Kick-off workshop of the KPI4HE project implemented as part of "Erasmus+" programme at YSU

The project aims at improving higher education system governance, university strategic planning contributing to quality and inclusive, digital and green oriented higher education in Armenia through development and implementation of National framework of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for higher education (NF-KPI), operationalization of Institutional Research and Planning Services (IRPS) and revision of State Institutional Accreditation Standards in line with NF-KPI.

Highlighting the significance of the project, YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, emphasized that it is a great success not only for Yerevan State University but also for the Armenian education system.

"Similar programs contribute to the improvement of the higher education system. YSU, attaching importance to the continuous development of quality education and human capital, implements various programs in this direction, but through similar projects, it is emphasized even more. The project, one part of which refers to general administrative reforms, the other to the good governance towards green oriented higher education, is generally important for the reforms and development of the higher education system," YSU Rector noted, adding that the goals set for the development of YSU in previous years have been exceeded by various indicators, and similar projects will promote the improvement of these indicators.

Armenian Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Artur Martirosyan, highlighting the relevance of the project, emphasized.

"This is an important project because it is in line with the current phase of educational reforms. We have defined target indicators for increasing the quality of education in our universities, and I think this project will contribute to it. The program mainly emphasizes inclusion, good governance of green oriented higher education (inclusion of environmental education) and digitization. I should mention that our dialogue with the EU in the field of education is continuous, and similar projects bring our education systems closer to the European systems, which contributes to the strengthening of Armenia-EU relations."

​The Head of the EU delegation in Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, emphasized that within the framework of extensive cooperation, they implemented a number of similar projects aimed at improving the quality of education.

"This is a valuable commodity; you should not disregard that, because it is through our cooperation that we improve the way we work together. Currently, we are also working on comprehensive partnership agreement between the European Union and Armenia, which is again offering opportunities for reforms. One of the key areas of these reforms and one of the key conditions for these reforms to be successful is the development of human capacities, of human capital," Vassilis Maragos said.

Head of YSU International Cooperation Department, KPI4HE project coordinator Alexander Margarov, speaking about the measurability of quality education, said that as part of the project RA universities will develop a system of key performance indicators within three years.

"Appropriate indicators will be developed for measuring the quality of education. Pursuant to the aim of the project, universities will develop strategic planning skills and opportunities in the RA university education system. Educational programs, science, innovation, service to the public, etc. are among the fundamental directions for measuring the quality of the university education system. Looking at these areas separately, we see that we have corresponding problems in the education system. Key performance indicators are being developed for them, which provide an opportunity to measure what was done, how it was done and, if necessary, how it can be changed," said A. Margarov.

Lana Karlova, Coordinator of the National "Erasmus+" Office in Armenia, also highlighted the implementation of the project and the reforms in the education system.

The coordinator of this national three-year program is Yerevan State University, the participants are the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, the National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance (ANQA), five RA universities, one NGO, as well as three European universities (Dresden Technical University, University of Oldenburg (Germany) and University of Genoa (Italy).

The workshop will continue on January 31, 2024.