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FROM LIGHT TO BRIGHT: LUYS FOUNDATION CONTINUES MAKING TIES BETWEEN ARMENIAN STUDENTS AND BEST UNIVERSITIES
http://armenianow.com/society/education/43302/luys_foundation_scholarship_armenian_students
EDUCATION | 08.02.13 | 12:57
Photo: Luys Foundation
By JULIA HAKOBYAN
ArmeniaNow Deputy Editor
This year, the Luys Foundation for the 5th time will grant
scholarships to Armenian students, providing them with a chance to
study at any of the world's ten best universities, including
Cambridge, Harvard, Oxford, Columbia and UCLA.
Enlarge Photo
Jacqueline Karaaslanian
Enlarge Photo
The foundation, established in 2008 under the patronage of the
Armenian president, aims to increase the number of Armenian students
attending the best universities worldwide, thus establishing a
generation of high qualified Armenian specialists with progressive and
creative thinking.
Any Armenian (from Armenia or abroad) between 18-40, who succeeds in
admitting to a full time degree-granting academic program (Bachelor,
Master, PhD) at one of the Luys selected ten universities can apply to
Luys Foundation, which would cover up to 50 percent of all expenses.
The Luys ( "light") scholars are obliged to a number of duties and
assume some responsibilities, which includes initiating and conducting
summer projects with the foundation, run seminars, participate in
Develop Armenia Program in Armenia, become mentors to young students
in Armenia, join or create an Armenian students association within the
university.
Being a Luys scholar however, does not oblige alumni to return to
Armenia, a fact that may raise some concerns in the country, where
officials themselves express concerns over the high rate of brain
drain. In fact Luys is the only Armenia-based organization which does
not oblige alumni to come back.
However Jacqueline Karaaslanian, Luys Foundation's Education Executive
Director, has another vision on the idea of returning to the homeland
and on the advantages of using the acquired knowledge to the benefit
of Armenia.
"The idea is that the concept of brain drain does not exist any longer
in the world, which develops very fast, creating new challenges and
opportunities. Today every country speaks rather of brain circulation.
Its all about knowledge, its about a person and his keyboard and no
matter where you are sitting. The real question nowadays should not be
"where is your office?" but " are you working with Armenia?,"
Karaaslanian said.
"If you look at people as 'hostages', nothing good will comes out of
this, they will be thinking about how to escape and one day they will.
But if you don't oblige them to return, they will think about how to
justify the confidence entrusted to them. Luys's mission is to develop
the network of people who acquired the habit of working with Armenia
and linking their work and ideas to Armenia. Armenia is the heart of
the Armenian society, Luys is a structure, which unites Armenians
around education and we make really huge efforts to establish and keep
this link. This means wherever you are, you do not go beyond the
Armenian world."
Karaaslanian believes that Armenian alumni will become a part of
global intellectuals, will become the decision makers, rather than
observers, in all areas, from politics to culture to education.
"I believe the real results we will see may be in some 5 years, when
Armenian alumni will be at top of powerful organizations, hopefully
most of them in Armenia."
Between 2009 and 2012 the number of Luys students and alumni reached
257; 168 of them are currently studying. Over 50 percent of alumni are
back to Armenia, the others are engaged in various organizations
throughout the world, including such powerful corporations such as
Google , Microsoft, Amazon.
One of the Luys's scholars Sahakanush Sargsyan, who obtained Master of
Education degree (Comparative and International Education) at Columbia
University, says without Luys support she would hardly be able to
afford two-year's education at the prestigious university.
Sargsyan learned about Luys scholarship from her fellows, while
studying at the Romance-Germanic philology faculty at Yerevan State
University.
"Due to my study, I acquired a new profession, and upon returning I
found a job where I can realize my knowledge. As for Luys, besides the
scholarship, the best thing about it is the idea of Luys network,
which unites students and alumni and when you are part of such a
system, it makes you feel differerent," says Sargsyan, 26, now an
expert at the Yerevan based Bologna Secretariat.
Another scholar, Stepan Khzrtian who obtained a Commercial LL.M degree
from the University of Cambridge, said soon upon graduation he got a
preliminary job proposal from a company in New York. But he preferred
to return and work in Armenia. Eventually he found a job at Luys
Foundation and now is guiding alumni in the Armenian labor market,
introducing them to potential perspectives, helping to make a proper
choice.
"I spent about 3 months seeking for a job which would meet my
professional interests. Now, I am supporting our alumni to do the same
without the wait," says Khzrtian.
"The education we obtain gives us the opportunity to see the world as
a global working field. Luys Students are highly mobile. Regardless of
where we are, we strive to connect the best Armenian resources abroad
with the possibilities in Armenia."
Another Luys mission, which, Karaaslanian said should not be
underestimated, is the Develop Armenia Program- the creation of an
environment where students and alumni get a chance to brainstorm
together, exchange ideas and eventually to built collective
intelligence.
"Luys is not only helping to get good education, it gives the chance
to discover each other's strengths, to learn to trust each other and
to learn how to work together. What the Luys student is obligated to,
is that when they have mastered in the university, they come up with
the report, or a project, which they will implement in summer, that
should present the most attractive and exiting part of their education
experience."
Each summer Luys scholars and their mentees, high school and
university students, come together in Armenia for one month to work in
groups throughout Armenia and Artsakh. In such environment they try to
identify the challenges the local community needs and come up with
creative solutions, collective thinking and activities that address
those needs.
"The best consolidation today is the unity of Armenian students and
knowledge," says Karaaslanian.
From: Baghdasarian
http://armenianow.com/society/education/43302/luys_foundation_scholarship_armenian_students
EDUCATION | 08.02.13 | 12:57
Photo: Luys Foundation
By JULIA HAKOBYAN
ArmeniaNow Deputy Editor
This year, the Luys Foundation for the 5th time will grant
scholarships to Armenian students, providing them with a chance to
study at any of the world's ten best universities, including
Cambridge, Harvard, Oxford, Columbia and UCLA.
Enlarge Photo
Jacqueline Karaaslanian
Enlarge Photo
The foundation, established in 2008 under the patronage of the
Armenian president, aims to increase the number of Armenian students
attending the best universities worldwide, thus establishing a
generation of high qualified Armenian specialists with progressive and
creative thinking.
Any Armenian (from Armenia or abroad) between 18-40, who succeeds in
admitting to a full time degree-granting academic program (Bachelor,
Master, PhD) at one of the Luys selected ten universities can apply to
Luys Foundation, which would cover up to 50 percent of all expenses.
The Luys ( "light") scholars are obliged to a number of duties and
assume some responsibilities, which includes initiating and conducting
summer projects with the foundation, run seminars, participate in
Develop Armenia Program in Armenia, become mentors to young students
in Armenia, join or create an Armenian students association within the
university.
Being a Luys scholar however, does not oblige alumni to return to
Armenia, a fact that may raise some concerns in the country, where
officials themselves express concerns over the high rate of brain
drain. In fact Luys is the only Armenia-based organization which does
not oblige alumni to come back.
However Jacqueline Karaaslanian, Luys Foundation's Education Executive
Director, has another vision on the idea of returning to the homeland
and on the advantages of using the acquired knowledge to the benefit
of Armenia.
"The idea is that the concept of brain drain does not exist any longer
in the world, which develops very fast, creating new challenges and
opportunities. Today every country speaks rather of brain circulation.
Its all about knowledge, its about a person and his keyboard and no
matter where you are sitting. The real question nowadays should not be
"where is your office?" but " are you working with Armenia?,"
Karaaslanian said.
"If you look at people as 'hostages', nothing good will comes out of
this, they will be thinking about how to escape and one day they will.
But if you don't oblige them to return, they will think about how to
justify the confidence entrusted to them. Luys's mission is to develop
the network of people who acquired the habit of working with Armenia
and linking their work and ideas to Armenia. Armenia is the heart of
the Armenian society, Luys is a structure, which unites Armenians
around education and we make really huge efforts to establish and keep
this link. This means wherever you are, you do not go beyond the
Armenian world."
Karaaslanian believes that Armenian alumni will become a part of
global intellectuals, will become the decision makers, rather than
observers, in all areas, from politics to culture to education.
"I believe the real results we will see may be in some 5 years, when
Armenian alumni will be at top of powerful organizations, hopefully
most of them in Armenia."
Between 2009 and 2012 the number of Luys students and alumni reached
257; 168 of them are currently studying. Over 50 percent of alumni are
back to Armenia, the others are engaged in various organizations
throughout the world, including such powerful corporations such as
Google , Microsoft, Amazon.
One of the Luys's scholars Sahakanush Sargsyan, who obtained Master of
Education degree (Comparative and International Education) at Columbia
University, says without Luys support she would hardly be able to
afford two-year's education at the prestigious university.
Sargsyan learned about Luys scholarship from her fellows, while
studying at the Romance-Germanic philology faculty at Yerevan State
University.
"Due to my study, I acquired a new profession, and upon returning I
found a job where I can realize my knowledge. As for Luys, besides the
scholarship, the best thing about it is the idea of Luys network,
which unites students and alumni and when you are part of such a
system, it makes you feel differerent," says Sargsyan, 26, now an
expert at the Yerevan based Bologna Secretariat.
Another scholar, Stepan Khzrtian who obtained a Commercial LL.M degree
from the University of Cambridge, said soon upon graduation he got a
preliminary job proposal from a company in New York. But he preferred
to return and work in Armenia. Eventually he found a job at Luys
Foundation and now is guiding alumni in the Armenian labor market,
introducing them to potential perspectives, helping to make a proper
choice.
"I spent about 3 months seeking for a job which would meet my
professional interests. Now, I am supporting our alumni to do the same
without the wait," says Khzrtian.
"The education we obtain gives us the opportunity to see the world as
a global working field. Luys Students are highly mobile. Regardless of
where we are, we strive to connect the best Armenian resources abroad
with the possibilities in Armenia."
Another Luys mission, which, Karaaslanian said should not be
underestimated, is the Develop Armenia Program- the creation of an
environment where students and alumni get a chance to brainstorm
together, exchange ideas and eventually to built collective
intelligence.
"Luys is not only helping to get good education, it gives the chance
to discover each other's strengths, to learn to trust each other and
to learn how to work together. What the Luys student is obligated to,
is that when they have mastered in the university, they come up with
the report, or a project, which they will implement in summer, that
should present the most attractive and exiting part of their education
experience."
Each summer Luys scholars and their mentees, high school and
university students, come together in Armenia for one month to work in
groups throughout Armenia and Artsakh. In such environment they try to
identify the challenges the local community needs and come up with
creative solutions, collective thinking and activities that address
those needs.
"The best consolidation today is the unity of Armenian students and
knowledge," says Karaaslanian.
From: Baghdasarian