AUA Manoogian Simone College of Business & Economics

We were incredibly proud to serve as the vibrant hub and host for the prominent opening day of the international ICOMOS Europe Group Meeting and Scientific Symposium.

In Manoogian Hall, AUA brought together global cultural preservation experts from over two dozen countries—including Spain, Germany, France, and Belgium—alongside state officials and international dignitaries like EU Ambassador H.E. Vassilis Maragos and Minister Zhanna Andreasyan.

Under the theme “Memory-Driven Heritage: Ethics, Cultural Landscapes, and Transboundary Cooperation,” the symposium challenged the traditional view of preservation, proving that cultural heritage is a living, human-centered process rooted in social justice and regional diplomacy.

AUA faculty led the conversation on the future of the field Zarmine Zeitountsian, MSCBE Business Liason delivered a featured presentation on our groundbreaking project: "Digitizing 100 Armenian Monuments." Her work perfectly illustrates how AUA is bridging the gap between digital humanities and sustainable, responsible public tourism.

Thank you to all the global scholars, local artisans, and diplomats who made this opening day a resounding success.

🔗 Read the full recap of the symposium below:

AUA Hosts Opening of International ICOMOS Symposium - AUA Newsroom Held in AUA’s Manoogian Hall, the symposium brought together international experts, heritage professionals, and state officials.

We are excited to announce an upcoming research seminar! 📢
Join us on Friday, July 3rd at 2:30 PM for an eye-opening presentation by Johannes Gaul on

📑 "The Effect of Global Anti-Tax Avoidance Efforts on Sub-National Profit Shifting"

As international regulations tighten to crack down on cross-border tax evasion, multinational enterprises (MNEs) are showing incredible strategic flexibility. Using a brand-new dataset mapping MNE ownership networks, this research reveals that tighter global rules are actually driving these massive firms to intensify their presence in sub-national (local) tax havens.
Whether you are interested in economics, policy, or corporate strategy, this is a discussion you won't want to miss!

🗓️ Date: Friday, July 3
⏰ Time: 2:30 PM
📍 Location: 233W

Please register hee: https://forms.gle/4ztbBApKhNVEnoM7A

At a recent discussion hosted by the Armenian-Belgian Chamber of Commerce titled “Unlocking Armenia’s Potential: Economic Reforms, European Integration and Regional Realities,” MSCBE Dean, Dr. Vache Gabrielyan, shared critical insights alongside leading Belgian economist Bruno Colmant and Belgian Ambassador Eric De Muynck.

Drawing from his extensive experience as a principal architect of Armenia’s economic reforms, Dean Gabrielyan emphasized that national strategy must align with the reality of boots-on-the-ground business:

"Clear strategies are necessary, but they will not work if they fail to align with the fundamental economic principles that guide private entrepreneurs and businesses in making decisions."

Read the full discussion coverage here: https://armenpress.am/en/article/1253563

We are thrilled to announce that the AUA has officially joined the Forum for Research on Eastern Europe and Emerging Economies (FREE Network)! 🤩

This milestone collaboration is spearheaded by MSCBE faculty members Professor Knar Khachatryan and Professor Vardan Baghdasaryan, who will serve as AUA's designated academic coordinators. Their long-standing research expertise laid the solid foundation for this formal institutional partnership. Notable joint outcomes already include groundbreaking publications co-authored by Prof. Khachatryan on regional labor markets and the domestic care gender gap in Armenia, as well as a highly timely policy brief recently published by Prof. Baghdasaryan on the contemporary dynamics of Armenia's electoral landscape 📃

🗣️ "Network membership will keep us abreast of developments in Eastern Europe and emerging markets, while also providing our faculty with opportunities to contribute expert commentary."
— Professor Vache Gabrielyan, Dean of MSCBE

🗣️ "AUA's membership brings new colleagues, perspectives, and expertise to our community, creating opportunities for joint research, academic exchange, and sharing of good practices."
— Dr. Pamela Campa, Associate Professor at the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE)

Prof. Khachatryan and Prof. Baghdasaryan welcome interested faculty members, independent scholars, and graduate students to connect with them directly to discuss research ideas, initiatives, and collaborative interests.

👉 Read the full article to discover how their work is advancing economic and gender research: https://newsroom.aua.am/2026/06/23/aua-joins-free-network-advance-economic-gender-research/

MSCBE Dean Dr. Vache Gabrielyan recently joined international policymakers, central bankers, and leading academics at the high-level symposium, "Can Nations Agree? Macroeconomic Policy in a Non-Cooperative World," hosted by the Central Bank of Armenia and the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee in Dilijan 🤩

Alongside senior officials from the IMF, World Bank, and top-tier scholars from institutions like Harvard, Oxford, and MIT, Dr. Gabrielyan lent his expertise to a panel addressing "Fiscal Imbalances and Global Debt."

The discussion tackled a critical modern dilemma: How can governments balance the competing demands of economic growth, the green transition, and national defense amid historic sovereign debt pressures and shrinking fiscal space? Dr. Gabrielyan shared vital perspectives on the essential pathways of international cooperation required to maintain fiscal discipline in an increasingly fractured political order.

Watch the discussion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR7jwll5cF0

We are excited to announce that the AUA MSCBE will be hosting Professor Bruno Colmant for an insightful guest lecture on a highly relevant topic:

🗣️ "Economic resilience in small states: challenges and opportunities"

This special event is organized in collaboration with the
Belgian-Armenian Chamber of Commerce.
Join us to gain valuable perspectives on how small nations navigate global economic shifts and build lasting resilience.

📅 Date: June 22
⏰ Time: 11:30 AM
📍 Location: Akian Gallery, PAB

Save the date and join the discussion!

We are excited to announce that the MSCBE, in collaboration with the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE), cordially invites you to a research seminar on “Women in Politics: Why Are They Underrepresented and Does It Matter?” presented by Dr. Pamela Campa, Associate Professor of Economics at SITE, Stockholm School of Economics

🔹July 6, 2026
🔹12:00 PM
🔹233W PAB Conference Room
🔹Zoom (Meeting ID: 847 1854 3260, Passcode: 142774) ⬅

As part of the “Closing Gender Gaps Through Economics Research” series, this seminar will analyze the extent of female underrepresentation in senior political leadership—with a special focus on Armenia—while examining critical causes such as voter discrimination, political parties as gatekeepers, and the effectiveness of policy interventions like gender quotas.

We highly encourage your participation ask to secure your attendance by registering here: https://l1nk.dev/qh836u9 ⬅

From June 14–18, 2026, international experts and heritage professionals will gather in AUA’s Alex and Marie Manoogian Hall for a scientific symposium titled “Memory-Driven Heritage: Ethics, Cultural Landscapes, and Transboundary Cooperation.” The symposium will explore heritage as a living, human-centered process, emphasizing the roles that memory, identity, and international cooperation play in contemporary preservation ⛪️🏛️

We are pleased to announce that Zarmine Zeytuntsyan, CBE Program Liaison and Director of the Graduate Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality Management (GCTHM) program, will be representing AUA as a featured speaker.

Presentation: "From Scholarly Documentation to Responsible Public Interpretation: Digitizing 100 Armenian Monuments"

Time: 11:30 AM 📍

Venue: Manoogian Hall, AUA

Dates: June 14–18, 2026

Ms. Zeytuntsyan’s presentation will address the critical transition from academic documentation to public interpretation, demonstrating how the digitization of 100 Armenian monuments can support sustainable cultural tourism and safeguard collective memory.

AUA is honored to support ICOMOS Europe in fostering global dialogue on heritage protection and sustainable development 🤩

🇦🇲 ԻԿՕՄՕՍ-ի Եվրոպայի խմբի հանդիպումը՝ Հայաստանում

Ուրախ ենք տեղեկացնել, որ 2026 թվականի հունիսի 14–18-ը Երևանում տեղի կունենա Միջազգային ԻԿՕՄՕՍ-ի Եվրոպայի խմբի հանդիպումը։

Հանդիպման շրջանակում կկազմակերպվի գիտական սիմպոզիում՝

«Հիշողությամբ պայմանավորված ժառանգություն․ բարոյագիտական մոտեցումներ, մշակութային լանդշաֆտներ և անդրսահմանային համագործակցություն» թեմայով։

Սիմպոզիումը հնարավորություն կընձեռի քննարկելու ժառանգությունը որպես կենդանի և մարդակենտրոն երևույթ, որտեղ հիշողությունը, ինքնությունը, պատասխանատվությունը և միջազգային համագործակցությունը կարևոր դեր ունեն ժառանգության ապահպանության գործում։

Մշակութային լանդշաֆտները, համայնքային հիշողությունը և անդրսահմանային երկխոսությունը կդիտարկվեն որպես ժառանգության պահպանման և փոխըմբռնման կարևոր հիմքեր։

📍 Երևան, Հայաստան
📅 Հունիսի 14–18, 2026

🇺🇸 ICOMOS Europe Group Meeting to Take Place in Armenia

We are pleased to announce that the ICOMOS Europe Group Meeting will take place in Yerevan, Armenia, from 14 to 18 June 2026.

Within the framework of the meeting, a scientific symposium will be held under the theme:

“Memory-Driven Heritage: Ethics, Cultural Landscapes, and Transboundary Cooperation.”

The symposium will explore heritage as a living and human-centered process, where memory, identity, responsibility, and international cooperation play a vital role in contemporary heritage preservation.

Cultural landscapes, community memories, and transboundary dialogue will be discussed as important foundations for heritage protection and mutual understanding.

📍 Yerevan, Armenia
📅 14–18 June 2026

In cooperation with and with the support of:
American University of Armenia
Ճարտարապետության և շինարարության Հայաստանի ազգային համալսարան
ՀՀ կրթության, գիտության, մշակույթի և սպորտի նախարարություն
ՀՀ ԿԳՄՍ նախարարություն Պահպանության Ծառայություն ՊՈԱԿ / Armenian Monuments
Arthur Tarkhanyan Center Արթուր Թարխանյան կենտրոն
TUMO Studios
Armenian Cultural Heritage Institute
Կարեն Դեմիրճյան

We are incredibly excited to share the success of our latest Capstone Consulting Project at AUA CBE!
Final-year undergraduate and graduate student teams officially stepped out of the classroom and into the professional arena as independent consultants, tackling high-stakes strategic, financial, and operational challenges for prominent local organizations like the State Revenue Committee, Ararat Museum, Yeremyan Academy, and Aparteny Wine 🚀

This vibrant educational ecosystem is driven by the Business Liaisons framework, which acts as a dynamic nexus aligning rigorous academic structures with the evolving needs of the Armenian business community. As Business Liaison and project supervisor Zarmine Zeitountsian noted, pitching actionable findings directly at corporate headquarters fundamentally fast-tracks personal growth and builds lasting professional confidence 📈

🔗 Read the full article below:

Theory Meets Reality: Capstone Simulation Prepares the Next Generation of Business Leaders - AUA Newsroom Student teams successfully took on complex operational, financial, and strategic challenges for prominent local organizations.

We are proud to announce that Assistant Professor Dr. Narek Ohanyan has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credential and joined the CFA Institute as a charterholder member 🤩

Widely regarded as the "gold standard" of the financial sector, the CFA charter certifies exceptional technical mastery in advanced portfolio management, financial analysis, and rigorous ethical standards.

"The CFA program masterfully integrates advanced financial theory with real-world market practice," notes Dr. Ohanyan. "Joining this community allows me to bring global standards of ethics and valuation directly into the classroom, cultivating the next generation of financial leaders."

Dr. Ohanyan’s achievement reinforces MSCBE’s commitment to advancing world-class financial practice and impactful research in Armenia.

Read the full article below:

Assistant Professor Earns CFA Charterholder Status - AUA Newsroom Referred to as the "gold standard" of the financial industry, the charter is held only by those who demonstrate exceptional technical skill.