YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. On the initiative of Armenian Defense Ministry the National Defense Research University (NDRU) is established on the basis of the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS, MoD, RA). As reported by “Armenpress”, the draft resolution on the establishment of the University was approved at the Government’s session.

As Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan stated: “The interagency education of the defense-security leadership and the research in the field of defense security conducted for the state’s military and political leadership with the provision of assessments and recommendations are of utmost importance in terms of enhancing the effectiveness of the national security policy. The project of establishing the NDRU, MoD, RA on the basis of the INSS is aimed at the solution of this problem.  

According to the Minister, the University enables to conduct Master and Executive Education programs and unite the state’s top leadership around the Commander-in-Chief of the RA Armed Forces through consistent knowledge and harmonized professional activities, to provide an academic basis for the defense-security strategic decision-making by means of strategic studies in the field, to craft academic brainpower for defense-security system.      

In order to give financial flexibility to the “National Defense Research University” the Foundation of the University will also be established. This is based on the model of the US National Defense University and its Foundation. The Foundation will enable to solve the problems of the University, which cannot be solved by budgetary funds, through donations.  

In 2004-2014, the project of establishing the NDRU was reviewed in the leading academic-educational and state institutions of the RA and US, particularly, at the US NDU’s Center for Applied Strategic Learning, Center for Technology and National Security Policy, College of International Security Affairs; Harvard University; the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy; State Committee of Science of the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia; National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance Foundation.