YSU continues to improve its educational programs in line with international standards

The improvement of YSU educational programs provides an opportunity to implement innovative approaches in the learning process, contribute to the provision of high-quality education, and align with international educational standards.

Elina Asriyan, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at YSU, emphasizes the need for regular improvements to educational programs. 

"The world, the labor market, teaching methodologies, and information sources are constantly changing, and educational programs must respond to these changes. YSU offers 54 bachelor's programs, which are periodically monitored. Any program that has identified issues during the assessment phase requires improvement. According to the established procedure, the program head can apply for a grant to address the shortcomings, resolve the issues, and improve the program," said the vice-rector, adding that in the 2023-24 academic year, all bachelor's programs underwent monitoring to identify their strengths and weaknesses, risks, and development opportunities.  

"An impact assessment is conducted for all changes and reforms to understand whether we are on the right track or if additional efforts are necessary. Furthermore, educational programs should not only align with the developments and changes in Armenia but also with global trends, as our programs are available not only to local students but also to international ones. One of the conditions for receiving an improvement grant is the involvement of invited professors in the working group. Professors from high-ranking foreign universities bring new expertise with them, contributing both to the teaching process and the improvement of educational programs, thus enhancing the competitiveness of the program," said Eline Asriyan.

In the previous semester, the improvement process for the "International Relations," "Biology," and "Biochemistry and Biotechnology" educational programs, which won the grant competition, is nearing completion, and teaching will begin with the newly improved programs at the start of the new academic year.

In an interview with us, the heads of educational programs shared insights into the ongoing improvements of these programs.

"It is important to understand what objectives are being set to prepare international relations specialists for the 21st century." 

– Associate Professor Zhak Manukyan, 
Head of the Chair of International Relations and Diplomacy 
at YSU Faculty of International Relations 

The need to improve the "International Relations" bachelor's program has been evident over the past year or two. This is due to changes in the labor market and developments in the field of the profession itself. Considering that after graduation, students must enter the labor market, it was necessary to enhance the educational process so that graduates’ knowledge aligns with the current demands. 

Another key factor that led to the program's improvement was YSU's ongoing monitoring, which identified the issues and shortcomings that were hindering students’ educational paths. This allowed for the formation of an objective picture, from the course process to the level of graduate satisfaction. As a result, the question was raised about what students expect when they choose the "International Relations" program and what they receive upon graduation. This gave us the opportunity to identify appropriate targets for improvement and focus our efforts in that direction.

The philosophy of international relations has changed, and thus, it is crucial to determine the objectives for the subject being taught. By choosing what we teach, we also define how we teach. From adding a research component to developing analytical skills and critical thinking—while minimizing the role of human factors in assessment policies—these changes will contribute to the more comprehensive development of students.

Thanks to the grant provided by YSU, we had the opportunity to work with international partners to improve the educational process. After an extensive search, we chose a partner who met all the requirements and had extensive teaching experience. Through continuous collaboration, we were able to create enhanced educational programs that better meet the current needs of international relations. We held joint discussions, working visits, analyzed various approaches, and developed courses that will more effectively prepare students to acquire new opportunities, knowledge, and skills. 

The head of the chair also mentioned that before initiating the process of improving the educational programs, he personally conducted class observations to identify shortcomings, correct them, and carry out the necessary work.

"The main challenge faced by the educational system of any country is globalization."

– Associate Professor Anna Karapetyan, 
Head of the Chair of Human and Animal Physiology at YSU Faculty of Biology  

"To improve the 'Biology' educational program, we initially conducted an analysis to identify its strengths and weaknesses. We performed benchmarking, a widely used process in the educational field. This involves comparing with other organizations, universities, or educational programs to identify areas of effectiveness, processes, or outcomes that need improvement. We examined which subjects are included in the 'Biology' program at other universities, how they are taught, the methods used, and the time allocated, in order to assess their impact on students' knowledge. This comparative analysis helped us understand what professional knowledge and skills students at other institutions possess, and how aligned these programs are with current demands. As a result of this process, we identified areas for improvement that needed to be updated or changed.

We found that it was necessary to incorporate modern knowledge and technologies currently demanded in the labor market, as well as integrate innovative approaches that would help students be better prepared for the professional world. 

The program needed to be updated, with the main goal being the creation of a balanced, contemporary, and interdisciplinary educational system that would equip students with knowledge and skills that are in high demand in the labor market.

We had courses that were outdated. Given the rapid development of biological science, these courses needed to be refreshed. Continuous monitoring revealed a lack of interdisciplinary approaches and laboratory courses, which hindered the development of practical skills. It was especially important to focus on developing teamwork and critical thinking skills.

YSU associate professor emphasized that as a result, students graduating from the bachelor’s program would acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge, which would enhance the competitiveness of both the program and the students in the job market. 

"Every change is made for the benefit of the student, with the goal of providing up-to-date and high-quality education."

– Associate Professor Anna Poladyan, 
Head of the Chair of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Biotechnology 
at YSU Faculty of Biology  

Although the "Biochemistry and Biotechnology" educational program has been accredited by the German ASIIN International Agency, the team decided to apply for a program improvement grant to identify issues in the program, such as overlaps and the need to modernize laboratory teaching methods.

By comparing educational programs from international universities and working with an international partner, the curricula and course descriptions for 11 subjects were revised. Content-related issues were thoroughly discussed with the aim of ensuring that the program improvements were headed in the right direction. Efforts were made to modernize laboratory and practical teaching methods. We plan to introduce digital tools to familiarize students with laboratory procedures beforehand; before going to the lab, students must have an understanding of the processes they are expected to encounter. We are also planning to use specific questionnaires to assess students' theoretical knowledge prior to lab sessions, creating an opportunity for only those students who answer the questions correctly to enter the laboratory. We are still considering this and several other proposals and continue to work in these areas.

Anna Poladyan emphasized that both changes in teaching methods and laboratory work are aimed at improving students' practical knowledge and skills. The revisions to the curricula and course descriptions, the integration of digital tools, and the use of online questionnaires will allow students to more easily and effectively grasp the material and develop their knowledge.