KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

A memorandum of understanding on cooperation was signed on July 9 between Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan and at least 40 organizations - representatives of science, culture, arts, media, education and service sectors. The document envisages engendering mutually beneficial cooperation between the University and employers through the implementation of different programs.

The meeting was organized within the framework of the Tempus ARARAT Project and with the joint efforts of ASPU’s University-Employer Cooperation Centre and teaching staff.

ASPU Rector Ruben Mirzakhanyan welcomed the signing parties and thanked the heads of the organizations underlining the importance of preparing qualified specialists which has brought together employers and the University.

The Rector stressed that the University is interested in the future of its graduates and considers one of its priorities to provide graduates with employment opportunities which is also an important prerequisite for attracting applicants.

Ruben Mirzakhanyan also referred to the changes made in the curricula that aroused interest among employers, specifically compulsory teaching of foreign languages and the interest in Informatics. “The University is doing and will do everything possible to make its graduates competent at the labour market and demanded in different spheres,” Mr Mirzakhanyan said offering the presentees to cooperate in an attempt to fill workplaces with qualified specialists. 

Ara Yeremyan, ASPU Vice-Rector for Personnel and International Cooperation, presented the boundaries of the University’s international cooperation, the University’s participation in various programs and membership to different organizations. The Vice-Rector assured the attendees that the memoranda signed between the parties would bring success in different sectors if implemented in time. 

Rita Gevorgyan, Head of the Department of Development and Monitoring of Long-term Programs, said, in turn, that the signing of the documents was unprecedented as it marked the beginning of continuous cooperation. “Regulations and requirements of the labor market have become more stringent, that is why we constantly review and update our educational programs. When entering the labour market graduates should be armed not only with theoretical knowledge, but also with practical skills,” she stressed.

To make cooperation more effective Rita Gevprgyan emphasized employers’ observations about graduates’ skills and competencies and promised to organize workshops and seminars to improve gradutes’ skills and abilities and use the opinions, ideas and findings of the meetings for the solution of the existing problems.

At the end of the meeting, the presentees watched a film about the University and walked around the ASPU museum and library. 

The memorandum of understanding on cooperation signed between the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan and over 40 organizations aims to improve professional development and career advancement of University students, graduate students, postgraduate students and degree seekers and to address the problem of filling vacancies with qualified specialists.