IG Alpbach Armenia

European Forum Alpbach Associate Member Yerevan, Armenia Founded in December 2011 www.igalpbach.am www.alpbach.org

Who we are IG Alpbach Armenia is an associate member of the European Forum Alpbach (EFA) – a well-known and authoritative Austrian charitable foundation which was founded in 1945 and has been promoting the European values and integration so far.

The EFA welcomes the initiative of Armenian youth to be engaged in the European think tanks network providing all necessary measures to the talented people in their aspirations. In February 2011 with the permission of the EFA based in Vienna, several former participants of the EFA under the leadership Marine Sargsyan put together their efforts and founded the Initiative Group Alpbach in Armenia which was registered as an non-profit youth organisation in the Republic of Armenia.

This was a step of a significant importance as Armenia became the first country in the South Caucasus to establish the Alpbach Initiative Group. The establishment of the IGAA already contributes to the development of relations between Armenia and Austria, Armenia and EU, opening new perspectives for further cooperation. The Armenian youth gets a chance to participate not only in Austrian, but also in pan-European educational, cultural and youth events. Taking into account the fact the South Caucasus is currently included in the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership which operates within its framework, and that the EFA activities are specifically promoting the knowledge about Europe, the creation of IG Alpbach Armenia is remarkable.

The IGAA is open for Diasporas youth, and aimed to represent Armenia in the international level going hand in hand with young and talented Armenian individuals from homeland and Diaspora, encouraging and supporting their initiatives to participate in one of the best European think tanks. We believe that the biggest challenges of today can be solved through strong social leadership that each person has the potential to take up. Through our activities, we build leadership and align leaders to work together towards recognition for the Armenian nation, culture, and history.

The EFA annual meeting promotes communication and the acquisition of partners for long-term cooperation and network development. It provides new opportunities for our youth to get involved in European cultural, political and youth programmes. The establishment of the IGAA already contributes to the development of relations between Armenia and Austria, Armenia and EU, opening new perspectives for further cooperation.

The Organization has identified to develop regional and international cooperation, formal and informal events, educational and cultural programmes among youth. The priorities of the IGAA are to give Armenian youth the opportunity to be involved in the European cultural and political ideology. Inspired by the spirit of Alpbach, its members encourage the citizens of Armenia to take an active part in building a civic society and democracy.

For the purpose of promoting the values of democracy, sustainable development, economic growth, human rights and active youth involvement Armenia’s social life, the Organization has identified the following major goals and objectives:

. To promote and share the ideas of the European Forum Alpbach and develop activity of the IG Alpbach Armenia through the regional and international cooperation, formal and informal events, educational and cultural programmes; . To encourage and support Armenian youth participation in international, European youth initiatives and the EFA main activities; . To act in a spirit of friendship and good neighborliness and enhance mutual respect and confidence, dialogue and cooperation among the IGs and Clubs; . To foster European ideas of tolerance, democracy, human right, cross border cooperation by broadening and improving understanding of peace, democratic values and culture; . To conduct activities and projects based on principles of community service and volunteerism;

The target groups of the IGAA are students, recent graduates, researchers, young professionals up to 30 years of age.

Through its activities and projects the IGAA aims to provide Armenian youth a specific knowledge on corresponding issues and shaping their analytical and presentation skills which would be beneficial both for professional and personal development.

European Forum Alpbach

In the beginning the European Forum Alpbach, formerly called the Austrian College, was just a vision, an idea of the European youth, but now it has become one of the most powerful think tanks in Europe, involving students, scholars, scientists coming from various spheres such as philosophy, science, politics, business, etc. Every year since 1945, the “European Forum Alpbach” has been held in the Tyrolian mountain village of Alpbach.

For almost three weeks Alpbach becomes the village of thinkers or, as Otto Molden, the founder of the Forum, called it, “the other magic mountain”. Speakers and participants from all parts of the world and different disciplines such as science, economics and politics, experienced experts and students, come together in Alpbach to discuss current issues and to formulate interdisciplinary solutions. The open character of the events promotes a climate of tolerance for different opinions and contributes to the overcoming of national, ideological and disciplinary boundaries in a harmonious way. As representatives of their country, participants are expected to share the views that the youth of their nation hold on a variety of issues.

Main activities of the EFA evolve around holding of an annual forum which encompasses several events, namely two summer schools on European Integration as well as Health Care and Social Systems in Transition, a seminar week, different symposia and a rich cultural programme.

Seminar Week The Alpbach Seminar Week constitutes the traditional academic part of the European Forum Alpbach.

Summer School European Health Care This summer school provides specific training for young health care professionals and enable them to build an international network.

Alpbach Symposiums These two- to three-day conferences deal with the themes of architecture, reform, technology, politics, health and the economy. To supplement these, special workshops are also held on banking, film and EU-networking, as well as a ‘Tyrol day’ and an ‘University day’ which features the scientific achievements of the Tyrolians.

Alpbach Summer School The Summer School courses, which are dedicated to theme “European Law and European Integration” are focused on students in the higher levels of their university study and on young graduates. It is designed to assist students in acquiring a basic understanding of the workings of the EC-EU, to equip them with the skills required to analyze socio-economic and legal issues of European integration and, more generally, to introduce them to a culture and practice of animated debate of contemporary problems facing European integration.

EFA Network Alpbach Initiative Groups and Clubs have been founded in numerous European countries by participants of the European Forum Alpbach. These sister institutions of the European Forum Alpbach represent the idea of Alpbach all year through the organisation of regular meetings and of local Alpbach events. They have an extraordinary significance within the scholarship programme through fundraising and advertising.

In Alpbach we exchange our ideas, our knowledge and our perspectives. We build up friendships that cross borders, cultures and disciplines. The establishment of Clubs and Initiative Groups (IGs) gave us the chance to spread the spirit of Alpbach to our universities and home countries. This network is a community of young participants in Alpbach who understood its original purpose. We work as ambassadors of the Spirit of Alpbach and it is our aim to contribute to the European Forum as much as we can. We represent our opinions in the official boards and committees of the

Forum personally by our legitimate representatives and we interact informally with the opinion leaders through fire side chats and other events. We want to be an integrated part of the European Forum Alpbach to build a bridge between the generations, to shape the discussions and to become the future generation – institutionally and intellectually.

Two initiative groups and clubs every year compose the Standing Committee of the European Forum Alpbach being the first contact point for scholarship holders in Alpbach. Currently there are 33 IGs and Clubs that includes Europe, Balkans, Middle East, Caucasus and CIS countries.