ArmInfo.On November 8, Yerevan hosted the three-day "Development Leaders Forum – 2024: Intellectual Leadership" – an innovative international project for young people from all regions of Armenia, the purpose of which is the comprehensive development of leadership skills.
Opening the forum, organized by the humanitarian foundation "International Institute for the Development of Communications" (MIR Foundation, Armenia) in partnership with the National Research Institute for the Development of Communications (NIRC, Russia) and the Yerevan State Institute, NIRC Deputy Director for Research Valentina Komleva noted that, unlike last year's Gyumri and the first Development Leaders Forum chronologically, this event focuses on intellectual leadership and the creation of intellectual clubs.
In her opinion, this, in turn, will not only increase the involvement of young people in club activities, but can also become an incentive for the further innovative and cultural development of Armenia. "We are confident that our Forum is very relevant, very useful and will contribute to the intellectual development of the intellectual potential of young people," she summed up.
And the Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin, whose greeting was read by the representative of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Mikhail Vozhdaev, recalled that the Strategy for International Youth Cooperation of the CIS Member States until 2030 was approved by the Council of Heads of State and provides for the creation of conditions for the successful socialization and comprehensive development of youth, strengthening mutual potential and friendship.
"For Russia, of course, the foreign policy priority is to increase cooperation with the CIS states on the principles of equality, respect and consideration of each other's interests. In this regard, we support the holding of the Forum, which brought together talented youth of Armenia. We are confident that in a difficult situation, such intellectual efforts are especially in demand that are focused on effective solutions to common problems in various areas of life. The key to success is inherent in the young generation, thanks to an active life position, energy, focus on results and the promotion of fresh, non-standard ideas," the Russian ambassador noted in a message to the participants of the event.
The prospects for the development of Armenian-Russian cooperation were also discussed by A. Member of the Armenian Parliament Alexey Sandykov, who noted that a fairly good tradition has already developed to gather within the walls of YSU and discuss the prospects for further development and cooperation, especially in the Armenian-Russian vein.
"The very name of the forum already contains the main message – intellectual leadership. And what is intelligence? It is education, upbringing, a system of certain values, human qualities, and this means that if intelligence leads, then we will have a future. But most importantly, in addition to state and labor relations, we are united by fraternal centuries-old historical ties that create fertile ground for current relations. Further, everything will depend on you," Sandykov expressed his conviction. In turn, the director of the National Research Institute for the Development of Communications Vladislav Gasumyanov pointed out the importance for young people of acquiring deep and comprehensive modern knowledge, active participation in public life and civic undertakings, the ability to lead people to feats and accomplishments and the creation of conditions for the protection of the system of basic values.
"We know that Yerevan State University is doing very serious and profound work to train modern specialists and educate them in the spirit of patriotism and civic engagement. This is very valuable work and we, for our part, are ready to further develop cooperation to solve the same problems. We would like the new, next generation of young Armenian leaders to carefully treat the unique traditions of Russian- Armenian friendship. We would like them to skillfully navigate the political realities, be able to reflect the challenges of modern times, be responsible for the fate and future of the brotherly Armenian people," Gasumyanov emphasized. In this regard, he noted that the forum was prepared jointly with Armenian colleagues from the standpoint of understanding the seriousness and complexity of the tasks of forming true leaders among the youth who will lead Armenia along the path of progress and comprehensive development in a generation.
One of the organizers of the project from the Armenian side, the head of the Center for Russian Studies at Yerevan State University Aram Safaryan, wished the young participants fortitude and to become bearers of very serious convictions, since the young people gathered in the hall will be leaders of Armenia in various fields in 15 years. "You will all have to go the way we went, falling and getting up. And this project is designed to develop the willpower of future leaders," Aram Safaryan encouraged the youth. Another of the Armenian organizers of the forum, the head of the International Public Organization for Humanitarian Development Arman Ghukasyan, emphasized that youth participation in dialogues with experienced experts and scientists on the key topics discussed here is very correct and productive. According to him, this is due to the fact that such meetings allow self-organization in order to become full-fledged members of a large community of friends and like-minded people, as well as worthy citizens and useful people for Armenia.
The forum was attended by representatives of government agencies, politicians, diplomats, public figures, and experts. Among the honored guests were the representative of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Mikhail Vozhdaev, deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia of the 7th convocation Alexey Sandykov, vice-rector for science of the Russian-Armenian University Parkev Avetisyan, vice-rector for academic affairs of Yerevan State University Elina Asriyan, chief specialist of the Department of External Relations of the branch of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov in Yerevan Arpine Toneyan.
The project brings together young leaders from all regions of Armenia. Participation in the forum is a unique opportunity to become part of a dynamic program that includes master classes, lectures, trainings and team games aimed at developing intellectual leadership, mentoring and project activities, get acquainted with successful examples of intellectual leadership among the youth and develop a project for their own youth club together with experts in the field of scientific, educational, youth and media activities. During panel meetings, the participants of the event will present projects that will be evaluated by the competition committee. The best of them will receive support from the forum organizers for their further implementation. And at the end of the forum, all participants will receive certificates confirming their active participation in this significant educational and development process. "Development Leaders Forum" is an innovative international project for young people from all regions of the Republic of Armenia, the main goal of which is the comprehensive development of leadership skills. The forum is being held in Armenia for the second time. The first one was held in 2023 in the city of Gyumri and was dedicated to the development of ideas for the development of the territories of Armenia. The winners, with the support of NIIRK, opened two youth centers, one of which is located in the village of Lukashin in the Armavir region, the other in the village of Berdavan in the Tavush region.
This year, the best presentation projects of young leaders will receive support from the forum organizers for their further implementation. And upon completion, all participants will be awarded certificates confirming their active participation in such a significant educational and developmental process.
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