Meeting with EU experts in the frame of TWINNING Project, 16-20 March

During 16-20 March, 2015 Mr. Heinz-Ulrich Schmidt an Mr. Volker Gehmlich visited Armenia to carry out Review of the current institutional arrangement for the development and support to the implementation of National Qualifications Framework in the frame of TWINNING Project. The ARMENQA team members, namely: Armen Budaghyan (YSU), Mary Santurjyan (YSU), Kristina Tsaturyan (ASPU), Vahan Sargsyan (ASPU), Robert Khachatryan (YSULS), Tatevik Gharibyan (MoES), Gayane Harutyunyan (ARMENIC), Lusine Madoyan (ARMENIC) and Samvel Karabekyan (NCSRHE). The objectives of the meeting were to know the state-of-the art of the institutional arrangements for the development and support National Qualifications Framework, to identify strengths and weaknesses and to suggest a roadmap for further supportive activities. The participants extended the discussion beyond the set objectives to ECTS, Learning Outcomes and Student-Centred-Learning, as well as the Information Manual on ANQF for stakeholders.
The ARMENQA team discussed also the strategy for implementation of ANQF in Armenia for its finalization, respecting criteria of the European Qualifications Framework European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Another papers developed within the ARMENQA project and was also discussed intensively: Criteria for Recognition/Inclusion of RA Higher Education Qualifications. Though the discussion wasn’t finalized and therefore was postponed to the next Experts´ Twinning mission in April.


By the end of the meeting the experts identified the strengths and weaknesses, discussed them with the participants in relation to the opportunities and threats within the Armenian educational system to be able to propose recommendations how to overcome the weaknesses, develop the strengths so to exploit opportunities and avoid threats. The report on the recommendations was sent to the MoES and delivered to the ARMENQA Team for further consideration as well.