Within the scope of strengthening of cooperation between Armenia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in academics, research, training and culture, the Embassy of the UAE in Armenia hosted a teleconference held with the participation of Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Armenia Ahlam Al Salami; Head of the Department for International Relations of the Government of Sharjah Ali bin Rashid Al Mahyan; Rector of Al Qasimia University Rashad Salim; Dean of the Faculty of Literature and Humanities at Al Qasimia University Dr. Hassan Al Malakh and representative of the Arabic Department Dr. Mohammad Al Sheikh. The Armenian side was represented by Pro-Rector of Yerevan State University for International Cooperation and Public Relations Artur Israelyan and Head of the Arabic Studies Department at Yerevan State University Hayk Kocharyan.

The meeting was held as a result of the visit of the delegation of the Department for State Relations of the Emirate of Sharjah to Armenia in June 2019 during which the delegation and Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan discussed issues related to the exchange of students and professors’ training programs.

At the outset of the meeting, Ahlam Al Salami greeted the participants and attached importance to the growing Emirates-Armenia relations, adding that the Embassy of UAE aspires to develop cooperation in education, science and culture. Touching upon the cooperation with the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Yerevan State University, Salami stated the opening of an Emirates classroom in the Faculty and the holding of several lectures.

During the meeting, the participants discussed the paths for development of academic ties and cooperation and agreed to organize courses for Armenian students at the language center at Al Qasimia University and training courses for professors at the Faculties of Literature, History, Koran and Islamic Studies.

Rector of Al Qasimia University Rashad Salim presented the idea of the foundation of the University and stated that this year education for Armenian students can be organized remotely and at Al Qasimia University in the years to come.

In his turn, Pro-Rector of Yerevan State University for International Cooperation and Public Relations Artur Israelyan presented the history of the University and cooperation with different foreign universities, stating that the University is currently in need of a specialist on the Emirates.