New educational modules have been developed: workshop at YSU

Within the framework of the DEvision project presented at the workshop, five educational modules are developed and implemented: "Basics of Digital Earth", "Geospatial Models and Imaging", "Geovisualization and Geocommunication", "Remote Sensing and Image Analysis", and "Spatial Analysis".

Presenting the university's internationalization strategy, the Head of the YSU International Cooperation Department, Ph.D., Professor Alexander Margarov noted that active steps are being taken in that direction. He stated that in addition to the "DEvision" project, the university has four other programs that are also financed by the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalization.

Emphasizing the importance of similar programs in the university, the dean of the Faculty of Geography and Geology of YSU, Ph.D., Associate Professor Sargis Kelyan stated that the faculty actively cooperates with YSU's international partners for the development of Undergraduate, Master's and Doctoral educational programs, implementing various projects, including "APPIER", "Erasmus+" and others.

The head of the YSU Grants Coordination Division and the coordinator of the "DEvision" project Arsen Aproyan stressed that the initiative is aimed at introducing online and hybrid educational modules on geography and geology in the Bachelor's and Master's educational programs of partner educational institutions.

Referring to the details of the program, Aproyan noted that the modules are in the testing phase, and after having the final version, they will be presented for verification.

"Educational resources included in the program provide an educational plan suitable for one academic semester and include social, economic, and managerial concepts for various disciplines," he added.

Head of the YSU Cartography and Geomorphology Chair, Associate Professor Artak Piloyan mentioned the importance of the project, especially from the point of view of developing and implementing courses related to the relationship between real and virtual worlds.

Emphasizing the need for continued cooperation with YSU, the head of the Austrian Development Agency in Armenia Klaus Kapper assured that it is one of the key elements in the field of higher education and scientific research.

"We are making efforts to develop cooperation with YSU, as well as to implement new programs in other fields of science. First, there was just one program, later we had three more, which are currently being implemented in different departments of the Faculty of Biology", emphasized K. Kapper.

It should be noted that more than 40 representatives from state and private institutions were present at the workshop. The YSU faculty staff, representatives of YSU partner universities, foreign partners, and the members of the Armenian groups of the "DEvision" project made reports. Let us note that the Austrian Education and Internationalization Agency finances the program, whose beneficiaries are not only the YSU Faculty of Geography and Geology but also other departments of related fields, and various private and public administration institutions.