On December 16, 2010, the Armenian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates hosted Yervant Zorian, the chairman of the Armenian Virtual College and a member of the AGBU Central Board of Directors. A special event was organized by the Council of the Armenian Community of Abu Dhabi, initiated by both the principal and the chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ohanessian School of Sharjah — Nishan Basmadjian and Hratch Brunsuzian, respectively. The event was held as part of a series of presentations reaching across Armenian communities worldwide and aimed at the revitalization of Armenian education using the most advanced technologies through AGBU's newest educational program, the Armenian Virtual College (AVC).
After opening remarks by Souren Kojakian, Chairman of the Council of the Armenian Community of Abu Dhabi, Zorian took to the stage. “The AVC has a great potential impact in supporting our national struggle to preserve the Armenian language, history and culture. I would like to invite each one of you personally to become an AVC ambassador, to disseminate information about it in your community and across the world. AVC is eager to reach every interested individual and various groups who seek Armenian education anywhere in the world,” the AVC chairman said. “I am hopeful that you, your family, and friends will find an opportunity in the near future to enroll, as a student or auditor, in our program to better understand the unique identity and rich heritage of the Armenian nation, as well as to socialize and network with virtual classmates from all around the world.”
Throughout the presentation, Zorian answered audience questions and, following the discussion, several community activists, including Krikor Mahseredjian and Antoinette Yeretsian, expressed their appreciation and support for the online learning program. A number of attendees expressed their happiness at the AGBU-sponsored initiative and they were encouraged by the potential of the online school. “We were really impressed and happy that such a vital educational institution has been established which intends to cater to the needs of everyone related to Armenians,” audience member John Toutikian said. Vahagn Melikian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the UAE, expressed his support of the important program. “I will always be ready to cooperate with [AVC] to bring these great ideas to life,” he said.
Online students can enroll in the spring 2011 semester of AVC beginning March 11.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit www.agbu.org.
Photo: Leaders of the Council of the Armenian Community of Abu Dhabi surrounding Vahagn Melikian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the UAE, and Dr. Yervant Zorian, President of AVC.
Source: AGBU website, 23 February 2011
http://www.agbu.org/pressoffice/article.asp?ID=798
