Tesaket (Viewpoint) Press Club today hosted Mkrtich Avagyan, Head of Education Development and Quality Assurance Department of Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU),
and Suren Ohanyan, Rector of Eurasia International University (EIU).
Among other issues, the guests also referred to the aspirations of the Armenian youth to continue their studies at foreign universities, revealed the advantages and disadvantages of the educational system in Armenia, expressed their opinions on the necessary changes in the sector and made their suggestions.
Mr. Mkrtich Avagyan observed the aspiration of young people from two perspectives: one the one hand, it is commendable that our students want to receive better, high-quality education; on the other hand, we should not forget its hazards. “There are a great number of students who study abroad with the financial assistance of this or that organization, however, only part of them returns to Armenia. Second, in the recruitment process the employer usually gives preference to the specialist who has studied abroad,” he said.
Mr. Suren Ohanyan is convinced that those who prefer to receive education abroad cannot satisfy their educational needs in Armenia and want to acquire additional knowledge in leading European universities that apply innovative programs and new methods of teaching.
The EIU Rector says that the employee-university connection is very firm abroad which is not the case in Armenia. “It is not a secret that overseas-educated professionals are the highest paid stratum of society. I think this is due to the fact that apart from professional knowledge, foreign universities also develop students’ practical skills and abilities that help them immediately integrate into the labor market,” said Mr. Ohanyan.
Mkrtich Avagyan blamed the “brain drain” on the ongoing global processes. He says the distressing flow will continue unless the country prepares fertile soil for its graduates to be able to apply their knowledge, skills and abilities in their homeland. “Another way to prevent “brain drain” is to create boards of trustees which are so common overseas. These will include people who understand and value the role of education and will contribute to the development of education and its quality,” he said.
Both speakers presented the processes and mechanisms they applied for achieving academic success.
Mr. Avagyan said, in part, that in recent years the ASPU has been cooperating with one of the leading pedagogical universities in Finland, the University of Oulu. During the reporting period, the University has completely revised the curriculum [at all levels] and reviewed the process and methods of teaching. In addition to educational reforms, the University has renovated its buildings with students’ tuition fees, opened three reading-halls, auditoriums equipped with the latest technologies, three food booths at moderate prices and increased lecturers’ wages by 40 percent.
