This is the opinion of academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, rector (currently former) of the Polytechnic University of Armenia for 18 years and current professor at the Mechanics and Automobile Studies department, professor invited to lecture at the Stanford and Illinois universities Professor Yuri Sargsyan, whose name has already been encarved in the Hall of Glory of the Cambridge international biographical center. The center has awarded Yuri Sargsyan with the “Top Hundred Educators” ranking in 2006 for his significant contribution in the international field of polytechnic education and sciences.
– Today, there are millions of award ceremonies around the world. What’s the value of this award in particular?
– Since the 19th century, the Cambridge international biographical center has been selecting the biographies of prominent activists in the fields of business, art, science, education, etc. They have followed-up on my activities since 1978. It was during those years when I received the award for best work in the American engineer/mechanics company and my biography was already included in one of the volumes of the center’s encyclopedia. They have obviously followed-up on the ups and downs of my life, my transition from science to education, education to educational politics and in summer 2006, when I had left the position of rector, I received a notice telling me that I was in the “Top hundred educators” category. Thousands of biographies of educators and scientists have been considered and they probably looked at mine as well, but I was selected among the hundred in 2006. I received the medal and the certificate by mail; however they invited me to see my name encarved in the Cambridge hall of glory.
– Was there anyone else besides you included in the top hundred?
– I don’t know anyone else.
– You have headed the Polytechnic for 18 years and now, judging from your age (Y. Sargsyan turned 66 a couple of days ago) you have left your position. Doesn’t the rector-professor transition bring up psychological issues?
– First of all, let’s talk about the law on that. I think that it is a right decision for the rector not to have the right to serve 2 years more than his term, which is ten years. However, the age limit is, in my opinion, completely injustified. But I treat such issues with simple psychology. I had never seen myself pursuing a career as a rector. They elected me unanimously for the first time at the Polytechnic and I have always been ready to go back to where I started. Now I have returned to science, I love what I do, I am still involved in international programs, I am reestablishing contacts with scientists, trying to restore my monographs, which I had stopped doing due to lack of time.
– How is science in Armenia today?
– There is no science policy, financing, science development strategy and an institutional structure. When the state sponsors the individuals and groups making the effort, then will it be possible to have an effect which will be critical for the country.
– The Armenian goverment provides money for science each year. So, is that money gone to waste?
– There is so little money that it simply goes to waste. That’s nothing for keeping science. I accept that they don’t work efficiently. People who are real scientists and don’t want to change their profession continue to work as scientists, probably with foreign grants, perhaps they work abroad, perhaps they get some help here. There are still individuals and they work, but the scientific groups and especially the destructed system aren’t effective and don’t have a collective result.
– Is there a science-economy connection and is it applied?
– Science is presumed in Armenia and has nothing to do with economy. We don’t have any examples of effective work when science has an influence on any field of economy and gets the commercial product. I’m talking about innovational researches and the lack of that system, which must tie the basic knowledge with economy and get the product, turn that into the commercial product. They can turn that into a new, competitive product, which can then be exported.
– Perhaps there is a reduction in loans for science? It seems as though youth isn’t that attracted to this field and whoever is, goes abroad.
– The romantism for science has faded away; young people are not inclined towards science anymore. Armenia used to have a flow of smart scientists. When you don’t have the system in which you can show yourself and be competitive, then the young scientist applies his knowledge in bigger systems-in Europe, the U.S. and elsewhere. That’s how I lost my best students who currently work in France, Germany and the U.S. I had a strong group of young scientists. They were talented and that’s why they went different places. If they were not talented, they would probably stay.
– In that case, what does the National Academy of Sciences stand for? Hasn’t it turned into some kind of dysfunctional and meaningless structure?
– The National Academy of Sciences has or must have an important mission. It has to be the leader in science. Different scientists and groups may gather in one general, academic structure. Separate institutes may not have the same potential and/or opportunity. Here mathematicians, physicians, biologists may work together to, let’s say, come up with new sanitary technologies or start making money. The goal and mission of the National Academy of Sciences is to unify the resources and organization of the numerous, diverse institutes. But how is the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia doing that? In my opinion, it’s not doing a good job, if it even does anything. I would think twice before saying anything else about the NAS because I am a NAS member and I am criticizing myself as well. The academy must go through reforms and we have been talking about that since the 90s. The institutes must be free and autonomous. Let’s not forget that the Academy is not only made up of the presidency or the academicians, but rather first of all, the thousands of scientists who long for the attention of the government and society. It’s not obligatory for only academicians to govern the Academy. The role of the central structures and presidency of the NAS must be clarified, young and progressive managers must enter the NAS so that the academy may fulfill its mission. We still don’t see those reforms, but there are many talks about that. Some new documents are coming into light which, as a rule, are not used and are substituted with other documents. There is some progress. The NAS plays a very important role and it simply needs help.
– Who must help?
– The Armenian government must finally approve a certain science development doctrine, to determine the place of the academy, the place and role of the university and branch of science. The academy must be the leader and guide in the scientific system. We must have a development strategy and in order to have that, we must know where we are and where we want to go, why we need science, how it is going to be tied to economy, society so that we can create the financing scheme and see what we have to draw more attention to and become competitive. All of Europe is moving towards a science-based economy; Europe wants to become the most competitive territory simply with its science-based economy and technologies.
– In that case, will science be like it was before? Will young scientists return?
– If foreign companies intervene, especially in the technologies field, then it’s clear that salaries will rise. When there will be conditions in Armenia, the scientists that left recently will come back, if of course, they haven’t already pursued their careers abroad. For example, one of my P.H.D. students returned to Armenia and works here.
– Back during the Soviet Union, the Polytechnic was known for its high number of male students; however, today we see a rise in economists and lawyers. So, the ones that don’t get the high marks to get accepted in the economy and law institutes get accepted to the Polytechnic?
– It’s hard to blame the Polytechnic University. Young people don’t want to study science and engineering. By science I don’t mean economics, but rather the exact sciences with which Armenia was known all over the USSR, perhaps even the world. Now the situation is different due to the change in the system of values. If you don’t have a certain scientific system where you can show your skills later on, if you don’t get a high salary for being an engineer, if it’s not a well-known profession, it’s obvious that that will have an influence on the flow of applicants. Unfortunately, I must say that Armenian students that graduate from school with honors prefer getting accepted to the economy and law faculties. I also graduated from school with honors and I would amaze everyone if I didn’t choose to get accepted to the Polytechnic. At the time all the capable students were choosing “hard” professions. The social environment has changed. The youth don’t want to study science and engineering.
– But isn’t engineering the profession which can be applied in all fields?
– Yes, you may work as an engineer and especially a programmer in the U.S. and Europe with a diploma from the Polytechnic University. In this case the engineering diploma is a good business card, but the economics or law diploma doesn’t have that rating. Students studying at our university graduate with a concrete profession and a very pragmatic mentality. Our graduates work everywhere. The Finance Minister of Armenia graduated from the automobile construction department of the Polytechnic, Justice Minister David Harutyunyan graduated from the accounting department, Vardan Oskanyan also graduated from the Polytechnic, Andranik Markaryan received his diploma in Cybernetics, Robert Kocharyan graduated from the electric/technical department and Tigran Torosyan has a diploma in Cybernetics. Many of the regional directors, deputies and police officers have graduated from the Polytechnic University and have the systematic mentality. The Polytechnic provides students with the ability to make decisions and analyze complicated situations. The man who has graduated from the Polytechnic can manage his home well too. The polytechnic education is an universal career education for a man and it will always be with him no matter where he is.