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The Academic Council of Armenian State Pedagogical University today held its year-end sitting. Before proceeding to the agenda, the attendees observed a moment of silence in memory of Georg Brutian, a member of the ASPU Academic Council, a prominent academician. They appreciated his potential and role in the University’s academic life.
The Council members then watched a film telling about the University’s activities and initiatives in 2015. After the film, ASPU Rector Ruben Mirzakhanyan presented a report on the activities carried out in the University in the passing year.
The Rector presented the dynamics of cash flows between 2011 and 2015, distribution of cash outflows in 2014-2015, changes in the number of first-year students and University students in general, the budget for 2016 which was approved during the extended sitting of the Council. The Academic Council took note of the actions and expressed its appreciation.
Summarizing the year and referring to the innovations introduced in the education process, specifically interactive teaching, Mr Mirzakhanyan said starting the next academic year interactive teaching would be applied in other courses as well: lecturers are to deliver the material in a proper way, enabling students to learn how to think and developing their basic academic skills.
Speaking about Master’s reports and theses, the ASPU Rector said the themes should be new and interesting; students need to conduct independent research and present the results of their work instead of writing lengthy and valueless papers.
In this context, he highlighted the involvement of Master’s degree students in the activities of the ASPU research laboratories, as well as publication of professors’ articles in the most prestigious international journals.
In his speech, Mr Mirzakhanyan also highlighted the University’s accreditation saying the ASPU need not be compared with other universities. “We were accredited because we want the education system to develop in other higher education institutions as well, because all institutions can develop in such an environment. Students at the Pedagogical University must be taught in such a way that their diplomas will have real value for them,” he stressed.
In his report, Kamo Vardanyan, Head of the ASPU Research Center, spoke about implementation of ASPU-funded research topics.
He presented the scope of research, the number of themes financed annually through the RA State Committee of Science, funding of research topics and conferences and their number according to years.
Mr Vardanyan also presented the work carried out in the direction of development of the legal framework of research policy, international conferences held at the University, ASPU’s publishing activities, the number of published papers, articles published in international peer-reviewed journals, as well as efforts towards bettering the quality of graduate and postgraduate education.
He attached special importance to the newly opened laboratories – Mathematics Education Learning and Development Lab and Scientific-Research Laboratory for Armenian Civilization. The head of the ASPU Research Center confessed that they pin great hopes on these structures. “There is progress but it is not enough to have the status of a research university. We need to work together and solve the problems faced by the University,” Mr Vardanyan stressed.
The Academic Council decided to positively evaluate the process of research themes funded by the state budget, enhance the efficiency of research activities by participating in base and thematic programs financed by the State Committee of Science of the RA Ministry of Education and Science, contribute to international programs implemented with international scientific organizations, and encourage active participation of graduate students, young scientists, PHD students in these programs.
The sitting ended with New Year wishes. Ruben Mirzakhanyan conveyed his best wishes to his colleagues and their families.
