Yesterday RA President Serzh Sargsyan received the students of IT sector, which have received educational awards from the President in 2010.
25 out of 37 IT young people are students from various RA universities and 12 of them are from the high school. A meeting between President Sargyan and Synopsys President and Chief Operating Officer Chi-Foon Chan following the educational awards; a reception for the winners of the Presidential IT Awards and the Microelectronics Olympiad at the Yerevan Chamber Music Hall; a community volunteer event; guest lecture for the students and professors of the State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA), Yerevan State University (YSU), Russian-Armenian Slavonic (State) University (RAU), and European Regional Educational Academy; and participation at the International Exhibition Digitec 2010 and ArmTech 2010. “We are proud to call Armenia one of our key home bases,” said Rich Goldman, vice president of Corporate Marketing and Strategic Alliances at Synopsys, and chief executive officer of Synopsys Armenia CJSC. “The growth and success of our Armenia R&D site is a testament to the dedication of our employees and the cooperation of the Armenian industry, government and academia. The achievements that this cooperation enables are making a positive impact on the economic development in Armenia, and have even been recognized by the U.S. Department of State in selecting Synopsys Armenia as a finalist in their ACE Awards. In the past year, we have noticed a significant trend in which other countries in the region are striving to emulate our cooperative activities in Armenia. During Synopsys Week in Armenia, we celebrate these achievements and invite all other domestic and international companies to join in the development of Armenia’s economy.” Those students, who had reached certain success in the IT sector besides the certificate and the money award have also received statues of IT industry. The grand prix price was awarded to Armen Gharibyan, a student of the RA State Architectural University. Among its accomplishments, Synopsys will celebrate the recent acquisition of Virage Logic as this marked an important milestone for Synopsys Armenia. “The Virage Logic acquisition has positioned Synopsys Armenia as the biggest Synopsys R&D site outside of the U.S.,” said Chi-Foon Chan. “With over 520 employees, the Synopsys Armenia team can now accomplish more significant projects and have more impact on making Armenia an important regional center of microelectronics.” “For many years, we have been carrying out works in our country aimed at the computerization of our schools. In 2004-2009, 1153 schools in Armenia were equipped with computers. Currently, the pupil/computer ratio in our secondary schools is 1 to 30, compared to 1 to 400 in 2003. Nevertheless, the number of computers in our schools is not sufficient yet. For comparison, it would suffice to say that in the developed countries that ratio is 1 to 5. When we achieve the ratio of 1 to 2 or 1 to 1, only then we can truly state that we are a highly competitive nation and that by the level of our competitiveness we are second to none. Obviously that such level of computerization of our schools cannot be viewed as adequate. Based on that understanding, we launch a priority program for the enhanced computerization of the secondary schools. It is largely aimed at the modernization of our educational system as well as amplification of the communication opportunities and open contacts among the teachers, pupils and parents. Furthermore, these improvements will not be limited to the capital of the Republic but will become available for even the remotest communities,” said Sargsyan. When speaking of the importance of making the state services electronic Sargsyan mentioned, “The program is to be implemented in November-December 2010 and the schools will be furnished with the up to date computer equipment. Our short-term goal is raise by the end of the year the pupil/computer medium ratio up to 1 to 25 instead of 1 to 30, while the long-term objective is to get closer to the ratio that exists in the developed countries. I am confident that the present and all future efforts will constantly augment the new army of gifted children like you. Generally, we should realize that nowadays organization of public life itself requires a wider application of information technologies. I trust you are well familiar with the expressions “e-society” and “e-governance”. We have already come up with a number of initiatives which are aimed at the providing state services electronically, i.e. much faster, less expensive, more efficient and most importantly, free of bureaucratic red tape. This approach toward providing services can be very inclusive – from tax collection to the registration of enterprises or licensing, from providing health care to the organization of elections. There is no alternative; we have no right to lack behind global developments and we will not. And all the steps that are being taken by the Government on this direction will be raising the importance of the young boys and girls like you in our society,” Sargsyan added. “The role of information technologies in contemporary life is great indeed. It’s not by chance that development and implementation of information technologies in business and everyday life for many are comparable to the revolution made by the invention and spread of printing. It is also no chance that I have given that particular example. Very soon, we will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Armenian book printing. It is an interesting fact that after German Johannes Guttenberg invented the printing machine, we, the Armenians started to use it almost instantly. Moreover, the Armenian people were the first in this region to start printing books. Yielding to our close and distant neighbors in terms of population size, territory and resources we never yielded our progressive nature and literacy. It means that we have legacy enforced by our history, which must be followed and handed to the next generations with our heads held high,” he said. “I sincerely wish, dear friends, that this award, which is your first significant accomplishment in this area, becomes the starting point of your future growth. We will find ways and means to encourage your studies and work in this area. Today, in your person, I once again appeal to our young people to build their future based on knowledge and creativity. I would like to stress once again that we are a nation of independent, brilliant and entrepreneurial individuals and due to these qualities we possess the most essential capital wanted in the area of information technologies – inspiration and talent. Money, state borders, huge armies are powerless against inspiration and talent. Hence, in the area of information technologies we have a boundless potential for development. I thank the Armenian branch of Synopsis Company. This award is our joint project. I also thank all those individuals who have brought their contribution to the realization of this program. However, my most profound words of gratitude I address to you, dear awardees, to your parents and families who share the joy of your success. This is your first step, and I am confident that new achievements are already on their way,” the President concluded.