New Cooperation with the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of NAS RA. Launch of Another Successful Program of Cooperation Between the University and Scientific Institution

On January 17, the International Scientific-Educational Center of NAS RA represented by  Director Armen Sargsyan, and Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of NAS RA represented by Director Sargis Aghayan, signed Agreement on Collaboration aimed at implementing master’s education, research, as well as joint international programs within the framework of the Erasmus+ capacity building program “Development of Aquaculture and Fisheries Education for Green Deal in Armenia and Ukraine: from Education to Ecology” (AFISHE).

In fulfilment of this Agreement, the parties establish “Hydrobiology and Aquaculture” Department within the framework of the collaboration to implement “Fishery” master’s degree program. The Department will be located at SCZHE.

The director of the International Scientific-Educational Center of NAS RA A. Sargsyan, highlighted the importance of this cooperation which will establish scientific and educational laboratories with modern equipment and software, as well as other infrastructures to promote research training in the RA and to attract experienced managers for aquaculture and fisheries. A. Sargsyan reminded that the AFISHE program aims to decrease the negative impact of aquaculture and fishery industry on the environment in Armenia and Ukraine through the designing and development of Master’s degree programs in aquaculture and fisheries, modelled on high-quality similar programs in Europe and responsive to national and regional needs, and strengthening the university-enterprise-research cooperation, hence, the joint efforts of the parties should be designed at effective implementation of the main goal of the project.

Sargis Aghayan, Director of the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of NAS RA, in his turn emphasized that joint cooperation will lead towards establishment of a network between Armenia, Ukraine and EU partner countries in the fields of aquaculture and fisheries. This network will serve as a platform for the implementation of joint educational and research activities with the purpose of promoting the best ecology-based approaches and activities in these fields in line with the Sustainable Development Goals UN and the EU Green Deal.