Yerevan State Medical University named after Mkhitar Heratsi hosted the delegation of Sweden’s Jönköping region.
The delegation included Rachel de Basso, President of Jönköping region; Goran Henriks, Visiting Professor of YSMU, senior strategic advisor of the same district, famous health organizer; Simon Rundquist, Head of the Pediatric Department of “Ryhov” Hospital, Maria Eklund, Head of the Pediatric Department of Jönköping hospital.
By welcoming the guests, Yervand Sahakyan, Vice-Rector for External Affairs and International Relations, expressed his gratitude for visiting Armenia during a difficult period for our country. “We appreciate the fact that Armenia has friends in European countries. Our cooperation has a long history, and we are always ready to deepen our relations,” the Vice-Rector emphasized, reminding that the Jönköping region provided support to Armenia back in 1988, after the devastating earthquake.
Yervand Sahakyan presented to the Swedish colleagues the history of the establishment of the Medical University, the activities in the faculties and hospitals, adding: “Currently, 1/3 of our students studying at the University are foreigners from 33 countries of the world, and the number of foreign students in our University tends to increase. This is due to the fact that we not only provide high quality of education, but also make people feel safe and secure in our country. There is no national, racial, religious or any other discrimination here.”
Regarding the postgraduate education and emphasizing the exchange programs of professors and students, Yervand Sahakyan said that YSMU graduates were working in 40 countries of the world.
Rachel de Basso, President of Jönköping district, while being extremely impressed by the success of Armenian specialists, highlighted the importance of Armenian-Swedish cooperation in the academic field, stating: “We are happy to be here in Armenia, and with the resigning of the memorandum, the cooperation will deepen even more. I am sure, that we can learn from each other.”
At the end of the meeting, a Memorandum of Cooperation was resigned between Yerevan State Medical University named after Mkhitar Heratsi and Jönköping region, which would give a new breath to the mutually beneficial cooperation of Armenian and Swedish specialists in the field of medicine.
