Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs
Jemma Baghdasaryan
Candidate of Psychological Sciences (PhD)

E-mail: jembs@mail.ru

BIOGRAPHICAL AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

• 1979 – Graduated from the Faculty of Biology, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University.

• 2000 – Completed studies at the Institute of Medical and Social Rehabilitation, Academy of Management of Russia (Department of Work Capacity Expertise and Labor Organization).

• 1995 – Completed a three-month TACIS training course on Social Security Reforms and the Establishment of Social Services.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 1982–1996 – Leading Specialist, Head of Division, and Deputy Head of the Department for Issues of Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly, Ministry of Social Security of the Armenian SSR, later Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

• 1996–2009 – Head of the Department for Issues of Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

• 2009–2017 – Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

• 2017–2019 – Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia; Member of the Standing Committee on Health Care and Social Affairs.

• 2019–present – UN International Expert on Social Issues.

• 2020–present – Head of the Department of Sociology and Social Work, “Urartu” University of Practical Psychology and Sociology.

Positions within International and Governmental Bodies

• 2004–2008 – Expert at the Council of Europe Committee on the Rehabilitation and Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities.

• 2008–2010 – Bureau Member of the same Committee; 2010 – Vice-Chair of the Committee.

By decision of the Prime Minister of Armenia:

• 2008–2017 – Member, Interagency Commission on Issues of Persons with Disabilities.

• 2013–2016 – Chair, Interagency Commission on Issues Arising from Population Aging and on the Implementation of the Social Protection Strategy for the Elderly.

• 2012–2015 – Member, Prime Minister’s Commission on Women’s Issues.

• 2010–2017 – Member, Interagency Commission on Combating Drug Addiction under the Police of the Republic of Armenia.

• 2001–2017 – Member, Interagency Commission on Issues of Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Persons under the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia.

• 2012–2017 – Member of the Board of Trustees, National Autism Foundation.

PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

• 1998, Washington (USA) – Speaker, International Conference on the Rights and Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities.

• 2005, Málaga (Spain) – Speaker, International Ministerial Conference on Population Aging Issues.

• 2008, Washington (USA) – Speaker, International Conference on the Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.

• 2009, Yerevan (Armenia) – Organizer, International Conference on Aging.

• 2012, Bangkok (Thailand) – Speaker, International Conference on Population Aging.

• 2004, Stavanger (Norway) – Speaker, International Conference on Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities.

• 2005, Moscow (Russia) – Speaker, International Conference on Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities.

• 2016, Yerevan (Armenia) – Speaker, International Conference on Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.

TRAININGS AND CAPACITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL)

• 1995–1996, Yerevan – Lecturer, TACIS program on Social Security Reform and Development of Social Services.

• 1996–2008, Yerevan – Lecturer, Training Program for Social Protection System Specialists.

• November 2019, Bishkek – International Consultant and Trainer, Course on the Implementation of the ICF (International Classification of Functioning) in the Social Sector.

Participated in multiple international forums as a UN International Expert and conference speaker.

AWARDS

• “Mkhitar Heratsi” Medal (2006)

• “For Services to the Motherland,” 2nd Degree Medal (2013)

• Prime Minister’s Commemorative Medal (1998)

• President’s Certificate of Appreciation (2003)

• Medal of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (2008)

• “Garegin Nzhdeh” Medal (2008, Ministry of Defense of Armenia)

• Prime Minister’s Certificate of Appreciation (2010)

She holds the rank of 1st Class Counselor of the Civil Service of the Republic of Armenia.

Since 2006, she has been an Honorary Doctor of the Armenian Branch of the International and Russian Academies of Natural and Social Sciences.

In November 2016, she received a certificate from USAID/PRIP for successful cooperation, highlighting her effective leadership of the working group on the implementation of the WHO International Classification of Functioning (ICF).