KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Ruben Mirzakhanyan also met with Kyösti Oikarinen, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Oulu. The two men emphasized the interrelation of theoretical and practical components of education. They also discussed issues related to the initial professional experience and training of young professionals. 

During the meeting with the leadership of the Oulu University Teacher Training School, the Armenian delegates familiarized their Finnish colleagues with the peculiarities of pedagogical practices and teacher training process at the ASPU and in Armenia. 

ASPU Rector Ruben Mirzakhanyan later delivered a lecture [for the Finish side] entitled “Education System in Armenia: Lessons of the Past, Present and Future Prospective” which was followed by a question-and-answer session with students and a heated discussion. 

The members of the Armenian delegation also visited the University's school, followed the process of pedagogical practices.

During the meeting hosted at the residence of Samuel Salmi, Bishop of Oulu Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the sides discussed issues related to culture, religion, history, regional stability and peace. During the meeting with Olli Silvén, Vice-Rector for Education at the University of Oulu, ASPU delegates discussed the introduction and development of educational programs.

They highlighted the exchange of experience in certain specialties /special education, elementary education, chess at schools, training and continuing education courses for teachers, interdisciplinary research/.Both parties emphasized the need to continue joint programs and expressed willingness to support the implementation of submitted proposals.  

Naira Toghanyan, Principal of the ASPU School N57 after Vahan Totovents, got acquainted with the conditions and structure of the Finnish school. She met with the principal, teachers and methodists of the school, participated in several lessons and talked to students doing their internship at school. The school is also conducting research projects, testing new standards (curriculum) and innovative approaches.

During the visit, the Armenian delegates also visited the new educational complex in Oulu, got acquainted with its structure /preschool, elementary, middle, and high schools, evening school for adults/, the principles of operation and the activities of the city library which is housed in the school building. 

The Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages at the ASPU, Tigran Mikaelyan, met with Rauni Räsänen, a consultant at the University of Oulu. They discussed the prospects of introducing optional subjects and elective courses in the curriculum. 

The ASPU representative suggested including in the curricula of both universities the academic discipline “Education and Globalization” or some of the subjects which can be introduced through distance learning courses, or within a summer camp. 

Director General of Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland, Terttu Savolainen, hosted a reception in honour of ASPU Rector Ruben Mirzakhanyan. Apart from cultural issues, the sides also discussed the avenues of cooperation between the University and local self-government bodies in health, social, and cultural sectors. 

At the Faculty of Education of the University of Oulu, the Armenian delegates and their Finnish colleagues discussed the work carried out in the summer school, collaboration opportunities within the framework of the Erazmus+ exchange program, mobility of students and teacher exchange programs, as well as the possibilities for future cooperation within the framework of other educational programs. 

Both sides hailed the results of the ‘Summer School’ project implemented by the two universities and said it was a successful precedent for future undertakings. 

Considering certain legislative and internal requirements and features, the sides discussed the procedure for granting diplomas and academic degrees [accepted by both countries] and said it could be made possible through introduction of joint academic disciplines /modules/ or separate subjects. Special reference was made to the specialties of Special Education and Elementary Education.

The parties also discussed the possibility of conducting joint pedagogical practices and expressed willingness to carry out joint research projects both with the teaching staff and students. They also expressed satisfaction over the joint work of ASPU students and Finnish specialists.  The official visit ended with a cultural event which was attended by the rectors of the two universities.