KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

A workshop dedicated to characteristics of the joint international accreditation process of universities initiated by the National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance Foundation (ANQA) and Germany-based Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programs (AQAS) was held recently.

The workshop on "National and International Accreditation in Armenia" was attended by Samvel Asatryan, Head of the Department for Educational Processes Management and Reforms at Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU), Anahit Panosyan, Acting Head of the Center for International Relations and Project Management at ASPU, and Melanya Barseghyan, Head of the Department for Education Quality Assurance and Management at ASPU.

The participants of the workshop were introduced to AQAS, its activity and structure. The benefits of joint accreditation procedures, main processes and standards were also addressed during the meeting. Also, the speakers presented accreditation criteria, composition, responsibilities and expectations of the expert group, while the agencies provided general information on the composition of the expert group and the requirements for the experts.

Among the benefits of the international accreditation process the speakers stressed the compliance with international and national principles, localization of international experience and knowledge in Armenian HEIs, reduction of necessary efforts and expenses, increase of trust in RA universities, both inside and outside the country, etc.

During the workshop on " Joint International Institutional Accreditation", ANQA and AQAS signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) to strengthen cooperation in quality assurance of higher education and internationalization of Armenian education institutions.