ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 20 2005

YEARLY PRESIDENTIAL EDUCATION BONUSES IN IT SPHERE AWARDED IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, September 20. /ARKA/. Yearly presidential education bonuses
in the IT sphere have been awarded in Yerevan. The bonuses were
awarded to students of Yerevan State University (YSU) and State
Engineering University of Armenia (SEU) in the following categories:
“Best Bachelor” (the 1st and 2nd prizes, AMD 250,000 and AMD 200,000
respectively), “Best Master” (AMD 250,000 and AMD 375,000), “Best
Post-Graduate Student” (AMD 375,000 and AMD 500,000 respectively) and
“Best Student” (AMD 250,000). Bonuses were also given to the best
students of the YSU School of Physics & Mathematics, SEU Basic
Gymnasium and “Quant” gymnasium (AMD 50,000). Bonuses were given to
15 students. The bonus fund totaled AMD 5mln. Executive Director of
the All-Armenian “Hayastan” Fund Naira Melkumyan said that the
bonuses are the first step in realizing everyone’s hope, namely,
turning Armenia into one of the world’s IT-centers. “I am happy that
such a serious international organization as Synopsis is together
with us,” she said.
In his turn, Director General of the “Synopsis Armenia” company Rich
Goldman pointed out that the company attaches high importance to the
priority of high technologies in Armenia. A new generation of highly
qualified young engineers is the cornerstone of IT production growth,
he said. According to him, the receivers of presidential bonuses are
Armenia’s future.
RA Presidential Economic Advisor Vahram Nersisyants pointed out
two-digit indices of economic growth recorded in Armenia over the
last five years. He said that this trend will be maintained, and the
RA President attaches high importance to the involvement of young
people in Armenia’s economic development and in IT development. He
welcomed the fact that the “Hayastan” Fund and the “Synopsis” company
are realizing the President’s idea of supporting young people, which
promotes economic growth and allows them to be competitive and
successful in the international arena.
On April 28, 2005, the “Synopsis Armenia” CJSC and “Hayastan” Fund
signed an agreement on presentation of yearly bonuses to the best
students in the IT sphere. Thereafter, RA President Robert Kocharyan
issued a decree forming a bonus commission. P.T. -0–