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U.Mich ASP: Project To Study The State of Armenian Studies Globally

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  • U.Mich ASP: Project To Study The State of Armenian Studies Globally

    PRESS RELEASE
    Armenian Studies Program
    Gloria Caudill, Administrator
    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
    [email protected]
    (734) 763-0622

    A MUCH NEEDED PROJECT TO STUDY "THE STATE OF ARMENIAN STUDIES" GLOBALLY



    The Armenian Studies Program at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
    in collaboration with the National Association for Armenian Studies
    and Research and other major institutions and organizations has
    embarked on an ambitious project to study "The State of Armenian
    Studies."

    Universities and the Academy of Sciences in Armenia have departments
    and institutes that deal with the subject. In the Diaspora, a large
    number of organizations, endowed chairs, and programs in academic
    institutions and outside devote substantial resources to promote
    Armenian Studies.

    In the past the National Association for Armenian Studies and
    Research, the National Academy of Science of Armenia, the
    International Association for Armenian Studies have organized
    conferences and colloquia to study various aspects of the field; so
    have individual scholars. Based on these efforts and undertaking
    comprehensive surveys and analyses, the University of Michigan project
    aims at producing a first of its kind comprehensive and global Report
    on the "State of Armenian Studies" and making it available to all
    concerned by the end of 2009 with the cooperation of organizations,
    institutions, and scholars involved in Armenian Studies worldwide.

    That report will encompass a quantitative as well as a qualitative
    analysis of the whole array of activities, from existing programs and
    their activities, books and articles published in the last decades,
    programs and chairs established, to gaps in knowledge, relationship
    between current output and advances in the social sciences and
    humanities in general, and future needs.

    To produce that report, the Armenian Studies Program at the University
    of Michigan invited an initial, organizational meeting of
    organizations and institutions that might contribute to the planning
    of and logistical support to the project. That first meeting was held
    on September 19 and 20 on the campus of the University of Michigan.

    Participating in the first meeting of the workshop were
    representatives of the National Academy of Sciences (Prof. Ruben
    Safrastyan), Yerevan State University (Prof. Albert Stepanyan), the
    National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (Belmont,
    Mass., Marc Mamigonian), the Society for Armenian Studies (US, Barlow
    Der Mgrtichian), the Society for Armenian Studies (Europe, Seta Claire
    Mouradian), the Armenian Research Center, University of
    Michigan-Dearborn (Prof. Ara Sanjian and Gerald Ottenbreit), and the
    Armenian Studies Program at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
    (Professors Gerard Libaridian and Kevork Bardakjian). The Director of
    the Matenadaran in Armenia, Dr. Hrach Tamrazian, was unable to attend
    due to a scheduling conflict, but pledged his support to the
    project. The president of the International Association of Armenian
    Studies, Prof. Valentina Calzolari, based in Geneva, could not attend
    because of a personal emergency but sent a full commentary on the
    questions posed and is fully engaged in the process.

    During the next months the project will be made operational; Armenian
    Studies chair holders, program directors and individual scholars will
    be asked to contribute to the preparation of the draft report. A
    second, expanded meeting of the workshop will convene in the spring of
    2009 to discuss and review the draft Report.

    "It is obvious that Armenian Studies is critical to scholarship that
    will help us understand and interpret the Armenian past, culture and
    identity," stated Prof. Gerard Libaridian, Director of the Armenian
    Studies Program at the University of Michigan and director of the
    project.

    "But Armenian Studies also constitutes an integral part of the life of
    our people in Armenia and in communities in the Diaspora. Scholarship
    has been critical in the way the Armenian nation articulated itself in
    the modern era; policy and agenda making interact on so many
    levels. This is the time to do an inventory of our resources, think
    about the problems, and propose solutions," he said. "We are delighted
    to have the support of all institutions and organizations concerned
    and I am confident we will have the support of individual scholars as
    well to produce as comprehensive, thoughtful, and useful Report as
    possible."

    This workshop is being supported by the Harry Ardashes Paul Memorial
    Fund of the Armenian Studies Program at the University of Michigan,
    Ann Arbor.
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