YEREVAN—The Distance Learning Laboratory at Yerevan State University (YSU) this week announced the launch of DistanceLearning.am, a pioneering program of English-language courses that can be taken by anyone, anywhere, with access to a computer.
“For too long our language, culture, and history have been kept in select universities of the world,” said Dr. Artashes Khurshudyan, the director of the virtual program. “But now we must deliver to the demand of the 21st century. Contemporary education itself must be democratized and become as accessible as possible. This distance learning program will also contribute to the dissemination of Armenian issues across the world.”
The Distance Learning Laboratory, which is housed in Yerevan State’s Department of Sociology, has been developing this program for years. Now Armenians everywhere are invited to take YSU-certified courses in Armenian history, the Armenian Genocide, comparative genocide, and the Armenian Diaspora. The courses have been developed by leading experts, scholars, and professors from all over the world.
“DistanceLearning.am is a virtual university in itself,” Khurshudyan added, “a virtual university where courses in Armenian studies are being taught 24 hours a day. At any moment anybody in the world can walk into our university and begin or continue his education,” he said.
It’s about time for a program like this catered especially for young Armenians who haven’t had the privilege of growing up and learning Armenian language and culture in the motherland.