September 27, 2010, Yerevan, Armenia – Today a press conference was held at VivaCell-MTS HQ, presided by the Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan, VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian, the President of the French University in Armenia Mrs. Joel l’Morzelek and the Advisor to the Minister of Science and Education Arayik Navoyan. The press conference was aimed at presenting the new business-to-education partnership project for the preparation of qualified specialists in arts management in Armenia. The program is implemented at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture with the full support by Armenia’s leading mobile operator and the culture’s friend VivaCell-MTS. This is a one-year master’s program in Cultural Communication and Management offering bilingual delivery, implemented by the French University in Armenia in partnership with the Capitol University Toulouse 1. The graduates of the masters program will receive both French and Armenian state diplomas. “The development of qualified specialists in the field of arts management and tourism management is not the exclusive concern of the education body. This should be a nationwide task to develop and grow specialists able to draw a better future for Armenia on all levels, and we took the responsibility to lead that initiative,” stated VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian. The objective of the master’s program is to prepare specialists who are able to develop and implement the marketing strategy for organizations engaged in cultural tourism and arts promotion. Thanks to this program all those who have a strong interest in working in the arts management are provided an excellent opportunity to obtain an arts-based business management degree. The one-year master’s program in Cultural Communication and Management will explore today’s arts and culture issues and policy in depth. Upon the completion of the program the graduates will have proper management skills to strengthen the competitive position of Armenian companies engaged in cultural tourism and arts management. “VivaCell-MTS is committed to effective partnership with the sphere of higher educational in order to enhance their teaching and research capacity in arts and tourism management. We should take into account that this is an essential profession in the developed economies all over the world. Nowadays art managers should be equipped with integrated understanding of business management for becoming effective managers. Business education can contribute to the success of all businesses, and especially the newly-emerging arts and touristic business searching for its niche in the global marketplace. Art and cultural tourism are the competitive advantage of Armenia, and as a corporate citizen VivaCell-MTS is providing comprehensive support in terms of aligning theory and practice of business education,” added VivaCell-MTS General Manager. The one year master’s course in Cultural Communication and Management is designed to train managers of galleries, orchestras, theatres, festivals, cinema halls and museums, and also specialists responsible for organizing special arts projects. To note the “French University in Armenia” Foundation is the 32nd higher education institution collaborating with VivaCell-MTS in the frame of the Career Development Program. During more than 1 year period of the program implementation, more than 4400 students from local and foreign universities have participated in guest lectures, more than 140 students were hosted by the VivaCell-MTS School, and 150 students undertook their internship at various departments of VivaCell-MTS to get professional guidance of the professional staff of the Company.

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