Current situation

The main stage in activities on creation of the national quality assurance system can be considered May 19, 2005, when the Minister of Education and Science of Armenia signed the Bergen Communiqué of the Ministers of Education from the Bologna participating countries. Thus Armenia officially joined the Bologna process committing itself to completing the implementation of main principles of the Bologna process in the specific action directions by 2010 and becoming part of the emerging European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

Integration with EHEA is a complicated and responsible process, since it assumes carrying on profound changes in the Higher Education sector to comply with requirements of Bologna framework. The Bologna Process establishes the following objectives of the EHEA:

• To adopt a system of easily readable and comparable degrees.
• To adopt a higher education system essentially based on two main cycles- undergraduate and graduate, with the condition that access to the second cycle shall require successful completion of first cycle studies, lasting a minimum of three years. The Bachelor degree awarded after the first cycle shall be relevant to the European Labor market as an appropriate qualification and the second cycle should lead to the Master and/or Doctorate degree.
• To establish a system of credits – such as in the ECTS system- as a proper means of promoting the most widespread student mobility.
• To promote student mobility by overcoming obstacles to the effective exercise of free movement with particular attention to: (i) for students, access to study and training opportunities and to related services; (ii) for teachers, researchers and administrative staff, recognition and valorization of periods spent in a European context researching, teaching and training, without prejudicing their statutory rights.
• To promote co-operation in quality assurance provision with a view to developing comparable criteria and methodologies.
• To promote necessary European dimensions in higher education, particularly with regards to curricula development, inter-institutional co-operation, mobility schemes and integrated programs of study, training and research.

In November 2006 the Government has approved the Timetable of Activities to ensure achievement of objectives established by Bologna Process. This timetable has set up deadlines for HEIs to introduce a unified system for internal quality assurance and make a full transfer to the ECTS.

In 2007 the Guidelines on Introduction the Credit Accumulation System in the HEIs was elaborated, discussed in the HEIs and approved by the Government. Since September 2008 a unified process on introduction of the Credit System in all HEIs of Armenia has started.

Another step towards Bologna Process was commencing establishment of the national system of quality assurance for tertiary education. In particular, the Government issued a Decree (No 1486-N, dated November 27, 08) on creation of the National Centre of Quality Assurance (ANQA) for professional education. The Decree approved the Charter and functions of the ANQA; according to which the liabilities for carrying out evaluation of the education quality and accreditation of the HEIs were given to the ANQA.

These steps taken towards the tertiary education reforms are very crucial; however, they are not sufficient to overcome the existing problems in this sector. Internal quality assurance procedures are not functioning yet in the HEIs. In addition, newly established ANQA needs to develop its own technical capacity and understanding of the QA process and the demands of Bologna, establish the external QA system and universities to develop internal QA units, coordinate publicity and awareness campaigns on QA and the Bologna Process. Thus, there is a need to support the establishment and strengthening of the capacity of the ANQA in advancing QA policies and practices to achieve the threshold standards and targets required by the Bologna Process and higher education institutions to organize and implement internal QA activities. This will require investing considerable funds into the National QA system.

Goal of the Sub-Component is as follows:

The main goal of the sub-component is to establish National Quality Assurance System of Higher Education, as well as support the establishment and strengthening of its capacity.

The main objectives of the Sub-Component are as follows:

• Developing and introducing tertiary education External and Internal Quality Assurance as well as Accreditation policies, standards, criteria, procedures and guidelines.
• Supporting the newly established National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance in strengthening its capacity and executing functions defined by the Charter.
• Supporting creation and functioning of the HEIs Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) Units as well as introduction of IQA mechanisms and accountability systems. Particular attention should be paid to the following:
  a) Student assessment; teaching and learning methods; availability of libraries/resource centers, instructional facilities and resources (e.g. computer equipments, laboratories, lecture halls and classrooms; and technologies;
  b) Academic and Administrative staff; professional and managerial qualifications of the staff, opportunities and policies for the recruitment, renewal, professional development, training and promotion of the staff.
• Developing the National Qualifications Framework on the basis of European Qualifications Framework ensuring its compatibility within the European Education Area.

The main activities of this sub-component are as follows:

1. The External Quality Assurance (EQA) System will be established in line with the Bologna Process principles, particularly:

• A set of actions and measures are being taken to establish consensus and mutual understanding of QA basic principles, with stakeholders (ANQA, MoES, universities, students, and employers).
• To develop internal and external QA inline with European QA standards international technical assistance will be provided under the project. For that purpose TORs for the consulting firm to provide technical assistance on QA was developed and approved. Selection of the Consulting firm is in process.
• Selected international consultants will provide necessary technical assistance to strengthen the professional capacity of ANQA staff, including organization of 2 study tours to European EQA agencies to enrich their professional experience.
• Capacities of the main actors involved in the IQA and EQA processes (ANQA, MoES Higher Education and Licensing Departments’, universities’ representatives) will be developed and strengthened. For this purpose ANQA staff, HEIs IQA units’ relevant staff will be trained by the selected consulting firm.
• For the purpose of strengthening the ANQA will be supplied with computer and office equipment, furniture and special software. The technical specifications of the equipment, furniture and software will be developed by the CEP together with ANQA.
• Different booklets and guidebooks on Bologna Process, QA policy, standards, criteria, procedures and guidelines will be developed in the result of discussions and consultations with core stakeholders and published periodically.
• When all required policies, procedures, guidelines including criteria and standards will be approved (on a temporary basis) the ANQA will carry on pilot evaluation of 7 state and 7 private universities/specialties with the assistance of international experts. Based on results of the evaluation and recommendations provided by the ANQA the MoES will make decisions on accreditation of the universities. Based on the analysis of pilot evaluation/accreditation Government will issue relevant decrees approving the necessary procedures and guidelines (including criteria and standards) on accreditation and quality assurance of middle and higher professional educational institutions.
• Public awareness campaigns related to QA and Bologna process will be carried out during the project entire period through workshops, public discussion and consultations and mass media.          

2. The Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) System will be developed in line with the Bologna Process principles, including the following:

• Capacities of IQA stakeholders (university IQA Units, student representatives) will be enhanced through trainings provided by the selected international consulting firm.
• The IQA policy will be developed including student assessment principles, standards, procedures and guidelines, etc and approved by the Government.
• In the frames of the project grants will be provided to about 22 state and 5 private HEIs to develop IQA units and their full operation as well as carrying out internal evaluation of the university quality according to new standards and procedures and producing a University Self-evaluation Report.
• Detailed description of the grant scheme procedures is given in a separate Operating Manual “Grants to Higher Education Institutions for Improvement of IQA System”. The Operating Manual has been approved by the Ministry order with the prior review of the World Bank.

Expected Outputs

• Strengthened capacities of  all actors taking part in the IQA and EQA processes:  ANQA, MoES’s Higher Education and Licensing Departments, HEIs;
• Ensuring day-to- day effective operation of newly established bodies(ANQA, IQA units in HEIs) in accordance with the Bologna objectives;
• Establishment and strengthening of internationally compatible Quality Assurance system in Armenia.