Yerevan State University Board Meeting Does Not Take Place, Students Boycott

The scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees of Yerevan State University did not take place today due to a lack of quorum. This was reported by the university's press service.

The proposed agenda included a report by the rector on the main directions of the activities of the Yerevan State University Foundation for the 2018-19 academic year and the approval of the performance of the planned activities of the strategic development program for the foundation for the years 2016-2020. Additionally, the agenda included a report on the income and expenditure of the foundation for 2019 (January-December).

It should be reminded that according to the charter of the Yerevan State University Foundation, the meeting of the Board of Trustees is only valid if more than half of the board members are present. Davit Apoyan, the president of the Student Council of YSU, stated that the absence of student members serves as a sign of protest against the reduction of student representation in the governance councils set by the draft law on Higher Education and Science.

“I am physically here, but I have not signed to confirm my presence. We want to draw the government's attention again to the fact that student participation is very important in the management of the university, and a sharp reduction in their numbers is a direct blow to the university’s autonomy,” said Davit Apoyan, noting that further actions would be taken in the near future as a sign of protest. He emphasized that the students' protest is not directed against a specific individual and apologized to the members present at the meeting.

Georg Muradyan, the chairman of the Board of Trustees of YSU, expressed his opinion on the protest, deeming it ineffective and stated that the meeting was adjourned.