I am glad for having an opportunity to meet you and discuss together both problems the sphere of education and science of our republic faces and mechanisms to solve them. Education and science have traditionally served as basic means for revealing, developing and applying our principal wealth, the intellectual potential of the society. The future of a nation and a state, the paces and prospects of the development of economy and its different spheres to a great extent depend on education, specially the higher one. The sphere of education and science is of special importance to such countries as Artsakh whose steady development is based on intensive modes of production and science intensive technologies. Education plays an invaluable role in the hard process of bringing up the younger generation. Such crucial qualities as patriotism, fairness, decency, law-abidance, which are the pillars of a civilized, democratic, powerful and developed state, are shaped during the educational processes. Hence, even a slight omission in the sphere of education could lead to quite serious consequences for development of the whole country in the future. The role of education and science is becoming even more important today, when we have on the agenda such issues as keeping pace with civilized the civilized world, integrating with the international community while simultaneously maintaining our identity and values of centuries. Only the existence of a developed, modern and national educational system can guarantee this. For this very reason the development of the sphere is among the priorities of our state and is permanently in the spotlight of the authorities. Some reforms are being carried out in the sphere to give a new impetus to the development of the sphere of education and science and to adapt it to modern requirements. Necessary steps have been taken to build, renovate and modernize educational centers, to improve social and work conditions of the faculty. The state realizes consistent policies in this direction. In the 2009 state budget allocations to the sphere of education and science exceed those of the 2008 by 24,7 percent or by 1,8 billion drams. The entire volume of the allocated means amounts to 9,3 billion drams. In comparison with the previous year in 2009 budgetary allocations to the sphere of higher education have increased by 68,8 percent or 183, 3 million drams and constitute 450 million drams. Tangible increase has been registered in salary and scholarship. I would like to note that these trends will be of a continuous nature. The Artsakh State University represents one of keystones of the republic’s educational system. It plays an important role in the development of education and science, preparation of professional cadres and state building. It is the result of 40-year long traditions that were further strengthened during the years of the national liberation movement. 400 students of the university actively participated in the Artsakh war, 75 of them sacrificed their lives defending the Motherland. Eternal Glory to them! In the modern period the Artsakh State University faces different problems of various nature and to find effective solutions to them it is necessary comprehend the situation in a right way and estimate it objectively. Wishful thinking is inadmissible for it only hinders the amelioration of the situation further complicating it. As an Alma mater of an independent state, the university should be main educational and scientific center of the republic. I would like to mention that here we face serious challenges, the most important being an obvious disproportion of educational and scientific components. The Artsakh State University lags behind in its mission to be the main scientific center of the country. The fact that only the departments of philology and humanities have published monographs in the 2007-2008 academic year speaks for itself. The share of these two departments in the number of published scientific articles constitutes 55 percent. On the other hand, the agricultural department has published only 4 scientific articles, occupying thus the last place among all the departments. And this is against the background that agriculture traditionally has been the backbone of our economy. I am hopeful that the foundation of the branch of the Armenian State Agriculture University in Artsakh will also highly contribute to the development of science in the sphere of agriculture. These figures give rise to serious conclusions. It is evident that humanitarian spheres prevail in the scientific field of the university. These spheres are undoubtedly very important and it is necessary further develop scientific thought in this sphere. At the same time, serious attention should be also paid to other spheres of science in order to secure comprehensive development of the state. It is praiseworthy that lectures of Artsakh State University have published scientific articles in the sphere of technical sciences abroad, particularly in Russia. However, it is concerning that within the last two years no dissertation on technical sciences has been defended. Necessary works must be carried out in the course of developing technical sciences and a number of other fields. We are well-aware that the above-mentioned issues cannot be solved by Artsakh State University on its own. Here we need a systematic approach, a combined work and a close co-operation between the government, different state bodies and agencies as well as economic players. This will enable to define real needs in different professions on a scientific and precise basis as well and train qualified specialists for different fields of economy. The preparation of skilled specialists in accordance with modern requirements presupposes continuous improvement of the quality of education. Both the university’s faculty and the students have serious work to do. The tasks put before the staff demand appropriate professional skills, moral and psychological features. The governing body of the university should pay serious attention to raising the scientific level. Within this context I consider important periodic trainings of the faculty, establishment of international links, formation of scientific associations, active participation in foreign conferences, as well as the establishment and expanding relations between different scientific, educational institutions and universities of Armenia, Diaspora and foreign countries. In order to improve the quality of education it is also necessary modernize material and technical basis, laboratories, cabinets and lecture halls. I consider very much important the establishment of electronic library, which will give a new impetus to the development of the university's scientific-educational potential. To further improve the education process there should be introduced some structural changes too. A number of sub-departments have to be reformed and staffed with new qualified cadres. I consider positive the foundation of the sub-department for pre-recruiting preparation in Artsakh State University in the current academic year, which is intended to improve preparation of specialists in the sphere of basic military training. This will definitely contribute to strengthening our country’s defensive capacity. Within the context of developing education the readiness of Artsakh State University to join the Bologna process is of special importance. This will allow becoming a part of the European higher education space, of course, taking into consideration the peculiarities of our country. I hope that the credit system introduced in the new academic year will have a palpable impact on the quality of education as well as on the professional level of the faculty. For Artsakh State University to carry out its work in an efficient manner the availability of proper building conditions is of great importance. The administrative building of the university recently put into operation will assist to organize the conduct of classes in one session, the new sports hall will be a serious stimulus on the way of activating sports life. In the process of improving the quality of education securing healthy moral and psychological atmosphere in the university is of the utmost importance. A consistent and persistent struggle should be waged against any vicious phenomenon that contradicts to the high title of a lecturer. I have been informed by the leadership of the university about the appropriate steps taken in this direction. I also consider important the fact that while struggling against this phenomenon for the first time an attempt was made to combine the efforts of the faculty, the students and their parents. Dear attendees, the development and problems the vital sphere of educational and science faces will continue to be in the spotlight of the authorities of the state. I will personally follow the course of reforms carried out in the sphere. I am confined that we will succeed in having a modern and competitive educational and scientific system and famous Alma Mater. Thank you. (January 16, 2009, Stepanakert)