When one of Vardan Urutyan’s innovative ideas, the Greenhouse Crop Production, and Management (GCPM) educational program, was launched by ICARE 8 months ago, he was the Director of ICARE. On November 27, Dr. Urutyan handed over the graduation certificates to the successful students as the Acting Rector of the Armenian National Agrarian University.

Based on the outcomes of the greenhouse industry needs assessment conducted by ICARE in 2016-2017, the 8-month Greenhouse Crop Production and Management (GCPM) certificate program was developed and launched in March 2018. The industry has been rapidly developing over the recent years in Armenia, prompting a growing demand in greenhouse professionals.

In the initial stage of implementation of this innovative concept, Vardan Urutyan was the Director of ICARE, while he handed over the graduation certificates in the status of the ANAU Acting Rector. ICARE had carefully selected 19 participants from a large number of applicants; 17 of them successfully completed the course, including several young faculty members from ANAU.

The wonderful seventeen are now armed with the latest knowledge in greenhouse structure, modern growing technologies, resources and materials used in production, greenhouse microclimate control systems, and plant physiology and plant protection. Moreover, they are equipped with skills of efficient use of finances, business plan writing, marketing of greenhouse products, human resource management, and leadership. The acquired knowledge and skills were strengthened by internships and field trips to operating greenhouses.

The participants traveled a rather long and serious path during the eight months in terms of achieving professional heights. As a matter of fact, the GCPM program graduates do not have any competition in the growing greenhouse industry in Armenia with their up-to-date and comprehensive professional knowledge. This is what was “confessed” by the prominent figures in the Armenian greenhouse business and the program’s respected experts, Poghos Gevorgyan and Aram Asatryan.

One of the indicators of the program was that the graduates urged the ANAU and ICARE administration to ponder over the preparation of the next cohort of GCPM specialists. The graduates thanked Dr. Urutyan as well as the former ICARE Research Director Anna Yeritsyan and Astghik Sahakyan, the Program Coordinator, who deserves high honor for her everyday outstanding efforts. rian University. One of the indications that the program was a big success was that the graduates urged the ANAU and ICARE management to go ahead and teach the next cohort of GCPM specialists. As a matter of fact, our graduates do not have any competition in the growing greenhouse industry with their up-to-date and comprehensive professional knowledge. This is what was “confessed” by the prominent figures in the Armenian greenhouse business and the program’s respected leaders, Poghos Gevorgyan and Aram Asatryan. And viva Astghik Sahakyan, the Program Coordinator, who deserves high honor for her everyday outstanding efforts. ICARE News will provide details soon.