The Faculty of Foreign Languages
The Faculty of Foreign Languages started in 1993 on the basis of the Chair of the Russian Language and Literature founded in the mid 1970-s and the chair of the English language founded early in 1980-s. More than 800 students study here majoring in English, French, German, the Russian language and Literature, as well as Translation Studies. Yuri Saphyan,Honoured Doctor of Oxford University, associate professor, was the first dean of the department. Sahakanush Grigoryan, Candidate of Philological Sciences, associate professor, has been in charge of the department since 2003. Since 2008 two-year Master Degree program for the English language, the Russian language and Literature has been implemented at the department. Among the highly-deserved professors of the department are K. Hovsepyan, Yu.Saphyan, H.Meghrikyan, S.Ghasabyan, N.Anastasov, S.Mkrtchyan, M.Levintsova. Many merited and respected professors work here nowadays, among them Sahakanush Grigoryan, E.Hovhannesyan, N.Alikhanyan, A.Mirijanyan, S.Grigoryan, G.Ambardaryan, T.Melikyan, K.Sukiasyan and others. The department is cooperating with Yerevan State University, the Lingusitic University after Bryusov, the American University of Armenia, Russian-Armenian Slavonic University, French University, as well as different international cultural and educational funds and organizations, such as DAD, British Council, Peace Corps, IREX, Accels, Erasmus Mundus, etc. The collaboration with the US Embassy, as well as the embassies of Great Britain, France and the Russian Federation enable the students of the department to participate successfully in educational projects. During the last years about 45 students of the department attended courses and trainings in US, German and French Universities. Currently 4 of them are continuing their education in Greece, Portugal and France. Many of the professors and the students of the department are participants of different scientific conferences /St.Petersburg, Kazan, Washington, Montpellier, Monte Negro, Thessalonica, etc. About 15 professors and instructors have been trained in the USA, Italy and France. Students’ life is in full swing at the department which has its well established rich traditions. Currently 4 chairs function in the structure of the faculty of Foreign Lanuages: The Chair of the Russian Language, The Chair of Foreign and Russian Literature, the Chair of French and the Chair of English.
1. The Chair of the Russian Language
The Chair of The Russian Language is the oldest chair of the faculty. In 1940 -53 the teaching of Russian and Foreign languages was held at one chair. In 1953 it was reorganized into the Chair of the Russian Language and Literature. Many prominent philologists made their unique contribution to the work of the Chair. Currently 12 lecturers are involved in the work of the Chair including a doctor of Philology, six candidates of science and three researchers. The main directions of research at the chair are: General Linguistics, Russian Language, Methods of Teaching the Russian Language and Contemporary Teaching Methods. A great deal of work is done by the Chair members to promote the Russian Language. This is one of the aims of the “Russian club”. For the last years the students of the department have always been among the winners of the festival “We read, speak and sing in Russian”. The Chair has established firm relations and cooperation with the Embassy of Russia to RA, mainly with the Consulate of Russia in Gyumri.
2. The Chair of Foreign and Russian Literature
The Chair was established in 1972. Currently three candidates of science, assistant professors and two lecturers are members of the chair. The chair is engaged in doing research work on the contemporary issues of Russian and Foreign Literature. It has established relations and cooperation with universities and research institutions of the Russian Federation, as well as centers of Russian and Foreign Literature Studies in a number of foreign countries. Now the chair puts much emphasis on contemporary methodological standards of teaching Russian Literature in secondary schools. The members of the chair always participate in scientific conferences, in particular, international conferences held in Yerevan State Linguistic University after V. Bryussov. Every Year the chair of Russian and Foreign Literature arranges literary readings, show-festivals of Russian Folklore traditions, students’ competitions.
3. The Chair of the English and German Languages
All the foreign languages including Russian were taught at the same chair for more than two decades.In 1966 the teaching of English, French and German was centralized in a newly-founded foreign -language chair. The founder chief of this chair was Associate Professor Hakob Meghrikyan. When the chair was renamed the Chair of the English and German languages Associate professor Sahakanush Grigoryan became the founder chief of the latter. Anahit Hovhannesyan, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor, has been holding the chair since 2003. The formation of this chair and the success of the English language teaching at the Institute are due to the commitment of such well-deserved members of the faculty as S. Stepanyan, I. Akopova, T. Manasaryan, N. Sahatchyan, S. Grigoryan, A. Mirijanyan and others. Currently foreign language staff involves 1 Doctor of Science, 3 associates; many of the instructors are post-graduate students and researchers. Scientific interests are various, ranging from typological study of the languages to pragmatics, intercultural communication, and the issues of theoretical grammar. Due to its active participation in international scientific conferences devoted to the problems of the English language during the last few years the chair has significantly expanded its collaboration with several European /England, Monte Negro, Serbia, Slovakia, Romania/ and American/Washington/ universities. Many of the young instructors of the chair and foreign language students are involved in educational projects funded and administered by the European Union. The solid relations established with the British Council in Armenia, US Embassy and the German Center for Students’ Exchange enable the chair to upgrade its professional library and VC collection, consequently enriching its technical facilities of teaching foreign languages.
4. The French Language Chair
The French language chair has been functioning as a separate unit since 1996. The founder of the chair was Hakob Meghrikyan ,Honoured Teacher of RA, Honoured Scientist of higher education , associate professor, after whom the chair is named today. The chair is in constant cooperation with the Embassy of France to Armenia, and its students are regular attendants of its rich library. The special Reference Literature fund at the chair is the invaluable gift of the French Embassy. The productive ties with the French organizations GREF and “Alliance Frances” have become traditional. They aim at spreading speaking the French language in Shirak Marz. The chair is one of the most active participants in the annual competition “Golden Word”. A number of graduates are employed by CASA and SPFA local branches. The chair also hosts scientific conferences on innovative methods of teaching French, conducted by the best specialists of France in the region. The staff of the chair are trained in French universities and actively participate in “Erazmus Mundus” project. The chair has a rich up-to-date library of literature for teaching French, mostly published in France and technical facilities, which contribute to the high-quality pre-service education for those majoring in French.
History and Philology
The Faculty of History and Philology was founded in 1935. The Faculty has 4 departments: the Department of the Armenian Language and Literature, the Department of Journalism, the Department of History and Law. Many famous linguists, scholars and historians have lectured at the Faculty. The Faculty of Foreign Languages and the Faculty of Pedagogics are offshoots of this faculty. This faculty has made research in different fields of linguistics, the Armenian Language and Literature, History of Armenia. The Faculty comprises 3 Chairs and a sector of Journalism.
1.The Chair of the Armenian Language
The chair was established in 1934-38. Eminent linguists such as academicians G. Sevak, A. Gharibyan, S. Abrahamyan, Ed. Aghayan were among the chair members. Among the chair members there are 2 professors, a Doctor of Philology, 10 candidates of science, 7 Assistant Professors. The chair has been carrying on a state-funded linguo-stylistic study of Armenian led by Professor S. Melkonyan. The chair has traditionally collaborated with a number of centres for Armenian Studies, such as the National Academy Institute for Language Studies, the Chairs of the Armenian Language at Yerevan State and Pedagogical Universities, Vanadzor Pedagogical Institute.
2.The Chair of Armenian Literature
All the 9 lecturers of the chair are candidates of science. The main field of research at the chair is modern Armenian Literature, including works published by Armenian diaspora.
3.The Chair of History and Law
The trends of research at the Chair are as follows: History of Ancient Armenia, History of Armenia in the Middle Ages, History of Modern Armenia. The Chair organizes many roundtable discussions. During the 7 decades of its history about 20 monographs, manuals, more than 400 research papers have been published at the Chair.
4. The Sector of Journalism
It was established in 1996. Specialists who work in this sector are experienced and skilled journalists from different mass media. In 2000 within the frame of the project “Development of Promedia Professional Journalists in Armenia” the sector cooperated with experienced international journalists, editors of foreign magazines, who rendered lectures and practical lessons to our students. Within this project a professional lab with PCs, internet connection and professional library was equipped. Sponsored by the US department of Education in 2003 a new three-year educational project between Florida University and GSPI was carried on. A well-equipped Radio and TV studio with 21 PCs and professional library was granted to the Institute. Within the project 4 lecturers of the sector got further qualification at Florida University. The students got acquainted with western journalists, gained much experience and knowledge from them, got acquainted with the secrets of modern digital photojournalism, new projects of graphical and IT journalism.Numerous graduates of the sector successfully work in local and republican mass media and NGOs.
The Faculty of Physics and Mathematics
The selection and training of students in this field has begun from the very day of the Institute foundation as there was an urgent need for teachers of exact sciences at schools. Material resources have been enriched during all these years. Now the faculty has a rich collection of specialized literature, five modern laboratories for Physics, four IT laboratories, workshops and well-equipped rooms. The number of specializations has also increased during these years. Departments of Informational Technologies, Entrepreneurship and Management have recently been formed.
1. The Chair of Physics
It was founded in 1942. The staff is highly professional, involving one PhD professor, seven candidates of science and Ass. Professors. The facilities have recently improved. New computer laboratories have been equipped to make learning process easy and effective. There is a modern laboratory for X-ray researches. Here the major topic for scientific researches is the Physics of hard material and transistors particularly the X-ray-interpheromatric research of material structural incompleteness, as well as the research of electrical and optical properties of micro- and mono- transistor structures.
2. The Chair of Mathematical Analysis and Differential Equations
The chair has been functioning under this name since 1998. Candidates of science, assistant lecturers work here. For the last ten years the chair has been rather productive in training specialists in the field of Mechanics. The chair is majoring in the mechanics of hard material deformation, Physics and Mechanics of deformation and corruption, and mechanics of nano-materials. This has become possible due to the financial aid of the Armenian Government. Nearly one hundred articles have been published in local and foreign magazines and journals.
3. The Chair of Algebra and Geometry
The Chair has been functioning since the 1930-s.
4. The Chair of Informational Technologies and Computer Engineering
It was founded in 1990. The chair has implemented a computerized program for the Institute faculties to manage and control their educational processes independently, has set a local computer net, for all the faculties and divisions to be in contact with each other and have an access to the Internet.
5. The Chair of Engineering
It has been functioning since 1990. One PhD, four candidates of science, three lecturers are engaged in the chair. The chief interest of scientific researches is centered around the properties of automatic technological processes. Experiments on alternative sources of energy (new models for using wind) are carried out.
The Faculty of Biology and Geography
The Faculty of Biology and Geography is one of the youngest at the Institute. It was founded in 1993 and trains teachers of Biology, Chemistry, Geography as well as geologists. In 2010 the Institute will have its first pharmacist graduates. Many famous biochemists, chemists and geographers have had their significant contribution in the making of the faculty. The faculty is constantly collaborating with a number of Armenian and foreign scientific centers and the northern department of the National Seismic Service. Most of the teaching staff of the faculty are graduates of Yerevan State University and The Institutes of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry of the National Academy of Science. Many of the students are involved in a number of projects implemented in the region. These are funded by foreign organizations and aim at enhancing ecology, agriculture and farming. During the last few years the faculty was equipped with state-of-the-art labs and stores for preserving test substances. There are 4 chairs and 1 sector within the faculty.
1. The Chair of Biology
The Chair of Biology was founded in 1992. There are 8 Candidates of Science and a Doctor among the teaching staff of the chair. The chair is implementing two state-funded scientific projects. During the last 5 years four young instructors of the chair defended their candidate theses, five other teachers are applicants. The professors of the chair have published a number of reference books on genetics, histology, embryology, zoology as well as on methods of teaching at school. The chair possesses a rich library with electronic sources and educational films,computers,equipment for laboratory and practical work, microscopes, an electronic microscope, etc. Chemistry students achieve high results in their practical work at dairy processing and pharmaceutical factories in Yerevan and Abovyan and in a number of pharmacies in Gyumri. Biology chair also includes the medical department with 7 professors, who are highly-qualified doctors. The professors of the Faculty not only arrange medical courses in all the faculties but also provide the teaching staff and the students with effective medical care. They also carry out research work on diagnostics and treatment of ciliary arrhythmia and congenital heart diseases of children.
2. Chemistry and Pharmacology Chair.
The chair was founded in 1995. 5 candidates of science, one assistant and 4 professors work here. The chair does extensive research work and cooperates with the chemistry departments of Yerevan State Pedagogical University, Yerevan State University and the institutes of fine organic chemistry and biochemistry of the National Academy of Science. The chair owns a big library of contemporary books and materials, it has electronic sources and all the necessary equipment for laboratory work.
3.Geography and Geo-Ecology Chair.
The chair was founded in 1995. 8 candidates of science work here, three of them are assistant professors. The chair has especially succeeded in cooperating with international organizations. The project “ The agricultural evaluation of the region’s natural resources “ was sponsored by “Eurasia” fund and was enlightened in the volume “ The Agricultural Geography of Shirak Region “ published by the National Academy of Science. In 2005 another project “ The influence of the climate changes on the economy of Shirak region “ was carried out within the framework of a UN development project. As a result of ecological studies in Artik region a research work “Town and its environment” was published. Currently the chair is actively involved in the work of “Arpi Lake National Park” project. The chair focuses its attention on the quality of teaching methods and professional development as well as on the proper arrangement of the students’ practical work. The necessary equipment and technological devices meet the modern demands for teaching and learning. The library of the chair possesses the richest collection of geography books in Gyumri.
4.Ecology Chair.
The Institute is the only higher educational centre for ecologists in the region. In 2009 Ecology Chair became independent of Biology Chair. The chair carries out research work on the problems of landscape diversity in the region as well as studies natural reservations and monuments in the republic. It also trains future teachers for secondary schools and organizes their practical work. The chair cooperates with different ecological organizations , “Geofon”, “Orhus” and others.
The Faculty of Pedagogics
The Faculty of Pedagogics was founded in 1980 on the basis of the Department of Music and Pedagogics. Many of the faculty graduates work at secondary schools, nursery schools and other spheres of national education.
1. The Chair of Padagogics
It was founded in 1947. The chair includes one PhD, one Professor, 4 Ass. Professors, Candidates of Science and 10 assistant lecturers. The activity of the chair is closely connected with the key problems of secondary education and school reforms.
2. The Chair of Pre – School and Primary Pedagogics and Teaching Methods
The department trains future teachers for primary and nursery schools. It also collaborates with the town orphanages. It promotes children’s education and integration of orphans and children with special needs into society. The professors of the chair instruct the students’ school practice.
3. The Chair of Music
The Chair was founded in 1970. Many talented musicians, pianists and choirmasters who worked here at various times contributed a lot to the development of the department. The chair arranges concerts and song contests, the students participate in different festivals and international educational programs.
4. The Chair of Psychology
The Chair was founded in 1990. Four PhD-s and eight assistant lectures are full-time staff members. The Chair carries on a number of projects for assisting vulnerable social groups: the disabled, singles, orphans. They also do research work concerning the psychological stress caused by the earthquake of 1988 and the ways of overcoming it.
5. The Chair of Drawing and Painting
The chair was founded in 2004. Many staff members who are artists, art critics and sculptors are well known in Moscow, Tbilisi, Prague and Rome. Students major in Sculpture, Painting, Graphics and Design. Their works are displayed at annual exhibitions held by the Chair. The Chair has immediate ties with social and cultural organizations (Modern Art Centre, Caritas). It has good teaching facilities.
The Faculty of Physical Training
The faculty of physical training was founded in 1979. The faculty trains specialists in four fields: Physical training, Military Training, Training in Life-saving Activities and Kinesiology. 34 graduates are Olympic prize holders. The students have set 80 World and European records. Two chairs function within the faculty:
1. The Chair of Sports Pedagogics was founded in 1947
The staff of the chair do their best to train athletes and future coaches. Considerable research work has been done by the staff. More than 50 manuals, methodological journals have been published in different periods. Four professors, 5 assistant professors and candidates of science teach and work at this chair. Two sports halls, sports center with its four gyms and two outdoor sports grounds greatly contribute to students’ achievements. Students also have access to the town swimming pool and the stadium.
2. The Chair of Primary Military Training was founded in 1984
Most of the teaching staff of the chair fought bravely in the Artsakh war and took an active part in the making of RA army. The Chair has got experience in training good specialists. It has perfectly trained teaching staff who master all the contemporary teaching methods. The chair possesses a wonderful educational center and a rich specialized library. The Chair closely cooperates with the Gyumri local military units that help the chair provide shooting grounds and sample evidence collection equipment to be used in the training classrooms. Military units also organize training with complete sets of military equipment.
The Department of Correspondence Courses
The Department opened in 2000. The Department was established with the goal to provide higher education by correspondence. To meet the requirements of School Reform realized in Armenia teachers having no Pedagogical Education can bridge the gap getting their tuition by correspondence. The Department also enables people to obtain a second specialization. It also makes higher education available for those who live outside Armenia. The Department co-operates with all the Chairs and Faculties of the Institute. There is one AS correspondent member, 101 Candidates of Science among the staff of the Department.
The Office of International Relations and Reforms
The foundation of the Office was predetermined by the persistent demand of new strategies in the sphere of Higher Education. The Office supervises external co-operation of the Institute with Armenian and Foreign Higher Educational Institutions, Embassies and Funds. The Office of International Relations and Reforms integrates GSPI into the process of reforms necessitated by modern standards and principles of Higher Education in the light of Bologna Declaration. It facilitates elaboration and implementation of credit system ECTS, publishes special guide-books for the teaching staff and students, works out new academic plans and curricula. The Office furthers participation of GSPI in several international programs funded by the following organizations and foundations TEMPUS/TASIS/, Eurasia, IREX, ACCELS, Jinishyan Foundation, INTAS, DAAD. In the network of this co-operation GSPI has participated in Erasmus-Mundus Project “ An Eexternal Co-operation Window for Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan” and exchanged students and teaching staff with partner universities, i.e. Technical University of Thessalonica /Greece/, Universities of Anger /France/, Tuscia /Italy/, Viana do Castelo / Portugal/. Prospective plans of the Office include development of further co-operation with leading Universities of Armenia and the Commonwealth Countries to ensure academic mobility and interchange, as well as creation of on-line database of Institute facilities and resources with prospects of establishing new relations.
Center of Social Work
The Center was established in the network of TEMPUS project in 1995 with the help of YSU Chair of Sociology. The goal of the project was to organize Distance Learning Courses in Sociology. Within the frame of the project the Centre collaborated with Yerevan State University, London High School of Economics and Political Science, Open University of England, Frankfurt on the Main Specialized High School. As a result of this collaboration GSPI offered a minor in Sociology and in 2007 the Department of Social work was established. Today the five-member staff of the Centre offers a high quality full-time and distance education in Sociology. Since 1995 the staff of the Centre has participated in a number of conferences and seminars in Armenia, Great Britain, the Ukraine, Greece and have published over 25 research papers. The general trends of work in the Centre are the following: to work out and investigate new educational technologies, work with regional and state institutions, public and international charity organizations, carry out research within the frame of Erasmus-Mundus project, work out teaching methods, organize short term training courses for social work.
Center of International Studies
The OIS helps students wishing to study abroad to gain international experience, to participate in international programs. Our goals are to collaborate with international partner institutions, to become an essential component of their educational and research programs. We are planning to have student and faculty exchanges, which will broaden international experience and enrich educational curriculum.
The Office intends to give special programing which will help international students and scholars to integrate into academic and cultural life of GSPI. You can take high quality language programs through the Department of Forweign Languages. The Office offers the following options for study: Russian, Armenian, English language courses including home-stay, intensive instruction in groups or individual classes, free language materials for students and vast cultural programs. Armenia is called "A Museum in the Open Air". While you strudy at GSPI you'll have a wonderful opportunity to see Yerevan ehich is nearly 2800 years old, to admire ancient churches and temples, lake Sevan and many other cultural attractions.
Library
The GSPI library has been functioning since 1934. It houses more than 114157 books in Armenian, Russian and English. It has a rich collection of periodical volumes, newspapers and scientific journals. It also contains valuable publications of pre-Soviet period - rare books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, periodicals, which form the golden fund of the library. The library is constantly enriched with new specialized literature, as well as with the books written by the Institute teaching staff. The library serves more than 6000 people, mostly undergraduates, postgraduates and lecturers. The reading hall of the library is equipped with computers, a non-stop Internet access and necessary textbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias, reference books, as well as computerized lectures of all the subjects delivered at the Institute and printing services. Regular session hours: Monday - Saturday, ( 9 AM - 4 PM ).