“Integrity Action” International Non-Governmental Organization and “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm LLC in cooperation with the Armenian Young Lawyers Association NGO and The law Foundation of Armenia organized an Educational-practical training (Internship) for the students. The following students were involved in the second and third (joint) group of the training project, which was conducted in June, July and August 2013:
1. Tatev Harutyunyan (French University Foundation in Armenia, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
2. Shahane Hakobyan (French University Foundation in Armenia, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
3. Anahit Sargsyan (French University Foundation in Armenia, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
4. Mariam Nersisyan (French University Foundation in Armenia, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
5. Gevorg Khachatryan (Yerevan State University, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
6. Hayk Ghazaryan (Yerevan State University, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
7. Raffi Gevorgyan, (Yerevan institute of Forensic Examination and Psychology, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
8. Artak Torosyan (Public Administration academy of the RA, Law Faculty, Magistrate Student).
9. Norayr Nazaryan, (Yerevan State Pedagogical Institute, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
10. Anahit Jahukyan (Graduate of the Armenian State University of Economics).
11. Avetis Keshishyan (Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction, Economy and management department, Undergraduate Student).
12. Lusine Chilingaryan (Yerevan State University, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
13. Lilit Nalbandyan (“Gladzor” University, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
14. Zaruhi Hayrapetyan (“Gladzor” University, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
15. Lilit Arshakyan (Armenian State University of Economics, Undergraduate Student).
16. Lusine Harutyunyan (National Research University “Higher School of Economics” Sankt Petersburg, Undergraduate Student).
17. Maria Sargsyan (“Gladzor” University, Law Faculty, Magistrate Student).
These students were selected among the 100 students who had applied for the internship.
In the Course of the 32 hours training the students attended:
On 18.07.2013 the students met with Mr. Harutyun Aleksanyan, Programme Manager, Europe & Central Asia Integrity Education “Integrity Action”; Mr. Karen Zadoyan, Advocate, Managing Partner of “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm LLC; Mr. Marat Atovmyan, Coordinator of the Internship (Educational-Practical Training); and Miss Nvard loryan, Coordinator of Practical Part of the Project.
During the meeting Mr. Zadoyan introduced the goals of the internship (Educational-Practical Training), the history of “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm, its values, principles and directions of its activities and attached special importance to the role and importance of the professional ethics.
Mr. Aleksanyan introduced detailed information on the history of the “Integrity Action” International Non-Governmental Organization, its mission, values, all activity directions and referred to the aim of the Internship (Educational-Practical Training) as well.
Mr. Marat Atovmyan and Miss Nvard Loryan introduced to the students’ attention the curricula of the internship, the methodology and organizational issues.
During the first theoretical phase different lectures on integrity, reporting, competence, ethics and anti-corruption behavior issues were introduced.
In the second phase, the participants had a series of meetings with the representatives and leaders of national and international organizations and other. The meetings were held in an interactive manner and the students had the opportunity to freely express their thoughts and ask lots of questions.
The first meeting on 23 July was with the Chief producer of H2 TV Company, Karen Hakobyan. He spoke about the basic features, policies and selection of staff of the TV Company. Interesting discussions on transparency and accountability issues of the TV Company were held. Karen Hakobyan presented the company’s past, current and future planned large-scale projects. Participants also visited several pavilions where they got acquainted with how filming and broadcasting were done.
On July 24, the students visited Elite Plaza Business Benter, which is the only A-class business center in Armenia. The center’s Executive Director Tigran Kocharyan talked about his behavior, personnel selection and correct management of the affairs. He also presented his approach regarding ethics and competence. Mr. Kocharyan also told the wide range of possibilities of provided service center and technical equipment of the center. He organized a tour for the participants in the center and introduced to their attention possibilities to organize different types of business meetings, seminars and other events, as well as possibilities rent modern offices. One of the Participants was encouraged to take part in the interview for the proposed vacancy in the center. At the end, the participants enjoyed the view of Yerevan from the 18th floor of the center’s building.
July 25 was entirely devoted to integrity in NGO sector. Meetings with NGO representatives were organized in the office of USAAA. The NGO representatives spoke about ensuring of integrity component in their organizations. At the beginning the Executive Director of USAAA Khachik Gevorgyan, then Alexander Shagafyan, Executive Director of Armenian Center for Democratic Education-CIVITAS, and AYLA Board member, advocate Syuzanna Soghomonyan spoke about their organizations and answered the students’ questions. At the end, Journalist Arev Avagyan introduced information on iravaban.net website, and spoke how the site refers to the coverage of reporting and transparency issues.
On 26 July, the students had two visits. First they visited the National Assembly of the RA where they met with Mr. Vrezh Gasparyan, Chief Advisor to the Speaker of the RA NA, and Hrayr Zoryan, Adviser of the NA Speaker. Most of the participants were in the NA for the first time. The Chief Advisor and the adviser referred to integrity issues and replied to the students’ questions. Mr. Gasparyan spoke about the NA structure, its activities and the employment opportunities in the NA. They also talked about the activities of the Ethics Committee.
They organized a tour for the students in the building of National Assembly and in its park. The students were really pleased with the professionalism and preparedness level of the NA representatives and their approach to the students.
The afternoon visit was to the President of the RA Notary Chamber Mr., Mamikon Aslanyan. He talked about ethics, corruption occurrences and accountability. Participants tried to raise through their questions the problems that exist in the Chamber, and to reveal the possible corruption risks in the activities of the notary public. Mr. Aslanyan spoke about the activities of the Chamber, and the details of the selection of President of the Chamber as well as of the notaries’ activities. He also noted the cooperation with the Notary Chambers of Russia and Ukraine, and emphasized the fact that the citizens in RF and Ukraine, who do not know the local languages there and have difficulties in communication with the local notaries, could apply to the President of the notary Chamber and the latter will support them in that issue. At the end Mr. Aslanyan introduced information on the awareness events that the Notary chamber of the RA conducted.
On July 29, the participants met with Mr. Ara Vardanyan, Director of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Ara Vardanyan. He spoke about financing, donors and the main directions of the fund’s activities. The students, asked questions about funding and implementation processes of the programs, as well as the procedures of selection of specific priority projects. Mr. Vardanyan also spoke about ensuring the transparency of the activities and selection of the staff. At the end, the participants received the annual reports of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, as well as the CDs with songs prepared by the Fund.
On 30July, the students visited the UN Mission in Armenia, where they met with Ms Armine Halajyan, Officer of Department of Public Information. Ms Halajyan introduced the UN structure and functions, and referred to the issues of ensuring integrity in the UN organizations. She particularly referred to the competence and accountability components. The interns asked a lot of questions to Ms Halajyan. At the end the participants received some publications of the UN.
On the same day, the participants visited the Social Security Service of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, where they met Mr. Armen Abrahamyan, Head of the service. He introduced to the students’ attention the latest reforms in the sphere and the noted the activities aimed to ensure transparency and accountability. The established on-line database was introduced as well. It enables to follow the process of cases submitted by the citizens. The participants gained opportunity to introduce the issues of their concern regarding the sphere. One of the participants spoke about the problem with his grandmother. The problem was immediately learnt and the process was ensured. The meeting was rather warm. Mr. Armen Abrahamyan invited one of the participants to join their staff for work.
On August 7, the participants had a meeting with Mr. Ralph Yirikyan, the General Manager of VivaCell-MTS. The General Manager spoke about the activities of the Company, and especially referred to the issue of integrity. He spoke about the establishment and the history of the Company, its values and the procedures of selection of the personnel and the rules of ethics. The participants had an opportunity to direct their questions to Mr. Yirikyan. The General Manager organized a tour in the Central Office of the Company. The students visited all floors and learnt about the activities of the departments. The participants visited Mr. Yirikyan’s office as well.
Prior to the practice the students were instructed to submit practical works on integrity issues, they were divided into groups, where the students could develop skills in group work.
In the third phase of the practice the students had individual internships in different institutions, specifically in the RA Notary Chamber, in Elite Plaza Business Center and in the Armenian Young Lawyers Association. Prior to the individual practice the students were urged to pay special attention to the level of ensuring integrity in places. The participants gained more practical knowledge and skills during the internship and got acquainted with the activities from inside.
On August 23, the final event of the internship was held in “Ani Plaza” hotel; more than 30 students attended. The event brought together the students of all phases of the practice. Mr. Karen Zadoyan, Managing Partner of “Legal Alliance” Law Firm, Ms Ellen Goldberg, Programme Director of Integrity Education Network and Mr. Harutyun Alexanyan, Programme Manager of Europe & Central Asia Integrity Education “Integrity Action” held welcoming speeches. Mr. Karen zadoyan spoke about the internship program and the results achieved at the practice. Further the students of the last – fourth, fifth and sixth (joint) group introduced the group works that they performed during the practice in the context of integrity component concerning the problem of increasing of the prize of transport in Yerevan
After the active discussions the students received certificates of participation. The students were provided to express their ideas and words of gratitude as well.
