Every year the United World Colleges (UWC) movement organizes governance meetings for members of the management and heads of colleges, where they can exchange experience, discuss the matters at hand and find solutions to common issues together.

This October Armenia hosted the annual UWC event for the first time. According to Chair of Board of Governors at UWC Dilijan College Veronika Zonabend, many guests knew about Armenia and just its education system at that only from IWC Dilijan. 

Photo: Mediamax

“Now, when they have seen Armenia with their own eyes, many of them want to return with their families as tourists. They want their children to study here, which is what we were striving to achieve when we founded an international school here. When students from different parts of the world travel to Armenia for education, their parents consider it an advantage, because the kids exit their usual environment and learn new things. What we offer is not traditional, it is something new. We try to provide not only academic knowledge, but comprehensive development, entrepreneurial skills, and humanitarian values as well through the Aurora project. We are educating leaders with humanitarian values here at UWC Dilijan,” Veronika Zonabend told Mediamax.

Veronika Zonabend

Photo: Mediamax

Unlike the other guests, UWC International Office Executive Director Jens Waltermann was visiting Armenia for the third time. He is equally impressed by the country and Armenian students.

“I met with Armenian students in Dilijan and other UWC colleges and I am very impressed by their academic knowledge and great potential. Young Armenians always stand out by their talent and diligent work,” said Jens Waltermann.

UWC movement has colleges in 17 countries. Despite national and cultural peculiarities, they are based on the same idea. During the annual meetings the members of governing bodies and heads of colleges come together to seek solutions for current challenges and share experience to assist each other.

“These meetings and discussions are so important especially for the heads of colleges. They can see that they are not alone and their colleagues are facing the same problems. It isn’t easy to manage a school. You are responsible for 200 young people from 70 countries. Cultures are different, traditions and views on what is acceptable are different, so anything can happen. Many kinds of situations happen, so it is important to consult with others and find the best solution. Annual gatherings enable us to keep the colleges that seemingly work in isolation from other in the same movement and maintain the common spirit of UWC,” said Veronika Zonabend.

Photo: Mediamax

UWC Dilijan College was a discovery not only for the foreign guests, but also for Anna Hakobyan, wife of acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. She arrived at the final meeting with her daughters. Accompanied by students, Anna Hakobyan took a long tour in the college. She spoke later from the stage, saying that she decided to forego the prepared speech and speak instead of the impressions and emotions she had while touring. 

Anna Hakobyan

Photo: Mediamax

“This educational institution does not simply give children lessons in mathematics, literature, etc, but teaches them to live and communicate with and recognize different nationalities, cultures and traditions.

Photo: Mediamax

I have talked with the students here, I have seen the way they present the college and the knowledge they gained here. I am astonished by the prospects this college opens for young people – prospects they can dream about together. I would like to thank the founders of UWC Dilijan College for creating these opportunities,” said Anna Hakobyan. 

Photo: Mediamax

The guests were treated to a presentation of the college’s diverse cultural environment through song, dance, and performance. Later Veronika Zonabend accompanied Anna Hakobyan to Dilijan Community Center, where residents of the town of Dilijan and neighboring communities attend various free courses, from embroidery to guesthouse management, branding, and teaching of foreign language.

Lusine Gharibyan 

Photos: Emin Aristakesyan