Ministry of Education and Science Republic of Armenia Levon Mkrtchyan Minister of Education and Science of Armenia IMPLEMENTATION OF PRINCIPLES OF BOLOGNA PROCESS IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA Informal Conference of Ministers of Education from five new countries in the Bologna Process, December 2006.

Law on Higher and Post Graduate Professional Education of the Republic of Armenia has envisioned a central role for the universities which by assuming responsibility for quality assurance, respecting the academic freedoms institutional autonomy with fully developed self- governance, student participation in the governance public responsibility inseparability of teaching and research, International cooperation will come to the doorsteps of belonging to a common social and cultural European space.

In order to coordinate Bologna process activities and for its full implementation, Ministry of Education and created Bologna Coordinating Committee. Committee consists of all stakeholders: University staff Students Trade Unions Business Community Relevant Ministries NGOs

The role of Bologna Coordinating Committee is: Overall coordination of implementation of Bologna action lines discuss and develop common approaches to strategic planning, quality assurance, assessment, accountability and key performance indicators based upon the experience of the pilot universities, develop a template and set of best practices for other universities to follow when planning and implementing the reforms, establish a sequence and timetable for implementation at each institution stimulate collaboration in developing new legislation

The role of Bologna Coordinating Committee is: foster frequent and open communication between and among provide encouragement and resources for the design of common data and record-keeping systems Coordinate and support seminars, workshops and conferences monitor and evaluate progress towards full implementation of the requirements of the Bologna Process identify and obtain technical assistance and consultants as needed provide a common forum and format for making the required progress reports to the government

Professional working groups has been established: ECTS Degree system Qualification Framework Quality assurance Financial management

Burning issues reported by Universities: legislative changes to accommodate reform continuing professional development for professors: – in the principles of course design, – teaching and assessment methods, – methods of quality assurance, – understanding of the full potential of the credit system. more abundant and useful information for students; more robust IT environment to support new administration and management systems; introduction of strategic planning at the departmental level, more experience with quality assurance mechanisms following the European model.

Joint Declaration of the European Ministers of Education convened in Bologna, declares a Europe of Knowledge as an “irreplaceable factor for social and human growth and as an indispensable component to consolidate and enrich the European citizenship.” Armenia has taken a direction towards reformed higher education institutions, that are the vivid transmitters, preservers and developers of university tradition of historic Armenia, hoping for a gradual solutions of the challenges on our way to become a rightful part of European area of higher education.