KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

The three-day conference entitled “Development of Occupational Therapy Profession in Armenia and Georgia: Ten Years Later” wrapped up at Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU).

Both local and foreign participants of the conference said the event was a success and it presented the experience, achievements and shortcomings spotted in the field of Occupational Therapy in Armenia and other countries. 

ASPU Rector Ruben Mizakhanyan thanked Hanneke van Bruggen,Project leader of the OT TuningProject team, HonoraryMember of the Dutch OT AssociationEN (Ergotherapie Nederland), Fellowof the WFOT (World Federation ofOccupational Therapists), for the productive cooperation with Armenian colleagues, participation in the conference and expressed willingness to expand collaboration in the future. 

“Occupational Therapy has been taught at the University for ten years. Two years ago, the profession was included in the list of specialitiesoffered by the Faculty of Special Education. The University highlights the activities of the Faculty as, parallel to the development of society, it is important to pay more attention to people with limited abilities: it is the most important indicator that shows the level of a country's development,” Mr. Mizakhanyan said adding that the existence of qualified specialists will radically change the problematic situation in the sector. 

In his turn, Hanneke van Bruggen, hailed the results of the conference and said he was ready to assist in the introduction of OT Master's-level programmes at the Armenian University, as well as in drafting joint curricula in compliance with European standards which, in turn, will ensure the mobility of students in accordance with the Bologna Accord.

Summarizing the results of the three-day meetings, ArmineAvagyan, Dean of the Faculty of Special Education, expressed hope that the conference served its purpose - a close cooperation was established between partner institutionsin the field of Occupational Therapy, besides, the participants acquired and transferred new knowledge and experience.

ZaruhiHarutyunyan, a lecturer at the Department of Logopaedics and Rehabilitation Therapy, is one of the first graduates of the University majoring in Occupational Therapy. “The specialty is young: there is a need to study the experience of foreign countries in Occupational Therapy and other professionsin inclusive education and multidisciplinary teamwork. The conference also provided exchange of experience.”

The last day of the conference was the most practical, with the participants visiting “ArBeS Day Care Centre” and “Child Development Centre” to get acquainted with the work of ergotherapists on the spot.