Based on the structural changes in the university, according to the resolution No. 9.1 of the Board of Trustees dated 23.06.2022, the Chair of Physical Education Theory and Methodology and the Chair of Art were dissolved and the Chair of Sports and Art was established.
The Chair of Sports was established in 1947. The first Chairman was Suren Topchyan, an active figure of the physical culture movement. In 1963-97 the department was headed by the USSR Honored Coach, Professor Hovhannes Arakelyan, since 1997 - by Professor Babken Serobyan, Candidate of Pedagogy.
In 1971, the Chair of Physical Culture was opened at GSPI (Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute) which provided an opportunity to open a professional Chair of Sports Games and Gymnastics, the first Head of which was associate professor Mkrtich Manukyan. Then the Chair was headed by professors R. Manukyan, R. Papoyan, and since 2006 – the Associate Professor A. Khachatryan. In 2013, the Chairs of Physical Education and Sports Pedagogy were united and renamed the Chair of Physical Education and its Teaching Methodology.
In 2017, based on the structural changes in the university, the Chair was renamed the Chair of the Theory and Methodology of Physical Education, and in 2022 - the Chair of Sports and Art. Since 2017, associate professor, Candidate of Pedagogy G. Aghanyan has been in charge of the Head of the Chair.
During the above-mentioned years, marked professors with a lot of experience, honored coaches of the Soviet Union and the Republic of Armenia worked in the Chairs: H. Arakelyan, H. Parsadanian, F. Ghazaryan, G. Butaev, G. Minasyan, R. Papoyan, V. Grigoryan, B. Serobyan, A. Matevosyan, R. Manukyan, M. Manukyan, R. Cholakhyan, H. Sahakyan, H. Antikyan, E. Arshakyan, L. Petrosyan, S. Mkrtchyan, A. Boyakhchyan, S. Khachatryan, A. Khachatryan and other distinguished coaches and educators. A significant number of employees had academic titles and degrees. As a result of all this, GSPI (Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute) student-athletes have become winners and prize-winners in both inter-university, national and international competitions. During these years, both single combat and game forms were established in the institute, which was an impetus for the development of sports. Since the 1970s until now, 20 Olympic champions and award winners are Leninakan-Gyumri top athletes are students and graduates of our university: Yu. Vardanyan, L. Julfalakyan, M. Iskandaryan, I. Militosyan, A. Aleksanyan, more than 70 countries of the world: V. Militosyan, M. Apikyan, H. Rubenyan, A. Manukyan European champions: R. Emmiyan, M. Ghazaryan, H. Stepanyan, Kh. Kyapanaksyan.
Graduates of the Chair have beaten more than 60 world and European records. They trained and are training the national teams of the Republic of Armenia, about 30 of them: M. Shirinyan, A. Mkhitaryan, L. Julfalakyan., K. Simonyan, S. Sargsyan, G. Vardanyan are honoured coaches of the Republic of Armenia.
Even today, members of the national team in various sports, top athletes (athletics: Ye. Mkrtchyan, weightlifting: S. Gasparyan, G. Karapetyan, A. Aghanyan, wrestling: L. Gevorgyan, K. Khachatryan; sambo: G. Mkhitaryan, M. Manukyan; judo: V.Sargsyan, V.Aghanyan; boxing: G.Hovhannisyan, Zh. Hamazaryan, A.Hovhannisyan, D.Chaloyan, H.Tchghrikyan, H.Hakobyan; shooting: H.Margaryan, G.Harutyunyan; football: V.Ayvazyan, R.Mkrtchyan; basketball: H.Grigoryan, A.Asesyan and other kinds of sports) who show high results not only in our country, but also on the international platforms.
The chair has also done a great work in the field of science and education. Both scientific and methodological research works were published, which contributed to the students education process. The proposal to organize physical education classes in kindergartens belongs to the Chair. As a result of the work done, a training methodology was elaborated, which was implemented both in our city, in our republic and in various republics of the former USSR, bringing the Chair an all-union recognition.
During its long history the Chair has organized the following republican scientific sessions: “Physical Training and Methods of its Teaching”, “Healthy Soldiers for Our National Army”, “The Olympic Movement”, “The Physical and Moral-Psychological Preparedness of the Coming Generation”.
Today G. Aghanyan is a member of the professional council N065 from the teaching staff of the Chair, A. Simonyan is an expert of the National Centre for Quality Assurance of Professional Education and a referee of the international artistic gymnastics class. G. Barseghyan was elected the head coach of the RA Athletics team.
Organization and holding of sports events, participation in varsity and inter-university events are always encouraged by the Chair. The students of the Chair took part in the Republican Student Sports Games and won prizes in various sports. The Chair is in close cooperation with regional and republic physical culture and sports organizations /Student Sports Federation/.
The Chair of Sports and Arts of Shirak State University plays a primary role in the improvement of the professionalism of athletes in Shirak region, the training of specialist personnel and the provision of a high level of physical culture and sports.
