On September 24, at the initiative of the Freedom of Information Center (FOICA), an awareness-raising meeting on circular economy (CE) was organized at the Armenian State University of Economics (ASUE). The purpose of the meeting was to present to students the ongoing processes of introducing a CE system in Armenia, its significance for the country’s economic development vision, and its potential impact on addressing environmental challenges. At the same time, the event aimed to establish cooperation links between university representatives and the Circular Economy Coalition formed in Armenia within the framework of the CirculUP! program.
This time, the coalition representatives were hosted by the Chair of Environment and Sustainable Development of ASUE’s Faculty of Economics. About 50 students from different courses attended the meeting. In the first part of the event, FOICA’s Project Coordinator, Mane Madoyan, provided an overview of the initiatives implemented in the field of circular economy in Armenia, introduced the goals and mechanisms of the coalition, as well as the opportunities for cooperation with students within its activities.
The main speaker of the second part of
the meeting was Harutyu
n Alpetian, a waste management expert and a member of Armenia’s CE Coalition. He presented to students the key processes in the field of circular economy and elaborated on how waste management policies affect CE development. The expert also highlighted the importance of the students’ chosen professions and the opportunities available in the labor market. “Specializations related to waste management, natural resource use, sustainable and green economy are in high demand not only in Armenia but also worldwide. This demand will continue to grow, and it is crucial for Armenia’s development that you become qualified professionals in these fields,” said Alpetian, encouraging students to actively use both local and international resources for education and professional growth.
Harutyun Alpetian, who also leads the project “Waste Management Policy in Armenia” implemented by the AUA Akopian Environmental Center, spoke about the introduction of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system—an essential mechanism in CE development—and the related draft law, which is currently in its final stage of discussions.
Narine Khalatyan, Head of the Chair of Environment and Sustainable Development, emphasized the importance of such meetings in the students’ educational process. She underlined that the Chair is open to cooperation and confident that collaboration with the Circular Economy Coalition of Armenia can significantly enrich both students’ learning experience and the professional development of the academic community. She stressed that coo
peration with the Coalition is mutually beneficial and can lay the foundation for long-term partnership by combining educational and practical expertise.
The meeting was organized by the Freedom of Information Center in cooperation with the Chair of Environment and Sustainable Development of ASUE, within the framework of the project “CirculUP! – Strengthening capacities and raising awareness on circular economy in Armenia,” funded by the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia and implemented by Impact Hub Network, Impact Hub Yerevan and “Environment and Hea
lth” NGO.
