9-minute read.
reforms in higher and professional education
SPEAKER: Today we are discussing a resolution aimed at education reforms made possible with the help of German GIZ and other international organizations from Switzerland, Austria, and elsewhere. //
The 4-hour session included speeches by expert guests representing schools and businesses. The speaker presents the main point of the resolution: video.
EDUCATION MINISTER: Two years ago we adopted reforms for [K-12] school students. Those are being implemented through pilot programs. Today's resolution is about higher education and teaching.
The latest census shows that 21% of young Armenians aged 15-19 are not in any school. It's even more concerning for the 20-24 age group: 69%. We are talking about over 140,000 people. This is a "luxury" we cannot afford.
The low-skilled workforce is vulnerable, and research shows they are at a higher risk of falling into poverty and developing health problems. Once they are poor, it becomes even harder for them to obtain the necessary education to overcome poverty. This is why our priority is to combine educational and social programs to give them a path.
The Professional Education [today's main topic] has certain advantages over Higher Education. It provides greater flexibility, employment opportunities, and education for the adult population.
Why is Professional Education so ignored? A survey among 40,000 European residents reveals that many are concerned that after the completion of this program, the type of job they find will be less prestigious and will have lower pay.
Our 2022 research shows that 54% of these graduates found a job in their profession within 6 months of graduation. That is significantly better than the statistics for university graduates, although it is far lower than the 90% mark set by the government.
A few years ago a program called Edu2Work was launched to study Armenia's workforce. It analyzed the requirements for the job positions advertised by businesses. It became apparent that many businesses require higher education, when in fact, a secondary professional education would suffice.
86% of university graduates believe they will need additional retraining before finding a job.
78% of businesses are unsatisfied with the level of skills and experience of young workers.
33% of young graduates are either overeducated or undereducated for their job. In other words, we are wasting taxpayer funds in higher education.
We also have a shortage of skilled tutors and craftsmen who could train students. This shortage is primarily due to lower wages compared to the salaries of university professors.
We have inherited an education system that was built to serve an entirely different economy with a different scale and structure. Today we need new infrastructure and reforms in education programs carried out with the help of outside groups.
The funding criteria have not changed since the 1990s, with few exceptions. This has contributed to the lack of progress. Now we must focus on quality and international standards.
The analysis of all this led to the decision to draft a massive reform package.
(1) We are synchronizing the "language" and terminology with international standards.
(2) We will allow micro-qualifications: Graduates of informal or additional educational programs will receive micro-credentials. This can help with employment.
(3) We are eliminating the legal difference between a "college" and "usumnaran" to end the unnecessary fragmentation. There will only be a college.
(4) Institutionalization of work-based education (e.g., apprenticeship). Education for work, work for education. A newly formed agency will coordinate these dual education programs. This will allow us to train a workforce that satisfies the labor market demand.
(5) We are switching to a credit-based system. The methodology of educational programs and the mechanisms of quality control are being revamped to ensure our education meets international standards. //
The minister also spoke about the already-implemented changes. For example, to address the shortage of workforce in certain professions, the government is giving a monthly $120 payment to university students who choose a relevant major. The minister says this has led to renewed interest in these directions.
EDUCATION MINISTER: And to conclude the presentation, I'd like to bring to your attention the results of a study conducted by EU's Torino Process. It shows that Armenians are a lot more self-critical towards their education system than residents of many other countries. On a scale of 0-100, in which 100 means no criticism, Armenia is at 23, while the average is 53. This is both good and bad. Bad because we ignore the positives, good because we strive for better.
This may shock you, but the experts have found that Armenia's education system responds to the economy's needs better (64 pts) than the average (61 pts) of other countries part of the Torino Process. This is a result of faster response by education centers and state agencies, as well as the reformed standards.
Another thing that may surprise you is that Armenia's education system has a higher Torino score in the level of internationalization. This is the 3rd year we are participating in Erasmus+ programs. We have numerous examples of internationalization at our education centers.
One last thing that may shock you: digitization. Our education system is more digitized than the Torino average. Digitization will help us improve administrative procedures and reduce expenditures. Under the new law, diplomas will be provided in electronic form. //
MP: We have a construction company that can't find 500 workers with a $1,000/mo salary. At the same time, I know that we have education centers that can train this workforce. Do students know who is hiring? Should we create a website where businesses, schools, and students can find each other?
MINISTER: We already have experience with a similar platform, a website. What we need is a more interactive approach. This will be handled by the newly formed agency tasked with the coordination of dual education programs, as I mentioned earlier. It will analyze the labor demand and advise education centers. //
Full session: video. source, source, source,
government allocates $8.2 million to purchase a powerful computer for AI researchers
Science expenditures will amount to $89 million this year.
38% will be used for maintaining the activities of 57 scientific organizations.
$22 million on the financing of 809 scientific research programs.
$9.9 million to acquire modern equipment for science centers.
$8.2 to purchase a "supercomputer" and modernize the AI research center.
unemployment fell to 11% in Armenia, "the lowest rate registered in many years"
2020: 18%
2022: 13%
2023: 11%
Anecdotal evidence suggests that job vacancies in Armenia and especially Yerevan are at a record high these days. However, most of these are menial jobs which Armenians are now less willing to do than they were in the past and which increasingly attract migrants from low-income foreign countries, notably India. According to various estimates, between 15,000 and 30,000 Indians have moved to Armenia in the last few years.
Yerevan Council member reports being kidnapped, authorities say she fabricated the story for clout
Opposition council member Narine Hayrapetyan (from an alliance led by ex-regime) reported being kidnapped on January 15. She said the kidnappers drove her to an unknown location where a man aged 60-65 spoke about her political activities before releasing her.
Initially, Hayrapetyan did not mention what the kidnapper told her or demanded from her. The leader of her faction, Andranik Tevanyan, also did not reveal details after speaking with her.
The next day it was reported that Hayrapetyan left the country. The following day a statement released by her faction claimed that the police "pressured" her to change the kidnapping report and that the kidnapper allegedly demanded her not to "cross the line" and to "stop the harsh criticism"; no further details were provided.
The police took her cell phone to investigate the claim of kidnapping. According to Hayrapetyan's faction leader, the investigators believe she is lying about the kidnapping and that the police urged her to retract her "false report".
The police (investigative committee) spokesman says that during the interrogation Hayrapetyan confessed to fabricating the kidnapping claim and that it was a political stunt, and that her interrogation at the police department was recorded on tape. In response to the accusation that she was "forced" by the police to change her statement, the spokesman said Hayrapetyan did not report being "forced" and that she was advised about her legal rights and options in the event of feeling "pressured" by the interrogators. The spokesman says Hayrapetyan turned down the "legal protection" because she did not feel pressured.
The investigation continues.
A few months ago Hayrapetyan (Zaruhi Postanjyan on Joe Rogan dose of steroids) engaged in a series of arguments with several colleagues from the opposite isles during which she exchanged harsh expletive language. Some of the people she argued with represent the ruling faction, Aram Sargsyan's faction, and individuals from other opposition factions. In one instance, she noticed the members of the faction (formerly) led by fugitive Dog walking in the hallway and began chanting "traitors" at them for not sabotaging Yerevan's 2024 budget.
This is a developing story (maybe). 🍿
source, source, source, source, source, source, source,
PACE suspends Azerbaijani delegation until Aliyev regime addresses series of issues: update
The German-led initiative succeeded in rejecting the ratification of the Azerbaijani delegation's credentials, booting them from PACE activities.
Reason: Failure to fulfill “major commitments” after 20 years in the Council of Europe, and a lack of cooperation. More in January 22 briefing.
Very serious concerns remain as to [Azerbaijan’s] ability to conduct free and fair elections, the separation of powers, the weakness of its legislature vis-à-vis the executive, the independence of the judiciary and respect for human rights, as illustrated by numerous judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and opinions of the Venice Commission
About Nagorno-Karabakh:
[Azerbaijani leadership] did not acknowledge the very serious humanitarian and human rights consequences stemming from the lack of free and safe access through the Lachin Corridor
The Azerbaijani delegation may resume its activities when the conditions are met.
ALIYEV'S DELEGATION: U no talk to me like that. Me quit first! No fair. Okei me go now taxi waiting. Bai. I take this pen okei?
source, source, source, source,
Russian telecom giant MTS finalizes the sale of its Armenia-based subsidiary: update
MTS-Armenia won't be a member of the Russian MTS Group anymore. MTS is selling its assets in Armenia to focus on its businesses in Russia.
When there are favorable offers, MTS sells non-core assets or assets with limited potential for growth in value, directing the proceeds to developing key ecosystem business in Russia
The transaction is complete. The new owner is a company called Fedilco Group Limited. MTS also sold its MobiDram payment system, which is a subsidiary of MTS-Armenia.
Armenian regulator initially blocked 🔨 the sale without specifying a reason. A few months later they approved the sale and...
... the Armenian government will become a 20% shareholder of MTS-Armenia
The new owner, Fedilco Group, made the announcement on Wednesday. This company is also co-run by a Russian.
source, source, [source,](newsroom/top-stories/98719/) source, source,
foreign direct investments in 2023 amounted to $350 million, a quarter of gross investments: Economy Minister
KEROBYAN: The growth of foreign direct investment was greater than the growth of gross investment, which means the growth of the investment-to-GDP ratio. //
Armenian authorities prevent the illegal smuggling of 17 tons of coffee to Russia
Better than cocaine.
Armenia is appointing more military attachés abroad
On December 8 I asked: Is Armenia preparing to appoint more military attachés? The context was the approval of a set of amendments to allow PM Pashinyan to appoint attachés in an expedited manner, and for attachés to have deputies and assistants.
January 19: Pashinyan appoints military attaché (or deputy) in Georgia.
January 25: Armenia will appoint military attachés in Czechia (to boost military-technical cooperation, coordinate import and export of weapons, discuss production of weapons, repair and modernize weapons) and Kyrgyzstan (to carry out joint programs).
Armenia to strengthen ties with EUROPOL
Armenia and Europol signed a cooperation agreement in 2021. The Executive will approve it tomorrow. Armenia will send an officer to Europol, while Europol will install secure communication equipment in Armenia for the exchange of information.
Armenian authorities arrest several citizens of African countries and Armenia suspected of running a call center scam in Yerevan
The suspects are accused of defrauding victims, offering investment scams, and using Bitcoin and other technologies to launder the money.
Armenian authorities cooperated with their European counterparts to bust the scheme.
drug dealers use unsuspecting teens as their couriers to deliver narcotics to hidden locations where the buyer later picks up the package: police spokesman
Many teenagers do not fully understand the risks associated with delivering an unknown product requested on social media, according to a spokesman.
a pair of horses ended up on a busy street in Yerevan: VIDEO
One of them sustained broken legs after being struck by a vehicle. The incident happened on Isakov Blvd. The police and locals found the owner and helped them move the animals.
photos from snowy Yerevan
German low-cost airline Eurowings will launch direct Yerevan-Berlin flights in May
TOURISM COMMITTEE: We are eagerly waiting for the arrival of German tourists! Whether you are a fan of history, culture or nature, or just an adventure seeker, Armenia offers a variety of experiences for everyone, so travel to Armenia to discover the hidden path. //
No comments:
Post a Comment