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Armenian and Swiss students’ exchange project called “Art Matters” was implemented in Yerevan and Zurich by the joint assistance of the ASPU Faculty of Art Education and the Zurich University of the Arts.
The cooperation started in Yerevan. Eight students and two Associate Professors arrived in our country from Zurich for a two –week stay in April.
Likewise, eight students and two lecturers were selected from the ASPU Faculty of Fine Arts to participate in this exchange programme.
In September, the same group of students and lecturers travelled to Zurich to spend their pedagogical internship there. Within the scope of the project the students gained huge experience of working with foreign people specializing in the same profession – teaching the arts.
Thus, two busy and interesting weeks started in Switzerland, during which four groups consisting of representatives from both countries prepared per programme for a Fine Arts Lesson.
The pedagogical methods and the selected topics varied, including frottage, raising environmental issues by recycling plastic items, performances, or theory of colour.
In addition to pedagogical internship, the Armenian group in Switzerland participated in the Zurich Museum Night, visited diverse cultural events, had a trip to the picturesque medieval town Lucerne, then to village Giswil to participate in modern performance festival.
In addition, while in Switzerland, the students were also welcomed at the Zurich Hohe Promenade Gymnasium, at the Autonome Schule (autonomous school) and in Atelier Haus (atelier-house) art school, got familiarised with the local pedagogical methods and the structures of these schools.
What is more, the Armenian students had a unique chance to teach at the central school of Bülach town. This was a significant opportunity for exchange of experience for both Armenian and Swiss students, as well as for pupils and teachers of the local school, as both parties had something to share to each other.
As an example, the Armenian student were pleasantly surprised that art classes in schools of Switzerland (fine arts, music) were of continuous nature throughout the school years. Both students and teachers expressed interest in using the new concepts learnt from one another in the course of their future activities.
To ensure the continuity of this project the ASPU Vice-Rector Mr. Ara Yeremyan also arrived in Switzerland. The Swiss Project Leader Dagmar Reichart and Mr. A. Yeremyan agreed to continue cooperation in future.
During this three-day visit the Vice-Rector also met with the Armenian and Swiss students and lecturers, and attended classes held by the students in Bülach.
To conclude, we would like to mention that the students permanently felt the support of the Armenian State Pedagogical University and the Zurich University of the Arts, which contributed to the mutually beneficial cooperation and opened access to both countries’ rich cultural heritage.
