American University of Armenia

Position: Research Assistant at Engineering Research Center (ERC)

khuch — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:26:00 +0000

Job Responsibilities:

- Development and implementation of oblivious transfer protocol based on White box encryption algorithms.
- Development and implementation of cryptographic E-voting systems.

Requirements:

- University degree in appropriate area with specialization or work experience in the area of cryptography and systems security,
- Relevant work experience of 2 years and more.

Application deadline: 5:45pm; May 29, 2013

Duration: 6 months with possible extension

Schedule: Full-time

How to apply: Applicants are requested to submit a CV via e-mail: jobs@aua.am by 5:45pm, May 29, 2013 indicating in the “Subject” line the position they are applying for.

Only short listed applicants will be notified and invited for interview.

AUA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active non-discrimination program within the institution

Position: Program Assistant at Turpanjian Rural Development Program (TRDP) in Stepanakert, Artsakh

khuch — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:43:13 +0000

Job Responsibilities:

- Assists the Turpanjian Rural Development Program Leader with
the overall management of the field office in Stepanakert;
making/maintaining contacts with local government leaders and
other stakeholders as well as with financial institutions;
managing and monitoring of the Program objectives;
organizing educational and training activities.

- Provides other assistance and administrative/logistical support to the Turpanjian Rural Development Program Leader.
– Performs other related duties incidental to the work described herein as assigned by immediate supervisor(s).

REQUIREMENTS:

University degree in appropriate area such as business or public policy
Strong written/oral communication skills in English, Armenian, and Russian;
Experience in data collection and analysis (experience in report writing is preferable);
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
Computer skills (MS Office, spreadsheets, database management).
Relevant work experience of 1 year and more preferred.

Application deadline: 5:45pm; May 17, 2013

Location: Stepanakert, Artsakh

How to apply: Applicants are requested to submit a CV via e-mail: jobs@aua.am by 5:45pm, May 17, 2013 indicating in the “Subject” line the position they are applying for.

Only short listed applicants will be notified and invited for interview.

AUA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active non-discrimination program within the institution

Position: Administrative Secretary

khuch — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:31:54 +0000

Job Responsibilities:

- Serves as a receptionist responding phone and walk-in inquiries, greeting visitors, and interacting with students, faculty and staff.
- Maintains files and records of correspondence, reports, courses, policies, e-mail listings, student/faculty/alumni files, industrial contacts.
- Provides translation to and from English and Armenian.
- Types correspondence, handouts and other documents; makes copies.
- Maintains a filing system for documents and course materials.
- Coordinates meetings, reserves appropriate room/classroom and audio-visual equipment, takes minutes at meetings; schedules appointments.
- Coordinates seminars, prepares and distributes seminar announcements, arranges seminar room and refreshments, provides and records student attendance.
- Acts as a liaison with the other AUA departments and students.
- Performs other related duties as assigned by immediate supervisor(s).

REQUIREMENTS:

Undergraduate Degree/University Diploma
Fluency in English, Armenian, and Russian
Relevant experience of 1 year and more
Excellent communication and computer skills (MS Office)
Strong translation skills
Strong administrative and organizational skills
Problem solving skills
Ability to take initiative and act independently
Highly responsible

Application deadline: 5:45pm; May 2, 2013

How to apply: Applicants are requested to submit a CV via e-mail: jobs@aua.am by 5:45pm, May 2, 2013.

Only short listed applicants will be notified and invited for interview.

AUA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active non-discrimination program within the institution

Turpanjian Family Foundation Pledges $750,000 for AUA to Expand Reach in Rural Armenia

khuch — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:42:32 +0000

From left to right: Gerald H. Turpanjian, AUA Trustee and President of the Turpanjian Family Educational Foundation with AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian.

YEREVAN–The American University of Armenia (AUA) is establishing a Continuing Education Program (CEP) to curtail rural-urban migration in Armenia. The CEP is funded through a generous multi-year pledge of $750,000 from the Turpanjian Family Educational Foundation.

“AUA is a small institution that’s a kaleidoscope of Armenia,” remarked Gerald H. Turpanjian, AUA Trustee and President of the Turpanjian Family Educational Foundation. “We are pleased to increase our support to allow AUA to expand its reach.”

The program, to be implemented by AUA Extension, will offer a tailored curriculum to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the local workforce in rural communities. The ultimate aim is to increase local employment and stimulate stagnant rural economies.

“We are keenly aware that rural-urban migration is a serious problem in Armenia, as it is in many developing countries throughout the world,” said AUA president Dr. Bruce Boghosian. “Thanks to the vision and philanthropic leadership of Mr. Turpanjian and the Turpanjian Family Educational Foundation, AUA will offer high-quality Extension courses for professional development in Armenia’s rural areas, playing an important role in mitigating this problem.”

The CEP will initially be launched in Shirak and Tavush in the first year, expanding to two other regions in the following year. Courses offered will specialize in business management, tourism, and hospitality management, as well as career development, and professional training.

“Improving human capital in rural Armenia is essential to creating new opportunities that will eliminate the need to migrate,” explained AUA Extension Director Dr. Arpie Balian. “The courses offered through these programs will address the respective labor markets and the demand for different skills and competencies.”

AUA Extension’s mission is to expand Armenia’s academic, industrial, and technological development by fostering growth through accessible, high-quality education, adult training and lifelong learning opportunities. For more information on AUA Extension, click here.

The American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia. Founded in 1991, AUA is affiliated with the University of California. Through teaching, research, and public service, AUA serves Armenia and the region by supplying high-quality, graduate and undergraduate education, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting democratic values.

AUA is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 985 Atlantic Avenue, #100, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001.

AUA provides a global education in Armenia. For news about AUA, visit the university Newsroom or follow developments as they happen on the AUA Facebook Page.

AUA and Central Bank Inaugurate State-of-the-Art Library at Dilijan’s Knowledge Development Center

khuch — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:41:24 +0000

DILIJAN–The American University of Armenia (AUA) and the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) inaugurated a new state-of-the-art Library at the Knowledge for Development Center (KDC) in Dilijan with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, January 26.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Central Bank Chairman Arthur Javadyan, AUA President Bruce Boghosian, AUA Vice President of Operations Ashot Ghazaryan and AGBU Papazian Library Director Bella Avagyan.

The KDC is a collaboration between AUA and the Central Bank of Armenia. The four-story building is home to the CBA museum, the KDC Library, the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies, and the AUA Extension.

“In working with the Central Bank, the Papazian Library at AUA contributed its own resources in establishing a technologically advanced environment for the new facility, as well as providing vital training and expertise to the KDC Library’s new staff,” says Avagyan. “The KDC library will become a vital resource for the 200,000 inhabitants of Tavush region, providing the local population with modern library services and facilities.”

The new center provides modern library services to its patrons, including children, teenagers, and adults, as well as students and professionals. Meanwhile, it’s Library is connected to the internet and has a wide and well-maintained collection of materials in a variety of formats, including books, audiobooks, DVDs, and a vast collection of eBooks. Most of these materials are in Armenian, Russian and English.

The Papazian Library provided KDC Library staff with five weeks of comprehensive full-day training sessions focusing on library resource and information management. Additionally, the Library is developing relevant and inspiring collections to address the community’s needs, as well as implementing improvements for a user-friendly Online Public Access Catalog.

The Library also contains a beautiful Storytelling Room, which will host theater performances for children, with the intention of developing literacy skills and a love for reading at an early age. The room is also equipped for video conferencing.

The KDC Library has also been equipped with the open source “Koha” integrated library system, which is being used as a library management system to catalog and circulate materials. Both the Cataloging and Circulation modules have been modified and translated into Armenian by AUA’s Information and Communication Technologies Services (ICTS) staff.

Beginning in April, AUA Extension, located on the KDC building’s fourth floor, will open registration for courses in Tourism and Hospitality Management. Theories, examples and industry case studies will be used to provide students with examples of problem solving tools in tourism and hospitality management.

These courses will cover a range of topics related to the hospitality industry, including Food and Beverage Management, Housekeeping and Cleaning Operations, Destination and Resort Marketing, B&B, Restaurant, and Hotel Management, Sales and Service Management, and Food Safety Management. Additionally, a course in Business Entrepreneurship will complete the menu of courses available in the next four months.

The AUA is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 985 Atlantic Avenue, #100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510-748-9001.

Undergraduate Open House Shares the Unique AUA Experience with Prospective Students

khuch — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:39:44 +0000

YEREVAN–The American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted its second Undergraduate Open House on Saturday, March 2, welcoming over 350 prospective students and their parents to campus for college tours, presentations, academic program visits, and faculty and staff introductions.

The event was part of the university’s outreach efforts for the Fall 2013 launch of AUA’s undergraduate program, which will offer majors in Business, Computational Sciences, and English & Communications. Staff members led information sessions about the new programs, financial aid opportunities, the application process, and the career paths available to students after graduating from AUA.

Afterwards, students and parents engaged in a mock English class led by Dr. Dennis Leavens and participated in an interactive scavenger hunt throughout the campus. AUA students and alumni also contributed by leading campus tours and answering prospective applicants’ questions. To learn more about the program, click here: http://aua.am/ugrad.

The university will be offering another open House on Saturday, March 23, for prospective Graduate students, seeking information about AUA’s various master’s degree programs. For more information on AUA’s Graduate Program, click here: http://aua.am/graduate.

AUA is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 985 Atlantic Avenue, #100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510-748-9001.

Argentina’s Ambassador to Armenia Visits AUA

khuch — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:37:35 +0000

YEREVAN-On Tuesday, February 26, the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted a visit from the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Argentina to Armenia, Diego Ernesto Alvarez Rivera, and his son, Diego.

They met with Provost Dr. Dennis Leavens, Vice President of Operations Ashot Ghazaryan, and Program Chair of Political Science and International Affairs Dr. Douglas Shumavon, who provided general information about AUA and led a tour of the facilities.

During the meeting, Ambassador Rivera expressed his interest in AUA and stated, “We’re very happy to see in what way we can advance our relationship, to see the things we can do together.”

AUA Acopian Center for the Environment Works with Yerevan High Schools

khuch — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 07:27:47 +0000

Students at Khosrov Reserve, taking coordinates for Bearded Vulture nest.

YEREVAN–For the past year, the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment has been working with students from the “Mkhitar Sebastatsi” Educational Complex in Yerevan organizing ecological and ornithological clubs for the student to participate in a 10-week ecology and 20-week ornithology courses.

Through these clubs, Siranush Tumanyan, the Acopian Center’s Education Outreach Specialist, has worked with almost 50 students (45 high-school and 5 middle-school).

Siranush Tumanyan photographed in the US with an American Turkey Vulture

Taught by Tumanyan, these courses have introduced a new way of teaching these topics. “One of our objectives was to improve the methodology of teaching biology and ecology at schools. I believe we have succeeded. While students participate voluntarily, our retention rates have been very high,” says Tumanyan. “Another sign of success is that other teachers at Mkhitar Sebastatsi are now adopting the same teaching methodology.”

As part of the courses, students go on field trips across the country, visiting key sites such as the Khosrov Preserve, Sevan National Park, Byurakan Forest, Armash Fish Pond, and more.

Each student has a blog where they publish articles they write based on these field trips and classes. “What you see in these blogs are budding scientists and researchers,” says Alen Amirkhanian, Interim Director of the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment. “They are a delight to read. They are informative, insightful, and concise.”

Examples of these student blogs include ones by Avetis Harutunyan, Qristina Atoyan, and Sona Arsenyan.

Ms. Tumanyan has also worked with some students to translate and creating e-books on the topics of ecology and ornithology. The first book, an e-book prepared by the 12-year old Erik Sahakyan, is about bird behavior and is intended for younger audiences. Copies of Mr. Sahakyan’s e-book can be viewed and downloaded from here.

A group of 10 students are now preparing a coloring book about wintering birds in Yerevan. Part of the group is working on preparing the text while the others are drawing the illustrations. This, also, is intended for younger audiences.

The AUA Acopian Center is expanding this outreach program to other schools in Yerevan. In the past month, work has started with Ayb High School, with 15 students selected by Ayb to participate in this program. “This expansion fits with our objectives of community outreach,” says Amirkhanian. “We hope that over the coming year we will be able to secure the resources to include 2 more schools.”

For more information, please write to ace@aua.am.

12 participants from high school identify and count birds in the botanical gardens.

15 participants from the high school join with experts from the Zoological institute for international Euro-birdwatching Day in October 2012.

AGBU Papazian Library at AUA to Establish New Institutional Repository

khuch — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 07:09:08 +0000

YEREVAN–The AGBU Papazian Library at the American University of Armenia is developing an institutional repository to preserve and disseminate archival material and academic work conducting in AUA.

To prepare for the transition, the Library organized an information session on February 22, 2013, inviting Carolyn Runyon, digital collections archivist of the University of Cairo, to present the background and benefits of institutional repositories.

In her lecture, titled “Using Institutional Repositories to Democratize Knowledge,” Runyon presented the value of an institutional repository as both a promotional and a research tool.

An expert on institutional repository management, Runyon will assist AUA’s librarians and tech support team in the development of an institutional repository through a series of trainings and workshops.

During her presentation Runyon explained the purpose of an institutional repository, describing it as an online locus to digitally disseminate the intellectual output of an institution. The new repository will allow AUA to both preserve archival materials, as well as enhance the university’s research profile. By increasing the availability of scholarly communications, academic work produced at AUA will receive more views, more citations, and more recognition within a global audience.

Additionally, the new institutional repository will serve as an invaluable learning tool that makes information more freely accessible at the university, according to Runyon. In this way, it will benefit AUA students by facilitating timely and effective academic research.

“If every scholarly work were free and searchable to teachers, school children, university students, and brilliant autodidacts, we would be able to use the internet as a true source of learning,” she explained, adding that it is with this hope in mind that AUA plans to create its own institutional repository.

Chief Scientist of AUA’s Acopian Center for Environment Appointed National Coordinator by the European Bird Census Council

khuch — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 07:37:23 +0000

YEREVAN–Dr. Karen Aghababyan, Chief Scientist of the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, has been appointed as Armenia’s National Coordinator for the second European Breeding Bird Atlas (EBBA2). His appointment was made by the European Bird Census Council, the organization leading the multi-national effort to prepare and publish the Atlas by the year 2018.

The first Atlas was published in 1997 with data that is by now 30 years old. Each of the 50+ countries participating in the preparation of the EBBA2 will create an atlas for their own countries as well. “This will be the first time Armenia will have a breeding bird atlas and the first time we will participate in the European-wide effort,” says Dr. Aghababyan.

Dr. Aghababyan’s responsibilities as a National Coordinator include collection and processing of data for Armenia. Over the next four years, he will be organizing large-scale field work involving hundreds of professionals and volunteers, a work that is already three years in the making. “We started in 2010 dividing the country into a grid, into 10km by 10km observation areas. In few of these areas we set up monitoring routes and conducted counts. This helped us obtain preliminary data and polish our counting methodology,” explains Dr. Aghababyan. ”Now we plan to expand the counting sites to cover the entire country.”

The Armenian atlas will provide up-to-date distribution maps for birds across the country. The European Bird Census Council will use the country-specific atlases to compile a European-wide atlas, the EBBA2. With the massive amounts of bird data collected, the EBBA2 will become one of the most comprehensive biodiversity data sets in the world.

Over the coming year, Dr. Aghababyan will be working with the European Bird Census Council to identify EU funding that will cover the costs of this important 4-year undertaking.