January 16, 2012 was a critical day for the students of the Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction and the State Engineering University of Armenia: the ‘Berlin wall’ erected between the two universities was destroyed.

The was built in 1989 and was the requirement of the time. As a matter of fact, the wall was put to separate the two universities. However, it not only did not address the visual issue but also created a serious gap between the universities in the sense that the areas were not separated equally thus creating inequality in using the areas.

This gap was finally filled in 2012, by the goodwill of YSUAC Rector Hovhannes Tokmajyan and newly appointed SEUA Rector Ara Avetisyan who made the decision to destroy the so-called ‘Berlin wall’ within the “Education without borders” concept. The decision of the two rectors provide mutual utilization of study and laboratory facilities, sports and other bases without any commercial conditions .

Cooperation of the two universities will obviously have a positive impact since it will promote the wider communication and information transfer between the faculties. However, to what extend do the students share this new policies of their rectors?

“Creation of a common are is not only pleasant from the aesthetical perspective but also creates impressive and free opportunity for psychological contact,” said student Ani Artemyan.

According to another student, Tigran Melkonyan, the destruction of the wall was a positive and even necessary step since laboratory trials and the reading hall will now be more accessible and comfortable. The students think that the partition in the entrance was oppressive and anachronic, especially given the current education reforms, as mentioned by YSUAC PhD student Hayk Sargsyan. “The basic goal of destruction of the symbolic wall is to establish a wider and more efficient cooperation between the two universities,” he said.