KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

The two-day international conference “Modernization of Education in the Context of Contemporary Pedagogical Paradigms” launched at Armenian State Pedagogical University

 (ASPU) on October 2. 

 

In his welcoming remarks ASPU Rector Rouben Mirzakhanyan said the geography of the conference and the submitted reports allowed them to focus on a wide range of issues that are directly related to the present-day problems of pedagogy, including pedagogical issues in Japan. The theme of the conference is topical which is evidenced by the attendance of the Italian Ambassador and representatives of leading academic institutions of many countries.

   

Armen Ashotyan, Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia, said, in turn, that the presence of educated citizens, carriers of national values, is one of the main prerequisites for the country’s sustainable development. Modernization of education can have different implications, but priority should be given to the possibility of meeting educational needs of RA citizens, economic demand and public expectations from the educational system. “These questions are particularly important in the context of modernization paradigm of pedagogical education which, according to its significance, does not only form a part of the higher education, but is also an essential factor determining the country’s present and future,” he said. 

 

The minister stressed that the ASPU is hosting another international conference which is unprecedented with its size and content.  It is evident that the Pedagogical University, which took the path of internationalization and modernization of higher education many years ago, today is recording serious success. 

 

Armen Ashotyan further stressed that the conference opens up an opportunity to work with foreign partners, predict and outline the future of the young generation in the European higher education area.

 

Kamilla Danilchenko, Counselor of the Bologna University Rector, underlined in her speech that Armenia is a trusted partner of the Bologna Process, and the organization of similar conferences contributes to the formation of education area and opens up new perspectives. 

 

Kamilla Danilchenko was glad to inform the presentees that an information booklet about Armenia will be published in the near future at the initiative of the ASPU and Bologna University.

 

Vladimir Gusarov, Head of the regional department of the Ministry of Education and Science of Samara region said the education system is developing very dynamically in the 21st century, therefore it is necessary to introduce innovative technologies and teach with the principle of “lessons for tomorrow” in mind. 

 

In the name of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, the Russian delegate handed over letters of thanks to Armenian Minister Armen Ashotyan, ASPU Rector Rouben Mirzakhanyan and organizers of the international conference. 

 

Further on, Svetlana Minasyan, one of the organizers of the conference, an associate professor at the Chair of History and Theory of Pedagogy, gave the Italian Ambassador an illustrated album summarizing the history and chronology of the ASPU. 

 

The conference will continue on October 3.