A delegation of Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) headed by Mher Melik-Bakhshyan, Vice-Rector for Educational, Methodological and Scientific Work, visited Finland
on September 10-15.
Following the example of the Finnish side, the delegation of the University’s Faculty of Special Education, familiarized their Finnish partners and future specialists in special education with the international experience in inclusive education and the novelties of the field.
While presenting a report on “System of Inclusive Education in Finland,” Armenuhi Avagyan, Dean of the Faculty of Special Education, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, and Associate Professor, referred to the structure and faculties of Oulu University, noting that the University’s Faculty of Education is implementing two outreach programmes at the University of Namibia (UNAM) and ASPU.
Armenuhi Avagyan called everyone’s attention to the fact that education is free in Finland, with few private schools operating in the country. There aren’t private universities in Finland, she stressed.
Lilit Saratikyan, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Associate Professor at the Chair of Special Pedagogy and Psychology, ASPU, dwelt on school education and school teaching requirements, citing the example of one of the nine schools of Oulu city.
“School has a unique structure; it is like a “cell.” each cell has its corresponding classes separated from each other by doors. In addition, the latest technologies, TV network systems, allow the entire class to participate in the lesson, if needed,” she said.
Vahan Sargsyan, Head of the Psychological Research Laboratory, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Associate Professor, referred in his speech to the activity of Oulu’s basic school, Luovi Vocational College which is the largest in Finland, and NGOs.
