Armenia’s higher education system discussed at OSCE-supported seminar

YEREVAN, 24 June 2013 – Reforms and recent improvements in higher education as well as measures to fight corruption, to encourage students’ participation and ensure quality education are among the topics of an OSCE-supported event that started today in Yerevan.

The two-day seminar-discussion, organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science, gathered representatives from university administrations, student bodies, state and public organizations.

“There is a strong link between education and security since education is the basis for realizing a person’s right to be an informed and active citizen. Higher education institutions are the wellsprings of innovative leaders and ideas for both today and tomorrow,” said William Hanlon, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. “As the OSCE seeks to bolster youth participation, today’s goal is to promote a system of higher education that is more inclusive, more accountable and more responsive.”

Angele Attard Chetcuti, an international expert from the University of Malta invited by the OSCE Office, moderated the discussion.

“The timing of this conference is particularly significant in view of the fact that Armenia currently holds the Secretariat of the Bologna Follow-Up Group under the Bologna Process, thereby signifying support to a national synergy towards the development of higher education in Armenia and in Europe,” she said.

It is expected that the participants will come up with concrete proposals for further actions to tackle the issues raised.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan and Armenia’s Ministry of Education and Science signed a Memorandum in 2010 that outlined the mutual co-operation in various fields, including promotion of transparency at the universities to contribute to further improvement of the quality in higher education.