About Armenia

The International Student Forum will bring together 45 Armenian students and 15 international students from across the world. After rallying on July (date to be determined!) in Yerevan, the buzzing capital of Armenia, international students will join Armenian students at a campsite in Dilijan, in the beautiful mountains of the Lori Region of northern Armenia. Excursions during camp will give students a chance to explore this ancient land filled with stone monasteries and people about whom it is said that they “have their minds set in the West but their hearts in the East.”

You will spend 10 days in an international program designed to foster self-discovery, respect and confidence while developing skills in leadership, communication, team-building and project management. You will also greatly increase your knowledge of the major issues facing the global community today, whether those are political issues or issues of local, civil development. As a student participant, you will have an active part in discussing such issues, sharing your own experiences, and formulating original strategies and solutions with your fellow participants, who will represent a variety of cultural backgrounds and values. Classes entitled “Country/Issue Studies” and “Leadership, Diplomacy & Community” will lead to your participation in a Model United Nations debate on a current global issue. Two Roundtable workshops on Global Resolutions and International Development will provide time to practice what you’ve been learning along the way, with some new skills in creative and critical thinking. Daily team time provides for serious fun while fostering skills in problem-solving, risk-taking and creativity through competitions, cheers, challenges and presentations. Hands-on project planning and implementation on the campsite will provide project-management training and a chance to plan larger projects with peers who share your goals.

Tentative Curriculum

Class 1 - Country/Issue Studies: Participants will take on the perspective of one of six selected countries on a controversial global problem. After being introduced to the history, traditions, and cultural norms of the country of study, they will spend the bulk of the course formulating a response on behalf of their country of study.

Class 2 - Leadership, Diplomacy, Community: Participants will focus on leadership at both the local and the international level, establishing common principles for effective leadership in all settings. It will include both theoretical and practical implementation. Participants will have the opportunity to apply concepts and ideas discussed in class to actual situations.

Roundtable Workshop 1 - Global Resolutions: Participants will apply skills and knowledge from their classes to a series of actual foreign-policy scenarios, both historical and current. Participants will consider international issues from personal, local and non-national perspectives. The emphasis will be on discussion and creative and critical thinking.

Roundtable Workshop 2 - International Development: Participants will consider the implications of their ‘Leadership, Diplomacy, Community’ class at the grassroots level. The emphasis will be on practical measures for planning and executing community projects as well as the special challenges of local leadership, including obstacles to development from community members and private or governmental organizations. The roundtable will also include guest speakers from various types of civic organizations. Participants will develop plans for future projects that may include more than one community or country.

Team Development: Teams provide serious fun while developing problem-solving, risk-taking, and creative skills via competitions, cheers, challenges, and presentations. The project planning that will be done in teams will provide an understanding of group dynamics and the importance of collaboration.

Project management: Participants will begin by developing hands-on projects and executing them during the Forum. The projects will allow immediate feedback to improve skills. With these new ideas, participants will design projects for post-program implementation. These projects will include a peer mentor, and projects that involve collaboration among more than one community or country are encouraged.