The situation at Yerevan State University is not healthy, but it is not unmanageable: Minister

Today, on March 24, during the Q&A session at the National Assembly-Government, Anna Kostanyan, a member of the LHK faction, noted that Yerevan State University currently does not have a chairman of the board of trustees, lacks a rector, and the position of the temporary head is also disputed. "The university is apparently moving in a direction without prospects. What is the goal? To completely dismantle the university?"

The deputy also mentioned that it is assumed that YSU should have a strategic development plan that at least reflects where the university is heading, but in reality, that does not exist, and YSU is moving in a direction without prospects. "This means that absolute unmanageability prevails in the university, there is no governance, and what is the goal, to completely dismantle the university? Please present your vision as a minister, what steps do you plan to implement?" said Anna Kostanyan.

The minister began his response with congratulations that the law on "Higher Education and Science" was finally adopted today in its entirety, in which Anna Kostanyan has contributed and which aims at the further progress and development of higher education and science.

"Regarding YSU, it’s very interesting; when we used to say 5 and 4, they used to say that this provision violates the autonomy of the university. There will be no more such a situation as today. First, YSU has a council, and it is not the ministry that should organize the elections for the chairman of the council. Within the framework of autonomy, they can elect the council chairman in a 50/50 ratio. I myself don’t know why they are not electing. Second, YSU has an administrator; at this moment, the administrator is the pro-rector because the temporary appointee is ill. YSU is not unmanageable; I naturally agree with your opinion that the situation at YSU is not healthy. And this law that we developed with you, I think, will solve all the issues that concern us and you," said the minister.

According to him, the deputy's concern is valid, and YSU is not in its best days, but starting today, he believes that great opportunities arise to resolve the accumulated, convoluted issues not only at YSU but also at all other universities.