Levon Mkrtchyan: After the adoption of the law we expect to form a new, more effective system and we have to do serious work to achieve it
Levon Mkrtchyan, the RA Minister of Education and Science, was present at the World Bank Office in Yerevan on the work of the Expert Group on Higher Education Reforms in Armenia, reported the Press Service of the Ministry of Education and Science. The WB Office Director Sylvie Bossoutrot, International Experts Christian Thorne, Francisco Marmolleo, Deputy Director of Arhus University, Dennis Nikolaev, the WB Senior Specialist, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia and representatives of higher educational institutions took part in the discussion. Levon Mkrtchyan, Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia, in his speech underlined that in the field of higher education, Armenia entered a very important stage of reforms. He noted that the draft law on "Higher Education" was submitted to the National Assembly for approval by the Government. Taking the opportunity, Levon Mkrtchyan thanked the WB experts for their effective work. "After the adoption of the law we expect to form a new, more effective system and we have to do serious work to achieve it. One of our key steps is the classification of HEI (higher educational institutions) that will contribute to the increase of university governance efficiency and accountability. The next is the creation of internal mobility opportunities both for students and for professorial staff. The problem is also the link between science and higher education in the context of the introduction of the credit system. For example, if a student needs 240 credits during the course of study, then it is necessary to balance credits in HEIs and scientific institutes. It is also important to introduce an effective system of financing and tuition fees. For the solution of all these problems, it is necessary to have some time and to get professional training,"said Levon Mkrtchyan. The WB Office Director Sylvie Bossoutro stressed in her speech that the human capital program is a priority for the global development vision. "The money spent on education is not expense but investment. Today, it is obvious that 65% of existing jobs will change in the future, so global developments will be conditioned by the development of human capital," she said. During the workshop, Christian Thorne, an international expert, presented a model designed for Denmark's classification of HEIs, emphasizing the increased accountability of universities, as a key condition for governance efficiency.
