The Fletcher School

The Fletcher School hosted its third academic program for Armenian Foreign Service professionals from January 22 to June 25, 2004. Fifteen officials from the Armenian Central Bank, Ministry of Trade and Economy, Office of Economic Affairs, and Ministry of Health participated in the program under the direction of Professor Andrew Hess, Professor of Diplomacy and Director of the Program for Southwest Asia and Islamic Civilization. The Tavitian Foundation and Mr. Aso Tavitian provided the funding for the program.

The 2004 Training Program, titled “Economic Development in Armenia,” arose out of two previous Armenian Foreign Service programs at Fletcher in 2001 and 2003. Vartan Oskanian, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia and a Fletcher School graduate, was very impressed with the graduates of the previous programs and acted as the catalyst for this program. John Ordway, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, suggested that banking officials and development sector representatives be trained in the areas of international business, economics and fiancé at Fletcher this time. Professor Hess was invited to the Republic of Armenia and traveled there with Dr. Joyce Barsam, member of the Tufts University Board of Trustees and the Tavitian Foundation Board, to meet with various Ministry officials. Their Ministries and a representative of the Tavitian Foundation competitively selected the students.  They submitted their records, scores and application materials to Professor Hess whose trip to Armenia was sponsored by the Tavitian Foundation.

Professor Hess designed the “Economic Development” curriculum with academic subjects and themes reflecting the interests of the Armenian Ministries. The intensive training included courses in international law, negotiation and conflict resolution, and international business, all taught in English. The program’s main emphasis was on training the Armenian officials to encourage business development in their country. The six-month course was an intensive, shortened version of topics and themes that would normally be covered in a two-year study period at Fletcher. Since the Ministries and the participants themselves wanted practical application of materials to their professional lives in Armenia, there was less emphasis on theory than there would ordinarily be at Fletcher. In addition to full academic immersion at Fletcher, the group met with Armenian community members here in Massachusetts, and traveled to New York City to meet with investment bankers and Armenia’s Representative to the United Nations.

In order to assist Fletcher faculty with the Armenian program, two administration officials worked with the program, and several Fletcher students assisted with teaching and participated in program-related research. They also helped out with various logistical tasks, such as booking rooms, planning trips and grading papers. The program also utilized outside experts, such as the American Bankruptcy Institute, to give the participants additional knowledge and expertise.

The Armenian students did not have too much trouble adjusting to the fast-paced academic environment mandated by the six-month duration of the program, since they all had excellent knowledge of the English language. “This is because of the high level of involvement of the American-Armenian Diaspora,” says Professor Hess. “This helps in spreading the English language across Armenia. Though cultural adjustment to the United States had to be made by all in the group, they overcame it very quickly.” All participants were encouraged to interact with Fletcher students and to partake in various school events. The Armenians attended some school-sponsored lectures, but their heavy workload prevented more active engagement with the Fletcher community.

Professor Hess attaches great importance to the Armenian programs, since they help bridge the development gap between United States and other parts of the world. “The programs inform us about the problems encountered by other countries and cultures,” says Andrew Hess. “This is a much more effective method of gaining such knowledge than reading books or brochures about Armenia.” The participants are often “very frank about the issues they encountered.” The high level of training received by the previous Armenian groups ensured better understanding between the American Embassy in Armenia and the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The former participants “are now more open in dealing with the outside world, and the programs helped change the mentality of the people from the old Soviet orientation to a new, Western orientation,” says Professor Hess.

The success of the Armenian programs also enhanced Fletcher’s good reputation outside the United States. Other countries, especially former Soviet republics, are showing interest in Fletcher programs. “We are well known in the Caucasus and Central Asia” says Hess. Fletcher could continue to have a positive effect in these countries, where the “bureaucracy has to be brought up to speed and the diplomats trained to handle increasing foreign contact.”