On December 15, the discussion on "Educational Reforms in the European Higher Education Area" was held at Yerevan State University, during which ANQA’s specialists Varduhi Gyulazyan and Ani Mkrtchyan gave a speech. The meeting aimed to inform the representatives of the RA’s higher education community about the main tendencies in the European Higher Education Area, as well as to present the directions of the thematic peer groups and the roadmap of activities, indicating the direction in which Armenia is moving within the framework of the Bologna process.
During the discussion "Educational Reforms in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)," Karen Trchunyan, deputy minister of the RA MoESCS, stated in his opening speech that similar meetings and accountability are extremely important in terms of forming a complete picture of the Bologna process in our country and clarifying the upcoming activities.
Elina Asriyan, vice-rector for academic affairs of YSU, the RA’s BFUG representative, attached importance to the fact that Armenia is a full member of the Bologna process, noting the country is represented in the process through various thematic peer groups. Varduhi Gyulazyan, the RA representative of BFUG Thematic Peer Group on Quality Assurance and Ani Mkrtchyan, the RA representative of BFUG Thematic Peer Group on Qualifications Framework, presented their reports on "Tendencies and Innovative Approaches to the Development of the Quality Assurance System in the EHEA" and "Qualifications Framework for Building Trust, Ensuring Transparency, and Promoting Diversity".
Within the scope of the speech, ANQA’s staff members touched upon the following issues:
- the thematic peer groups’ aims and objectives, a roadmap of activities;
- the recognition of micro-credentials and the development of their quality assurance mechanisms;
- the digitalization of quality assurance processes;
- the adaptation of the European approach to quality assurance of joint academic programmes;
- the self-certification of qualifications;
- the conduct of higher education in a short cycle.
Tatevik Gharibyan, head of the Strategic Planning Division of the Department for Higher and Postgraduate Professional Education at the RA MoESCS, RA’s BFUG representative, and Lilit Sargsyan, representative of the Working Group on Learning and Teaching, were also the meeting’s speakers. Summarizing the discussion "Educational Reforms in the European Higher Education Area", Karen Trchunyan urged to create of working groups in HEIs that will ensure the transparency of the processes aimed at the Bologna reforms of the educational system.