On June 30, Dr. Mary McCully, Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs of the US National Defense University (NDU) Information Resources Management College, member of the NATO Defense Education Enhancement Program Expert Group, visited the National Defense Research University (NDRU), MOD, RA. The meeting was also attended by the Board Members of the US Alumni Association of Armenia.
The visitors were hosted by the Head of the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), MOD, RA, Chairman of the Political Science Association of Armenia (PSAA), Doctor of Political Science, Professor, LTG Hayk Kotanjian. He presented the process of the University’s establishment on the basis of the INSS, the mission of the University, its goal and main directions of its activities. As LTG Hayk Kotanjian mentioned, the University was established in two main stages: the establishment of the research component – the INSS, and – then, on the basis of its development by forming the educational component and bridging the research and educational activities – the creation of the united academic educational institution – the Research University.
The goal of the University – unique in the entire region – is to conduct defense security research for political-military leadership of the state and by transferring the products of the research into classrooms, to craft a generation of leaders through Executive Education, Master, Post-Graduate and Doctoral Courses. The University is going to consolidate the state defense security interagency intellectual-expert potential around the defense axis. Therefore, the University’s academic-educational resource is formed by highly qualified young professionals, who, being in creative cooperation with prestigious international think-tanks, constantly update their knowledge to hold leading positions in the sphere of political science of the national security.
In the NDRU a considerable attention is paid to the Cybersecurity and Information Resources Management. The establishment of the National Defense Research University’s Center for Information and Communication Technologies and National Security Policy and, by its development, the creation of the Institute for Cybersecurity and Information Resources Strategy is envisaged aimed at fostering research in this field. Arman Grigoryan, Head of the INSS Cybersecurity Group, presented the programs targeted on developing that sphere to the attendees. He meticulously dwelt on the issues of the Institute, underlining the importance of studying international experience.
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During the meeting LTG Hayk Kotanjian noted that the Armenian NDRU’s young research fellows sought to develop and raise the level of research on security issues for the benefit of the state security enhancement through close collaboration with colleagues from reputable international educational and research universities, particularly, the US NDU, by studying their experience and adapting it for Armenia.
Mrs. Mary McCully highly appreciated the role of the University’s activity wishing further success. The meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere. The sides discussed a number of issues on collaboration and of mutual interest.
