On 17-18 October, an international conference – “The Nersisyan School in Tbilisi and its Role in the Educational Life of the Caucasus” - was held at the Khachatur Abovyan State Pedagogical University in Yerevan. The conference was dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the foundation of Nersisyan School.

The history of Nersisian School, educational and cultural life of Armenia, Armenian-Georgian relations were presented in more than 30 papers from different countries.

The Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Armenia Zhana Andreasyan, representatives of the Embassies of Armenia and Georgia attended the conference. Together with them the Rector of the University Srbuhi Gevorgyan, Dean of the Faculty of History and Social Sciences Edgar Hovhannisyan addressed the participants of the conference. The speakers noted the epochal significance of the Nersesian School, as well as the indelible traces of famous Armenian figures living in Tbilisi, the successful educational and research activities of the Caucasus University in connection with the Nersesian Seminary.

Caucasus University was represented at the conference by Guranda Chelidze, Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Otar Janelidze, Doctor of History, Visiting Professor in the History Programme of the same school.

Mrs. Guranda Chelidze in her speech “From the Past to the Present. The Tradition Continues” emphasized that the Caucasus University further promotes the development of educational activities and the formation of civil society in accordance with European principles of democratic education. Mr. Otar Janelidze revived Georgian and Armenian philanthropic activities of the XIX century in the sphere of education. The speeches were accompanied by an interesting discussion. The papers presented at the conference were published in the conference proceedings.

Other events dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the foundation of the Nersisyan School were also mentioned at the conference, including an exhibition organized at the Caucasus University, and the Armenian Cultural figure in Georgia Levon Chidilyan was awarded the title of “Honorary Doctor”.