it acts as a talent foundry for clergy.4

With respect to structures that systematically promote scientific research, the most renowned one is the Presidential Award. It is awarded for “breakthrough discoveries or significant contribution to the area of natural sciences, technical sciences and information technologies, physics, medical science, arts, literature, and humanitarian sciences”. 5 The institute of the Republic of Armenia Presidential Award has been established in 2000 by Robert Boghossian and Sons Foundation. The annual nomination and selection is performed on competitive basis and the winners, the best scientists and artists of Armenia receive a monetary award of $10,0006.

Another institution that promotes research and creativity in Armenia is the annual award for the best scientific and cultural contributions, established by World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians of Russia. This award is also competitive based.

The Best Scientific Work competition awards works in both humanities (history, sociology, law, art, language and literature, economics, Armenian studies, ethnography) and natural sciences (physics, mathematics and mechanics, informatics, technical sciences, chemistry, biology, geology). The winners receive a monetary award. Unlike the Presidential Award, this prize is mostly aimed at encouraging the studies implemented by young people. According to the competition rules, the nominees should be no older than 35.7

The above-mentioned two structures not only provide monetary support to Armenian researchers, but also promote competition among them and through that, energize the sector.

In summary, the contribution of Diaspora in development of Armenia’s science infrastructure is implemented both by specific projects and at the institutional level. The Diaspora’s support to the science in homeland at institutional level materializes through establishment and operation of scientific/educational structures and institutions that systematically promote scientific research. Activities of these structures help curb the brain drain and facilitate competition among those involved in science.

1 This figure represents the official, publicly disclosed funding. However, in the Soviet period there was also non-official or shadow financing of science. Together with this shadow funds, the total annual financing of science in Armenia in the Soviet period comprised about $1 billion.

2 Հայաստանում գիտության ֆինանսավորումը ամենացածրներից մեկն է Եվրոպայում, http://www.7or.am/am/news/view/55633/

3 American University of Armenia, http://www.aua.am/

4 See: «Քրիստոնյա Հայաստան» հանրագիտարան, Եր., «Տիգրան Մեծ» հրատարակչություն, 2002, էջ 948-949։

5 Հայկական Սփյուռք։ Տարեգիրք, Եր., «Պոլիգրաֆ բիզնես», 2009, էջ 150։

6 http://www.president.am/hy/president-awards/; http://www.himnadram.org/index.php?id=24162&lang=2

7 See, for example: Համաշխարհային հայկական կոնգրեսը և Ռուսաստանի հայերի միությունը, ՀՀ Սփյուռքի նախարարության հետ համատեղ, հայտարարում են 2013թ. ստեղծագործական և գիտական աշխատանքի միջազգային մրցանակաբաշխություն, http://hayernaysor.am/


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