Competitions

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NPUA Student Wins Third Prize at the International B2B Sales Student Competition

Within the framework of the Erasmus+ LISS24 project, the two-day international B2B Sales Student Competition for the Eastern Partnership countries brought together the most talented students from leading technological universities in Armenia and Georgia. The competition aimed to strengthen participants' sales, business negotiation, and communication skills by providing them with an opportunity to compete in an environment closely resembling real business practice. The competition featured teams from the National Polytechnic University of Armenia (NPUA), the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia (NUACA), the Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU), the Georgian Technical University (GTU), the Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (BSU), and the Akaki Tsereteli State University (ATSU). Each university was represented by a delegation consisting of three students and one coach. In line with the objectives of the LISS24 project, a realistic business environment was created with the participation of representatives from Civitta International and Ameriabank, enabling students to apply their theoretical knowledge in practical sales scenarios. On the first day, participants competed in three parallel qualifying rounds. Acting as sales representatives, they presented their sales strategies to industry professionals who assumed the role of buyers. Each performance was evaluated against 11 standardized assessment criteria. Based on the results of the qualifying rounds, the top eight participants advanced to the final, where they once again demonstrated their sales strategies and negotiation skills. By the decision of the jury, the winners were announced as follows: First Place – Tigran Stepanyan (National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia) Second Place – Elene Kobalia (Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University) Third Place – Anna Aleksanyan (National Polytechnic University of Armenia) According to Ruben Aghgashyan, LISS24 Project Coordinator and Honorary Professor of the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, this was the first competition of its kind in the region and it has already proven to be a successful initiative. "Although only three participants received awards, I consider every participant a winner. The competition was organized entirely in accordance with European standards. The experience gained from last year's university-level competition and this year's international competition has convinced us that both the B2B Sales Competition and the Innovation Ideas Competition should evolve into nationwide initiatives. The B2B Sales Competition is one of the best examples of how students can be brought closer to the real business environment while developing their practical competencies through international cooperation." Anna Aleksanyan, an NPUA student and the third-place winner of the competition, described her participation as an opportunity to discover her potential in a new professional field. "I decided to participate in the B2B Sales Competition because I wanted to challenge myself not only as a logistics specialist but also as a sales professional. I successfully passed the qualifying round, and in the international stage I reached the final and won a prize. This was not only a valuable learning experience but also an excellent opportunity to build professional networks and connect with representatives of companies where we may have the chance to work in the future." Diana Barbaryan, an NPUA student and finalist of the competition, received job offers from representatives of Civitta International and Studio One immediately after the competition concluded. She described this year's event as a successful continuation of her previous experience. "Last year, I participated in the training course and competition organized by the university but did not win a prize. That experience motivated me to work on my weaknesses and improve myself. When I was given the opportunity to participate again this year, I saw it as a new challenge and a chance to demonstrate how much I had progressed." All participants of the competition received certificates of participation, while the winners were presented with awards. The event concluded with a ceremonial cake-cutting and a champagne reception dedicated to the competition, where participants and guests gathered to celebrate the successful completion of the event.
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The first “B2B Sales“ competition of the Eastern Partnership countries in Armenia

Within the framework of the successfully going on EU Erasmus+ “LISS24” Project, involving per three Armenian and Georgian partner universities, the first “B2B Sales“ student competition of the Eastern Partnership countries will take place in Armenia on June 24-25, 2026. The universities participating in the competition are: National Polytechnic University of Armenia (NPUA) -National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia (NUACA) -Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU) -Georgian Technical University (GTU) -Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (BSU) -Akaki Tsereteli State University (ATSU). Each university will be represented by a team consisted of three competing students and one coach. Representatives of the Project’s European partner universities are also expected; the latter, mainly together with representatives of Armenian business community, will serve on the competition’s jury panels. The competition program includes: -Welcome speeches and the official opening ceremony of the competition -Brief presentation of the Project and the objectives of such competitions within it -Introduction of the competing students and the jury members -Presentation of the competition procedure, scenarious and the evaluation criteria -Conduct of the preliminary round and selection of the finalists -Conduct of the final round and summing up of the competition results -Closing ceremony of the competition: providing all the competitors with certificates of participation, awarding of the winners, and closing remarks -Q&A session with the invited media representatives. Some extra organizational details of the competition: The competition is held in two rounds. On the first day, three parallel so-called “room sub-competitions” are held, involving all 18 competing students from the six aforementioned partner universities of the Project. From each room’s group of six, the two top-ranked students advance to the next stage and earn the right to compete the following day in the final round, where the overall winner and the other two prize-winners will be determined. In both the first day’s qualifying round and the second day’s final, the competitions are conducted using real “scenarios” selected jointly with business partners and provided to the participants in advance, based on the sale of a specific market product. The student acts as the “seller,” while a business representative from the relevant field acts as the “buyer.” Each negotiation is allotted 12-15 minutes, during which the “seller” must try to convince the “buyer” and sell the offered product. The outcome is evaluated in parallel by each jury member according to unified, pre-developed criteria provided to them, and the scores are consolidated at the end by averaging. All other details of the competition can be found in the attached information package through the competition’s Agenda, Competition Guides, Lists of Competitors and Jury members, as well as the Evaluation Criteria, while the “LISS24” Project as a whole can be explored by visiting the trilingual website http://liss24-am.liss24.com/. LISS24 Armenian Team NPUA Press Center
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Innovation Trainings and Competition at NUACA

From 25 February to 16 March 2026, within the framework of WP4 of the Erasmus+ LISS24 project (T4.3 Organizing Innovation Courses and Competitions), a series of lectures on the topic “Generation of Innovative Ideas” was launched at the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia. It was run until March 16 of 2026 and ended with the competition held at the NUACA in two rounds (respectively on March 25 and March 27 of 2026). The purpose of this course was not only to impart basic knowledge about innovative business ideas to students, but also to develop students' creative thinking, allowing them to identify consumer problems and generate ideas aimed at solving these problems. An interactive teaching method was used for training implementation. The training materials were developed, including didactic materials intended for interactive learning. Didactic materials included the following: printed materials, various information materials (PowerPoint presentations), photos, pictures, game and interactive materials, roleplaying games, digital and practical materials. The lectures were conducted with the participation of the NUACA local person who is responsible for the quality assurance of all events implemented within the LISS24 project. This report is a confirmation that the training course was conducted qualitatively and in accordance with the set objectives. The training on the course "Innovative Business Ideas Generation" was completed by two phases of the competition: respectively on March 25 and March 27, for business ideas developed by the course participants. Six teams of students participated in the final round of competition, each of which presented its business idea using the CANVAS business model. The presented business ideas were evaluated by the eight-member committee according to pre-developed criteria. As a result, 3 participants were recognized as winners in the first, second and third places. All participants were awarded by the certificates of participation.
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B2B Trainings and Competitions at NUACA

From April 10, 2026, within the framework of WP4 of the Erasmus+ LISS24 project (T4.3 Organizing Innovation Courses and Competitions), a series of lectures on the topic “Business to Business (B2B) sales” was launched at the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia. It was run until April 24 of 2026 and ended with two rounds of competition (respectively on April 27 and April 29, 2026).The purpose of “B2B sales” training was to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to effectively utilize a company’s products or services, improve operational efficiency, and foster long-term strategic partnerships that drive mutual growth and success. The training materials were developed, including didactic materials intended for interactive learning. Didactic materials included the following: printed materials, various information materials (PowerPoint presentations), photos, pictures, game and interactive materials, role-playing games, digital and practical materials. The lectures were conducted with the participation of the NUACA local person who is responsible for the quality assurance of all events implemented within the LISS24 project. This report is a confirmation that the “B2B Sales” training course was conducted qualitatively and in accordance with the set objectives. The training on the course "B2B Sales" was completed by two rounds of the competition (respectively on April 27 and 29). The course participants were prepared for the first round of the competition by Ms. Tatevik Yedoyan. The scenario in alignment with the topic of competition was developed for the first round of competition and potential participants were provided by the assignment preliminary. Eleven students took part in the final round of competition. The judges commission of the final round of competition was composed from 6 members. Evaluation criteria were presented to the judges. The competed students were provided with the assignment. Two employees of ReZident.am company took a role of “buyers”: • Anushik Grigoryan - Sales Manager of ReZident.am • Roza Adamyan - Sales Manager of ReZident.am As a result of the competition, the following students were nominated: Luisa Mkrtchyan for 1st place Armine Hakobyan for 2nd place Areg Grigoryan for 3rd place All students who took part in the” B2B Sales” training received certificates of participation.
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GTU to host Eastern Partnership Innovation Competition within the Erasmus+ program

Georgian Technical University will host a large-scale event — the “Eastern Partnership Innovation Competition” — within the framework of the Erasmus+ grant program KA2 institutional strengthening project “Learn – Innovate – Sell – Succeed” (LISS24). The goal of the project is to support the practical implementation of innovative ideas among students, develop entrepreneurial skills, and share international experience. The event will officially open on May 19 and will involve students, young innovators, and representatives of the academic sphere from both Georgia and Eastern Partnership countries — Finland, Sweden, Spain, and Austria. Within the competition, participants will have the opportunity to present their startup ideas, innovative products, and technological projects. According to the dean of the Faculty of Transport Systems and Mechanical Engineering at GTU, the event within the framework of LISS24 was planned several months ago. As Professor Boris Githolendia states, the project includes intensive mentoring and a series of educational trainings at partner universities in Georgia and Armenia. At the final stage of the competition, 12 selected teams from 6 universities will present their projects — including student teams from Georgian Technical University. According to the dean, the event is large-scale and will be attended by members of the project consortium together with Georgian and Armenian colleagues, while the winners will be selected by a specially created jury. The competition will be held in various categories, including digital technologies, social impact, creativity, and others. “It is of special importance for us that Georgian Technical University is hosting an international-scale innovation platform. The ‘Eastern Partnership Innovation Competition’ gives students the opportunity to turn their ideas into real projects, deepen their entrepreneurial and technological skills, and establish connections with international professional networks. Innovation in the field of transport systems and mechanical engineering is especially important, as the modern engineering sector is rapidly developing and requires new, practical, and sustainable solutions. Within the university space, the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem is increasingly based on the systematic support of student ideas. The goal of the project is precisely to ensure that young people receive structured knowledge and academic as well as practical assistance already at the stage of shaping their ideas. The LISS24 project significantly improves the innovation ecosystem and creates important opportunities both for our students and at the institutional level.” – Associate Professor Boris Githolendia The LISS24 project aims to enhance innovative competencies in engineering education. At Georgian Technical University, the institutional coordination of the project is carried out by the University Office of Technologies and Grant Projects, while the initial piloting of the results is taking place at the Faculty of Transport Systems and Mechanical Engineering. The project’s partner is the GTU Department of Student Services, Culture, and Sports. Additional information about the project is available on the website. https://www.gtu.edu.ge/en/stu-shi-erasmus-programis-pharglebshi-aghmosavleth-partniorobis-qveqhnebis-inovatsiebis-konkursi-chatardeba/
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Serving as a Jury Member at the “Innovative Business Ideas Generation” Competition

I recently had the chance to be a jury member at the “Innovative Business Ideas Generation” competition at National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia. The event was part of the Erasmus+ Learn-Innovate-Sell-Succeed (LISS24) -Project. It was really great to see students and high school participants sharing their ideas, energy, and creativity. In total, 13 teams took part, each with their own unique approach. Events like this remind me how important it is to support and encourage the next generation.
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What is ESC?

The European Sales Competition is a competition for university students who want to grow in sales. ESC was created to give students the opportunity to test their skills in practice, experience realistic sales situations, and gain insight into the value of professional sales work. It is also a place where students can connect with peers, universities, and industry in an international environment. At its core, ESC is about learning, development, and opportunity. It shows that sales is not just a subject, but a professional skillset that can open doors to future careers. For students, ESC is a chance to grow. For universities, it is a chance to support and showcase future talent. Interested in learning more about ESC 2026? Contact us for more information at esc26@kristiania.no hashtag#ESC hashtag#Sales hashtag#Students
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NPUA’s Debut in European Business Negotiations

On January 29–30, 2026, the first “European Online Business Negotiation Competition” (EOBNC) was held at HAN University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. This unique and valuable international student event brought together representatives from more than 20 European universities, as well as one university from the United States. Thanks to the successfully ongoing Erasmus+ LISS24 project (Learn – Innovate – Sell – Succeed) at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia (NPUA), which created the opportunity for Armenian and Georgian partner universities of the project to participate in this prestigious event, the pioneering NPUA team actively took part in the multi-stage international EOBN Competition. Namely, the University was represented by students Sona Aghabekyan and Arina Manukyan as competitors, and by Mr. Gor Martirosyan, Director of the Labor Market Research and Professional Career Center at NPUA and a member of the LISS24 project team, who served as a member of the international jury. Participation in the EOBNC marked an important milestone in the progress of the LISS24 project. It provided NPUA representatives with an excellent opportunity to test the knowledge and skills they had gained through the project’s internal trainings, workshops, and competitions, to strengthen their B2B sales and negotiation competencies, and—most importantly—to enter international networks, compete on a European platform, and achieve their first victories: during the initial stages of the competition, NPUA student Arina Manukyan was recognized as the best in her subgroup (“Room Leader”), demonstrating excellent negotiating skills. More than that, another Armenian debutant in international competitions Irena Simonyan, representing the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, an LISS24 project partner, multiplied this success by becoming the overall winner of the competition. The National Polytechnic University of Armenia congratulates the students on their successful participation and wishes them continued professional achievements. The Students’ Reflections: “The European Online Business Negotiation Competition gave me the opportunity to gain practical knowledge in the field of sales, develop my skills, and explore the nuances of business negotiations. The competition created a realistic business environment for me. In addition, I made new friends from different countries and universities, and we had engaging and insightful discussions together. I am grateful for this brilliant opportunity provided within the framework of the LISS24 project”(Arina Manukyan). “This competition was an extremely valuable and inspiring experience for me. It allowed me to challenge myself in a new environment, express my thoughts with greater confidence, listen attentively, and most importantly, adapt quickly to new situations. After the competition, I was left with very positive emotions, new ideas, and strong motivation to continue my education and personal development. I would like to extend my special thanks to the National Polytechnic University of Armenia for granting me this exceptional opportunity within the framework of the LISS24 project”(Sona Aghabekyan).