| French University in Armenia | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1995 |
| Type | Inter-Governmental University |
| Rector | Joelle Le Morzellec |
| Students | 700 |
| Location | Yerevan, Armenia |
| Campus | urban |
| Website | http://www.ufar.am |
Fondation Université Française en Arménie is a French language higher educational institution in Armenia. The university is located on Davit Anhaght street at the Kanakerr-Zeytun district of Yerevan. Instruction is primarily in French and Armenian.
An agreement on cultural, scientific and technical collaboration was signed in 1995, November 4 between Armenia and France. This collaboration was followed by a protocol of 1998, November 23 which was concluded between Ministry of Education of RA and the Embassy of France in Armenia. The government of Armenia has its participation in the establishment of French University in Armenia Foundation (FUAF), taking into consideration the need to improve the educational system and fulfill its rich experience in higher and vocational education programs in the field.
From the outset FUAF has become the lighthouse of collaboration with France and the mainstay of Francophone in Armenia.
The pedagogic principle of granting two Armenian and French state diplomas, namely Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree, was adopted from the beginning. The duration of studies in FUAF is four years in the Bachelor’s Degree, and two years in the Master’s Degree respectively, considering the peculiarities of the transition stage the Armenian universities are in before they entirely adopt the Bologna system.
French University in Armenia Foundation (FUAF), which has approximately 1,000 students, aims to prepare highly-qualified specialists that correspond to the current needs of Armenian labor market and Caucasia economic region. The young graduates of FUAF apply their knowledge to the advantage of relationships between Armenia, France and Europe, as well as the development of Armenia. They are the leaders / managers of tomorrow. At the end of their studies each year roughly 70% of graduates find a job in their profession, some of whom pursue their education abroad, and in three years’ time this percentage amounts to almost 100.
The FUAF, which according to Armenian law is a foundation, favors the support of Armenian authorities: Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for instance, instructs in the university. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is the Secretary of National Security Council (i.e. the third figure in authority), who is also one of the founders of FUAF. Most of the ministers’ and state high-ranking officials’ children prefer to study here.
The FUAF day by day broadens the scope of its presence in Armenian university life due to its collaboration with other functioning universities in Armenia.
The FUAF is a unique institution. In contrast to other institutions awarding French diplomas, Cairo University, for example, which has only French Pro-rector, and the Hanoi Francophone Institute of Information Science, the Rector and Secretary General must be French according to FUAF regulation. By the decision of the Ministry of External and European Affairs of France from this year on a position for an international volunteer has been made available.
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The FUAF has got three faculties, namely law, management and marketing. The university awards Bachelor’s diplomas in the fields of law, economics, management, as well as in international business law, sales and marketing, finance and auditing and starting from this year one-year Master’s graduate diplomas for the newly-opened faculty of “Cultural Communication, Tourism and Management” commissioned by the government of Armenia.
The knowledge of French is not obligatory in entering the university. During the first two years of study the students not only cover public educational and professional subjects but also have intensive French classes as a result of which the knowledge gained in the course of studies is checked or assessed through an internationally-recognized test. The further continuation of study is conditioned by the test results. Thus, 85% of students, who before entering the FUAF haven’t ever studied French, starting from the third year become capable of proceeding with their studies in French.
Thanks to professors from Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University and Toulouse 1 Capitole University at least 20% of studies at undergraduate (starting from the third year) and about 50% of those at graduate level are conducted in French.
After having done their obligatory internship in France, Belgium or Armenia, students submit their graduation paper and orally defend it. The students in this respect demonstrate their capabilities both in formulating in writing their assignment accomplished and in defending their graduation thesis in French.
Among the advantages of this higher education institution, closely collaborating with Armenian and French organizations and French local self-government bodies, are entrance competition, French and Armenian teaching staff, the significant role of Armenian Diaspora, as well as institutional partners. Tuition fees are calculated in accordance with the standard of living of Armenia. The FUAF also provides scholarships of excellence to its best students, enabling them to fully or partially pay for their tuition fees, as well as those with social conditions owing to private donors or organizations.
The university cooperates with the organization of European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), which gives qualification to organizations that best prepare specialties in Management. The FUAF is a member of the Agency of University of Francophone (AUF), and that of Francophone University network, which is an advocate of steady development consolidated around the Chair of UNESCO. The number of FUAF undergraduates and graduates getting job placement makes 80% each year, which is the cogent proof of spreading francophone in the region of Caucasus and ensures the project of involving other representatives of the region, namely Georgian, Iranian and Russian students.