Bayazet Center

Bayazet Center (full name: Armenian Analytical and Research Center "Bayazet"; Armenian: «Բայազետ» վերլուծական-հետազոտական հայկական կենտրոն) is an independent non-governmental organization and think tank founded in 2021 in Gavar, the administrative center of Armenia's Gegharkunik Province. It describes itself as the first think tank in the Gegharkunik region. The organization conducts sociological research, policy analysis and interviews, and translates, edits and publishes informative articles on educational, scientific, cultural and other topics. Its stated mission is to foster the development of the research sphere in Gegharkunik and to support evidence-based decision-making at both local and national levels through research, analytical work and informative publications. The Center engages volunteers, offering them opportunities to share experience, develop skills, participate in research and pursue self-education. The Center's work is organized around four main priority areas: research, a public library, public awareness, and non-formal education. Its research spans the intersection of political science, economics and sociology, aimed at helping civil leaders, politicians and Armenian society understand and address key social problems; research outputs are evaluated by recognized institutes and specialists and then published on the Center's official website. The Bayazet Center library is described as the largest non-governmental public library in the Gavar region, providing facilities to collect and process books and make them available to readers; as of September 2022 it held 6,800 volumes and had 87 active readers. Under its awareness work, the Center distributes informational materials and publishes translations from English, French, German and other languages, and organizes interviews with Armenian and foreign specialists. Its non-formal education activities include round tables, conferences and information meetings, reflecting the view that formal education systems alone cannot meet the challenges of modern society. Membership is open to any Armenian citizen as well as foreign nationals with a university education. Applicants submit a written application to the Secretary General; following a positive opinion, candidates undergo a probationary period of up to three months, after which the Council votes to grant or reject membership. The Center collaborates with a range of partners including Vanderbilt University, Yerevan State University, Gavar State University, the Armenian Center for Human Rights Protection named after A.D. Sakharov NGO, the "Geghareg" educational and cultural NGO, the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies, the Erasmus Student Network Yerevan, Gavar Municipality, the Jinishian Memorial Fund, Live Initiative, the "Intelligent" intellectual movement, the Vardges Petrosyan Regional Library of Gegharkunik, and the Hamo Sahyan Library. As of January 1, 2023, the Center counted 17 young people from Armenian universities and research centers among its members. Its public activity includes statements and open letters on environmental and civic issues in Armenia, participation in forums such as Global Forum: Economics 2023 at the Armenian-Russian University, and support for youth initiatives such as the Armenian team TouReality's participation in the Diamond Challenge competition in the United States. The Center's stated values are independence, objectivity, transparency and innovation.

The Bayazet Center was established as an independent Armenian analytical and research NGO and think tank in Gavar, the administrative center of Gegharkunik Province, in 2021. On January 29, 2021, the founding assembly of the Center was convened in Gavar in the presence of the organization's founders: Secretary General Vahram Hoveyan and board members Marusya Hovhannisyan and Tigran Chandoyan. On February 10, 2021, the organization was granted the status of the Armenian Analytical and Research Center "Bayazet" as a public organization by the National Register of Legal Entities of the Republic of Armenia. On July 1, 2021, at an extraordinary congress, Hasmik Israelyan was elected as the third member of the organization's Board, and Vardan Gareyan as the first member of the Audit Commission. The Center describes itself as the first think tank in the Gegharkunik region. From its founding, the Center has pursued research, analysis, interviews, translation, editing and publication of informative articles on educational, scientific, cultural and other subjects. Its activities are intended to promote the development of the research sphere in Gegharkunik and to enable real decision-making at local and national levels through research, analytical work and informative publications. The organization engages volunteers, offering them opportunities to share experience, develop, participate in research and self-educate. The Center's work is grouped into four main priority areas. First, research: it conducts research and analysis at the intersection of political science, economics and sociology to help civil leaders, politicians and Armenian society understand and resolve key problems; the work is evaluated and guaranteed by renowned research institutes and industry specialists, then printed and published on the Center's official website, and the organization offers researchers the opportunity to remain in the region and have paid employment. Second, the library: the Bayazet Center library is the largest non-governmental public library in the Gavar region, providing facilities to collect and process books and make them available to readers by all possible means; in September 2022 the library counted 6,800 works and 87 active readers. Third, awareness: the Center distributes informative documents and carries out and publishes translations from English, French, German and other languages, and organizes interviews with Armenian and foreign specialists. Fourth, non-formal education: it organizes round tables, conferences and information meetings, recognizing that formal education systems alone cannot meet the challenges of modern society and welcoming all strengthening of informal teaching practices. Membership in the Center is open to any Armenian citizen as well as foreign nationals with a university education. A person wishing to become a member must submit a written application to the Secretary General using a form developed by the organization. If the Secretary General's opinion is positive, the candidate undergoes a probationary period of up to three months; at the end of that period, the candidate appears before a meeting of the Council, at which membership is granted or the application is rejected by vote. As of January 1, 2023, the Bayazet Center counted 17 young people from Armenian universities and research centers. The Center maintains partnerships with Vanderbilt University, Yerevan State University, Gavar State University, the Armenian Center for Human Rights Protection named after the A.D. Sakharov NGO, the "Geghareg" educational and cultural NGO, the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies, the Erasmus Student Network Yerevan, Gavar Municipality, the Jinishian Memorial Fund, Live Initiative, the "Intelligent" intellectual movement, the Vardges Petrosyan Regional Library of Gegharkunik, and the Hamo Sahyan Library. Its public record includes statements and open letters on environmental and civic issues in Armenia, participation in forums such as Global Forum: Economics 2023 at the Armenian-Russian University, and support for youth initiatives such as the Armenian team TouReality's participation in the Diamond Challenge competition in the United States. The Center's stated values are independence, objectivity, transparency and innovation.

• Founding assembly of the Bayazet Center convened in Gavar with founders Vahram Hoveyan, Marusya Hovhannisyan and Tigran Chandoyan.

• The organization was granted the status of Armenian Analytical and Research Center "Bayazet" as a public organization by the National Register of Legal Entities of Armenia.

• At an extraordinary congress, Hasmik Israelyan was elected third Board member and Vardan Gareyan first member of the Audit Commission.

• The Bayazet Center library counted 6,800 works and 87 active readers.

• Alongside library digitization, a new application was being developed at the Bayazet Center; the "Gavar Youth House" open youth center opened.

• The Center counted 17 young people from Armenian universities and research centers.

• Bayazet Center joined a statement on the operation of the Amulsar mine.

• The Center's Secretary General took part in Global Forum: Economics 2023 at the Armenian-Russian University.

• The Center supported Armenian TouReality's participation in the Diamond Challenge competition in the USA.

Independent, non-governmental analytical and research center and think tank serving Armenia's Gegharkunik region, guided by independence, objectivity, transparency and innovation.

• Sociological research and policy analysis

  Research and analysis at the intersection of political science, economics and sociology, evaluated by recognized institutes and specialists and published on the Center's website.

• Bayazet Center public library

  The largest non-governmental public library in the Gavar region; 6,800 works and 87 active readers as of September 2022.

• Informative publications and translations

  Translation, editing and publication of informative articles from English, French, German and other languages, plus interviews with Armenian and foreign specialists.

• Non-formal education events

  Round tables, conferences and information meetings complementing formal education.

• Volunteer and membership programs

  Volunteering opportunities and a membership process open to Armenian citizens and foreign nationals with university education.

1. 1Բայազետ Կենտրոն — official websitebayazet.org
2. 2Bayazet Center — Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Centre Bayazet — Wikipédia (fr)fr.wikipedia.org