After 18 years, beloved professor, Dr. Sergey Aityan, retired from Lincoln University. Before moving on to pursue his many other interests, Dr. Aityan agreed to share a few words of wisdom with Lincoln Chronicle. Here is the transcript of the conversation on December 5, 2022, between Professor Dr. Sergey Aityan and Lincoln Chronicle Editor-in-Chief, Zarafshann Nadeem. (The video (10 min) is also available here.)
Editor: "Today, we have with us one of the most beloved professors of Lincoln University, Dr. Sergey Aityan. He's been a professor of Economics, Management Information System, Computer Science, and Business Finance. He has taught a lot of subjects, and he's been the chairman of MIS Department. We welcome you, sir, for today's interview. Thank you. So, I would be asking you a few questions.
Editor: "How many years have you been a part of the Lincoln family?"
Dr. Aityan: "I've been here for 18 years now. That's a long time."
Editor: "Would you like to enlighten us about your experience here at Lincoln?"
Dr. Aityan: "As I've been here for 18 years, it means that I've had a positive experience, and I love teaching students. I do a lot of research. I love it."
Editor: "How would you describe your teaching style?"
Dr. Aityan: "My teaching style, some people may like it, some people may not like it. I don't deliver just facts to my students. My major goals and my major objectives in teaching students is to teach them how to think. So, to understand things rather than memorize things. This is my teaching style."
Editor: "What are your personal and professional interests?"
Dr. Aityan: "I have many professional interests, therefore I was the director of the Multidisciplinary Research Center. I have multiple backgrounds. I started as a strategic physicist and mathematician, then I switched to theoretical biology. I've done a lot of work in theoretical computer sciences, particularly in artificial intelligence, then economics, business. I've published many papers in all these areas, and books. So, to summarize, I have multidisciplinary interests. My personal interests... I'm interested in humans and people, definitely. I'm also interested in sports. I swim every day, and I'm a pilot. I fly planes, really. Yeah, I have many fascinating interests, so I have no time to be bored."
Editor: "That's amazing. So, Professor, what are your greatest successes or accomplishments in your entire working career at Lincoln?"
Dr. Aityan: "I would prefer others say what's my greatest success and accomplishment. I don't ever think I could, so let's let other people be the judge."
Editor: "That's a great answer. So, what have been the most significant changes in Lincoln since you started, and what changes were for the better?"
Dr. Aityan: "When I joined Lincoln University, it was a very small school, practically unknown. I hope that I was a part of the growth of Lincoln University, just one of many faculty and staff who helped develop the great success of this university."
Editor: "So, what are the other changes that you foresee in the coming years?"
Dr. Aityan: "Well, definitely, nothing in this world is perfect, right? I believe that Lincoln University can continue to improve its quality of education and research, expand its academic programs, and enhance its reputation in the academic community. I also think that it's important to focus on attracting and retaining talented faculty and staff, as they are the backbone of any great institution."
Editor: "Now, I'd like to ask you about your advice for your students. What should they focus on, and what skills should they develop to succeed in their careers?"
Dr. Aityan: "Well, first and foremost, I think it's important for students to develop critical thinking skills and to be able to analyze complex problems. They should also focus on developing their communication and interpersonal skills, as these are essential for success in any field. In terms of specific skills, I think that students studying economics should have a strong foundation in mathematics and statistics, as these are important tools for analyzing economic data. They should also be familiar with economic theory and the various schools of thought in economics."
Editor: "Finally, I'd like to ask you about your future plans. What do you see yourself doing in the next few years?"
Dr. Aityan: "Well, I plan to continue teaching and conducting research, as these are my passions. I also hope to publish more books and articles on various subjects, including economics, artificial intelligence, and other areas that I'm interested in. Additionally, I plan to continue flying planes and swimming, as these are my hobbies that help me stay active and healthy."
Editor: "That's wonderful, and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Thank you so much for joining us today, Dr. Aityan."
Dr. Aityan: "Thank you for having me. It's been a pleasure."