The delegations of the national news agencies of Bulgaria, Romania and Georgia, participating in the Conference "National News Agency: values, trends and cooperation" organized by "Armenpress" News Agency, made the first stop at Dilijan International School. The goal was not only to display that with UWC Dilijan, Armenia is due to occupy a specific place on the educational world map, but also to make the representatives of other countries retainers of the project based on the advanced philosophy.
The Head of "Armenpress" News Agency Aram Ananyan believes that UWC Dilijan will unite many peoples' representatives in Armenia. "It's also a positive contagious idea, which creates a very good image and reputation for the state, where the idea comes true. In the modern world the societies that manage to find their role in the world built not today, but decades later, have future and high reputation. Good education, quality of education and formation of a generation of such professionals that can constantly develop, that is vital for Armenia" - said Aram Ananyan.
The General Director of Bulgaria's national news agency "BTA" Maxim Minchev describes the school as "not for tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow project". It will bring change in thinking and ideology. "To be honest, I am jealous, because such projects are necessary for all the countries. We have entered a new era. Everything is changing, the professions, too, and the kids who will study here, will render these changes to the world. Armenia may become a wonderful example in this regard, because being a small and poor country, it has managed to find the right way and introduces to the world a project really full of ideas" - he said.
Romanian «Agerpress» Agency Director Alex Giboin was especially drawn to the fact that the school is built on the basis of national ideology. "Even the stone used is from the local region and thus they try to create an international school with national ideas and symbols" - he said.
In a conversation with "Armenpress", the International Relations Manager of Bulgaria's State Agency Zlatna Kostova confesses that it is the first time she sees a school like this. Prior to this, she was admired by the American College of Bulgaria, but UWC Dilijan was beyond all expectations. She promises to tell all her friends about the Dilijan school and to recommend them to continue their education in Armenia. "I am really surprised and deeply impressed with the talent of the young team, with the idea that guides them to the heights. This is an idea, which is aimed for the future, for the youth, and I hope that it will be successful" - said Kostova, adding that she is particularly attracted by the school's architecture, design and colors.
After the two years of construction work this year in September UWC Dilijan will start its activities. At the moment the last finishing works are being done. In order to be able to finish the project by August, the construction group works in shifts. More than 1,300 builders work day and night to create the best conditions for education and development for the children from different countries. This year the school has enrolled 100 pupils. Pupils from a dozen of states will receive here the best education and wonderful conditions. Among them, there are several Georgians.
This fact has mostly inspired Georgia's State Agency Director Gosha Mirtskhulava. "They will be friends of Armenia, Armenia's ambassadors around the world, and I think this is a wonderful investment, the result of which will be these children" - said Mirtskhulava.
Professors from the best colleges of the world will teach at the school. As the education will be made on the basis of the International Baccalaureate, the lecturers must have the relevant IB qualification. Initially, only foreign specialists will teach at school, but, in parallel, appropriate training will also be held for the Armenian teachers, so that they also have the appropriate qualification and later be able to teach at school.
Edgar Manukyan, responsible for the school project implementation, believes that this project is to live for centuries and will leave its imprint. "When we started this project for Dilijan and Armenia, everyone thought that the school should be closed, in a closed area, but the school's ideology is that it is a part of the society and is open to all. Today discussions on cooperation are already under way with the other schools in Dilijan.
The school is open to everyone. There will be special hours when the children can use the playground, swimming pool, basketball and football fields, get in touch with the students of the school" - said Edgar Manukyan, adding that next year the school will enroll as many as 250 children.
By the end of 2013, Dilijan International School became a member of the United World Colleges -UWC educational network. UWC Dilijan is a large-scale charity initiative that will introduce the educational institutions of Armenia on the map of the global education in a new way, hosting students of different nationalities from more than 60 countries in Armenia. It is expected that in 2023 the number of school students will reach 650 from 60 countries. Tuition at school will cost 30 thousand dollars per year, but for 90 percent of the students the study will be free of charge, thanks to scholarships provided by the sponsors.
The brightest Armenian children will make 10-12 percent of the students of UWC Dilijan. The principal investor of the school is businessman Ruben Vardanyan, who has brought together a group of philanthropists, who believe that only intelligent and educated people can make the world better.

Hasmik Harutyunyan
Photos by: Artur Harutyunyan