Japonica & Open Society Partner on Critical Thinking Initiative
PROVIDENCE, R.I. and YEREVAN, Republic of Armenia–(BUSINESS WIRE)—-
— Mission to strengthen democracy & free enterprise in emerging democracies
with world-class program —
The Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation – Armenia (“OSIAFA”) and
The Charles & Agnes Kazarian Eternal (“C.A.K.E.”) Foundation – an affiliate of
Japonica Intersectoral – announce an agreement to partner on a critical
thinking initiative to strengthen democracy and free enterprise in emerging
democracies with a world-class educational program. The project’s main goal is to
develop an academic course entitled “Critical Thinking, Research, and Writing
Skills” for introduction into Yerevan’s higher educational institutions.
The “C.A.K.E” Foundation created Japonica Intersectoral, a global
benchmarking and best-practice research firm in Yerevan, whose mission is to strengthen
democracy and free enterprise in developing countries through global
benchmarking and best practice research. Japonica Intersectoral is one of the
largest private-sector employers of professionals with graduate degrees in the
Caucasus and expects to have approximately 50 Research Associates in Yerevan over
the next three years.
S. Michael Levin, the “C.A.K.E.” Foundation’s Chief of Staff, commented,
“For Japonica Intersectoral, the development of world-class Critical Thinking,
Research, and Writing Skills within Yerevan’s higher educational institutions
is mission-critical.”
The project is complementary to Open Society’s regional initiative that is
being led by experts at the Central European University in Budapest. The
OSIAFA has supported a number of educational initiatives in Armenia including
teacher’s training in the RWTC (Reading Writing for Critical Thinking)
methodology. According to Larisa Minasyan, Executive Director of OSIAFA, “For the
success of numerous educational initiatives in higher education, the development
of students’ ability for critical analysis and writing is instrumental.”
The course will be developed by the Center for Educational Development and
Research, NGO working directly with both organizations. Potential pilot
universities include Yerevan State Institute of Economics, Yerevan State
Engineering University, Yerevan State University, American University of Armenia, and
Yerevan State Linguistic University after V. Brusov.
About OSIAFA
The Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation – Armenia, a private
operating and grant making foundation, aims to shape public policy to promote
democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform. OSI
was created in 1993 by investor and philanthropist George Soros to support his
foundations in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
About The “C.A.K.E” Foundation
The Charles & Agnes Kazarian Eternal (“C.A.K.E.”) Foundation is a
not-for-profit organization created in 1993 by Paul B. Kazarian, Founder and Managing
Director of Japonica Partners. The “C.A.K.E.” Foundation seeks to empower
Armenians living in both the Diaspora and Armenia through education, technology,
and healthcare. Its three primary initiatives are Japonica Intersectoral,
Shepherd Technologies, and Community Micro-Finance. The “C.A.K.E.” Foundation’s
initiatives are proactively managed and measured according to “New
Philanthropy Benchmarking: Wisdom for the Passionate.”
“C.A.K.E” Foundation S. Michael Levin, 401-861-6160
11/22/2004 16:24 ET