France expresses readiness to consider UFAR`s development and  expansion agenda within Academic City project 

ArmInfo. Ambassador of France to Armenia Olivier Decottignies and Rector of the French University  in Armenia(UFAR)  Salva Nakuzi, , accompanied by RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports  (MESCS) Zhanna Andreasyan, visited the territory of the Academic City to get acquainted with the  details of the project.

The Ambassador highly appreciated the ongoing design works,  describing the Academic City as a bold, ambitious and attractive  project.

The French side expressed its readiness to consider the agenda for  the development and expansion of the activities of the UFAR within  the framework of the Academic City project. The Ambassador and the  Rector attached importance to the latter in the context of attracting  foreign students, given that the hostel and other important  infrastructure will meet international standards.  Zhanna Andreasyan,  in turn, said that the full plan of the Academic City will be ready  in the coming months. As part of the project concept, she said, work  is being carried out in parallel on landscaping, designing the road  network and the necessary infrastructure, after which the phased  implementation of the project will begin. At the same time, one of  the main points of the first stage will be the start of work on  launching the railway service.

Academic City will be built on the territory adjacent to the 17th  quarter of Yerevan.  On January 4 this year, the Government of  Armenia adopted a draft resolution "On recognition of priority public  interest in relation to certain territories located within the  administrative boundaries of the city of Yerevan and the settlement  of Sasunik of the Ashtarak community of Aragatsotn region", for the  purpose of constructing the Academic City.

The territory of the Yerevan 17th quarter, within the boundaries of  which are located land plots owned by the state and the community, as  well as land plots owned by individuals and legal entities, as well  as the territory occupied by the Hamo Beknazaryan Hayfilm film studio   will be transferred to the Academic City Foundation.

On April 21, 2023, the Academic City Foundation was established. On  October 19, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the concept of the  Academic City project. Minister of Education, Science, Culture and  Sports of Armenia Zhanna Andresyan, presenting the project, stated  that, according to the state development program of Armenia until  2030, it is planned to establish an Academic City as a modern  environment for quality education and research.

Andreasyan said that up to 16 universities will be located on the  territory of the Academic City - up to 8 state consolidated ones and  up to 8 private or international higher educational institutions.   "Currently, the concept describes in detail 4 clusters -  technological, arts, educational and officer.  The Academic City is  adjacent to one highway; it will be connected to Yerevan and the  railway, part of which already passes through the main section. It is  planned that movement around the territory of the Academic City will  have special regulations- by bicycles, electric vehicles and other  means. About 44,000 people will work and live here," the minister  said.

On the territory of the Academic City it is also planned to build  research centers, production experimental centers, agricultural  experimental arable land, a sleeping or residential area, a  multifunctional concert hall, a cinema and theater, halls for various  sports, as well as the necessary living conditions for a healthy  lifestyle. It is also planned to build a national stadium with a  capacity of up to 35 thousand spectators and swimming pools. "There  will be three stages - design, which will begin in October and end in  September 2025, construction - from October 2025 and end in December  2029, and maintenance, which will begin in full from January 2030,"  Zhanna Andreasyan said earlier.