OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AT ASUE MONITORING BY ERASMUS + OFFICE in ARMENIA 25 MARCH 2016

LOCAL MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECT AT ASUE 22/03/2016 WORKING GROUP FOR THE PROJECT Paruyr Kalantaryan, Karen Grigoryan, Anna Pakhlyan, CONTACT PERSON FOR VERITAS Karen Grigoryan, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Financial management at ASUE is coordinated by WG with cooperation of Veritas management team and accounting department. Management team distributes finances based on the rules and requirements of Veritas Project, Partnership Agreement, guidelines for staff costs, rules for travel costs and costs of stay and ASUE co-financing.

DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE PROJECT RESEARCH UNIT – establishment/revision of functions The functions and regulatory frameworks are developed and adopted by ASUE to operationalize RU. RU is enable systemic - strategic approach PhD programme development and delivery as well as operationalize mechanisms for assuring quality of provisions. DEVELOPED DOCUMENTS Fact-findings, ASUE Strategic plan, Monitoring Reports to ANQA, also cooperation with ANQA (quality standards). 22/03/2016 CURRENT AND UPCOMING ACTIVITIES Upcoming activities based on the working packages of Veritas project: PhD program in Economics, Elaboration of program, competencies, benchmarking, curriculum, courses, review of the program etc.

DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES 22/03/2016 IN-HOUSE TRAINING (participants, materials, photos…) In-house training on "The implementation of Salzburg principles in the Republic of Armenia", , in the Conference Hall of the University, conducted by Karen Grigoryan, Assoc. Prof. In-house training was attended by the Vice Rector of Science and International Relations Gagik Vardanyan, Dean of the Faculty of Regulation of Economy and International Economic Relations Atom Margaryan. The seminar participants were present and future beneficiaries – staff of Postgraduate Division, Scientific Division, Human Resource Management Division, the Scientific Secretary of the Scientific Council, academic staff, supervisors of PhD students, PhD and Masters Students. DISSEMINATION newsletters, brochures, etc. The in-house training have been disseminated via University’s website and journal The Economist: principles-in-the-republic-of-armenia-in-house-training-2167, principles-in-the-republic-of-armenia-in-house-training

IN-HOUSE TRAINING photos 22/03/2016

IN-HOUSE TRAINING photos 22/03/2016

STUDY VISIT - Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden The main effect of study visits are getting familiarized with the existing similar PhD programmes in European HEI’s, make inquiries into what works and what does not, delivery modes and already during the study visit start the design of a PhD model that best fits the needs of ASUE. Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden - Swedish Higher Education system, Swedish system of research education and Quality System, Research schools and research education programs, Supervision of PhD students at KTH, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, research and Innovation, PhD studies at KTH from the student perspective, Research supervision and courses for PhD students, Organization of KTH research education on central level, administrative issues. 22/03/2016

Study visit - Bath Spa University (UK) Research and Enterprise, PhD assessment & examination, Career development for PhD students, Institute for Education Research Seminar, Road Map Development, PhD supervision at BSU, Quality Assurance in UK Higher Education, Research activities and policy at BSU, UK research funding, European opportunities and good practice across the sector. Knowledge exchange and researcher development, Research strategy and environment at Bath Spa University, Research Excellence Framework, Talks from current PhD students at BSU, the role of the Graduate School in admissions, monitoring progress, examination arrangements for PhD students, Open Access, Research Repository and library support for PhD Students. 22/03/2016

Study visit - University of Girona (Spain) Presentation of the Social Council of the University of Girona, Knowledge Transfer: University, AQU Catalunya advisor (standards of quality), Presentation of the school of Doctorate of the University of Girona, Internal Session about the status quo of dissemination in VERITAS, Discussions on road map with the targeted institutions, Case 1: ViBOT. Erasmus Mundus Master on Vision and Robotics, Case 2: Erasmus Mundus Master in Tourism Management, University of Girona library resources. 22/03/2016

Study visit - University of Heidelberg (Germany) Structured PhD programs - “Graduate Schools”: HBIGS for the Life Science; HGS MathComp for Maths and Informatics and HGSFP for Physics, with presentations and respective Q&A sessions. Visits at the research cluster of the life sciences, “CellNetworks” and research cluster affiliated with Heidelberg “Asia and Europe”. The institutions with world-wide visibility in the Life Sciences: the Zentrum (Center) for Molecular Biology, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. 22/03/2016

MAIN CHALLENGES/STRENGTHS The major challenges we had and have within the project Labor market of RA doesn’t present clearly demand for high level professionals with research skills; Low level of innovations, competitiveness in internal market; PhD students are not yet engaged in all levels of governance and participation in decision-making at the university; Mechanism to provide professional development to supervisors, low stipends; Strong adjustment by RA Ministry of Education and Science and by RA SSC (PhD program admission exams, supervisors’ selection criteria and procedure, dissertation defense procedure) etc. The opportunities and strengths the project has on ASUE PhDeducation 6 years’ experience of PhD studies in the field of economics with educ. content; ECTS implementation in PhD studies; long-term experience of specialized council; number of supervisors; participation in Erasmus Mundus (at present - Erasmus Plus) exchange programs over the last decade, including PhD students’ exchange; new experience in admission of foreign PhD students; full employment of PhD alumni in RA labour market (private companies or government bodies) etc. 22/03/2016

Karen Grigoryan, PhD, Assoc. Prof., ASUE 22/03/2016