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Haigazian at 55: Armenian Diaspora's only university continues

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  • Haigazian at 55: Armenian Diaspora's only university continues

    Haigazian at 55: Armenian Diaspora's only university continues
    pioneering mission

    http://www.reporter.am/index.cfm?objectid¥FB8660-E452-11DF-A97E0003FF3452C2
    Published: Saturday October 30, 2010


    Graduates of Haigazian university.

    View of the university building in Beirut.

    Beirut - In the heart of the Mediterranean city of Beirut and in the
    hearts of current and former students all around the globe lies
    Haigazian University. Located in a prime business and social area of
    the Lebanese capital, this jewel has shone for the past 55 years as
    the only university with an Armenian identity in the entire Armenian
    Diaspora.

    The loving family atmosphere, the exceptional quality and standard of
    education, and the dedicated faculty and staff make Haigazian a warm
    and nurturing second home for the hundreds of students passing through
    its gates every day. Haigazian University is open to all students who
    are academically qualified regardless of race, nationality or creed
    and it has become renowned for graduating open-minded and dedicated
    young men and women that actively serve their community.

    It all began on October 17 1955, when the Union of Armenian Churches
    in the Near East (UAECNE) and the Armenian Missionary Association of
    America (AMAA) established Haigazian as a liberal arts college to
    educate future teachers and pastors. Named in honor of the highly
    respected pastor, educator, philosopher, and a martyr of the Armenian
    Genocide, Dr. Armenag Haigazian, the university with its single
    building first opened its doors to 43 bright and eager young minds.

    Haigazian University has prospered and grown over the years,
    transforming into an exemplary educational institution which this year
    serves a record number of 800 undergraduate and graduate students, as
    well as a fully qualified faculty of around 100 and a staff of 50. The
    academic standards of Haigazian are among the top in the country, with
    a total of 30 undergraduate and 13 graduate majors offered in the
    faculties of Business Administration and Economics, Sciences,
    Humanities, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Haigazian University
    today occupies 6 buildings over an area of 6500 sq. meters in a
    central district of Beirut. The recent acquisition of the Heritage
    building, which is a preserved architectural edifice, is another
    aspect of the university's continued growth and serves a dual
    administrative and academic purpose.

    As a liberal arts university, Haigazian focuses on providing its
    students with a well-rounded education, respecting a balance between
    academic and extracurricular activities with the help of its numerous
    clubs, teams and societies. Haigazian promotes these clubs on the
    basis that they build self-esteem, help students acquire new skills,
    strengthen their character, cultivate their creativity and
    spirituality and in general prepare them to become future leaders in
    their communities.

    At Haigazian, every student counts. With an average of 20 students per
    class, the best personal care and attention is offered to each
    individual. One-on-one personal relations between faculty and students
    ensure that students get the most out of their educational experience,
    a unique aspect of Haigazian, rarely found in other universities in
    Lebanon.

    The highly active student life at Haigazian includes a large variety
    of clubs that cater to different interests. The Arts and Crafts club
    and the Photography club are there for those with artistic
    inclinations, showing their works in exhibitions annually. The Actors
    club and the Dance club each put on a major production once a year.
    For those who want to serve the community, the Desert Streams club is
    a philanthropic group of students that helps those in need and the
    Environmental club is dedicated to making the world a greener,
    healthier place to live in. The Social Activities club plans social
    events where students get to know each other and establish
    friendships. Haigazian has its own student newspaper, the Herald,
    which is a place for students to express their views. The athletic
    program includes basketball, football, table tennis, tennis, swimming,
    martial arts, extreme sports and chess.

    All these activities help students feel more connected to their
    university. Haigazian is very proud of its 3000 distinguished alumni
    spread all over the world, and holding major positions in the private
    and public sectors, in the various fields of business, education,
    media, among others.

    Haigazian University contributes to the broader Lebanese and Armenian
    communities by publishing various books in Armenian, English and
    Arabic, and by increasingly acting as a central community hub in
    organizing and sponsoring academic, cultural and social events,
    extending its efforts all the way to Armenia. On the occasion of its
    55th Anniversary, the University is organizing a series of conferences
    throughout the year, covering topics from Education to Information
    Technology, to Real Estate Market and Hospitality services in Lebanon.
    The series will culminate with an Armenological symposium, jointly
    organized with the Yerevan State University.

    Another vital aspect of Haigazian's growth is related to its budget
    and ever growing financial needs. Haigazian operates on a yearly
    budget of 5.5 million dollars. Additionally, it grants a total of 1.2
    million dollars in financial aid programs. These scholarships are the
    tangible reality of the fundraising efforts and donations carried out
    by the AMAA, the Stephen Philibosian Foundation and various other
    foundations such as the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the Vatche and
    Tamar Manoukian Fund, the Robert Boghossian and Sons Foundation, the
    Lincy Foundation, the Flora Family Foundation, the Common Global
    Ministries Board, Armenian Patriotic Unions, the USAID, the Board of
    Trustees, the Women's Auxiliary, and friends of the university.

    Through these aid programs, students with financial difficulties who
    could otherwise not receive a higher education have the opportunity to
    go to university, receive their diploma and be well prepared to start
    out their lives in the real world.

    The most recent program is the USAP (University Students Assistance
    Program) 7.4 million dollar grant, primarily funded by the USAID
    (United States Agency for International Development). This aid program
    extended over a period of five years will choose students from the
    public schools of all the 26 districts of Lebanon and cover all their
    expenses from the time they prepare to enter Haigazian until they
    graduate, including tuition, dorms, books and petty cash.




    From: A. Papazian
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