Center for Education Projects PIU The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports

In December 2015 implementation of the grant project “Center of Excellence in Dental Training” launched at Yerevan State Medical University within the frameworks of Competitive Innovation Fund (CIF). Today works over the project have already been summarized. On May 14, representatives of CEP PIU visited the Center of Excellence in Dental Training accompanied by grant project coordinator Aram Baykov and the head of the newly established center Margarita Kharatyan, got acquainted with the work of the center. The halls of this center, which are aimed at developing and improving the practical skills of the future as well as currently practicing doctors, are equipped with appropriate full scale models, gears, hardware and educational software. The modern, unique educational complex of its kind for the development of professional skills in pediatric, orthopedic, surgery, therapeutic dentistry had been established in the frameworks of the project equipped with special software models, phantoms, simulators, computer and related equipment, appropriate furniture, as well as specialized educational literature. Due to the grant project coordinator Aram Baykov the implementation of the project's main goal, that is to say preparation of competitive specialists in dental practice in line with European standards is being provided by the establishment of the Center of Excellence in Dental Training.
“The center contributes to the efficiency and quality of dental education, which is a completely new way to practice theoretical knowledge in the university's educational process”,- mentioned A. Baykov. In the course of the meeting, the participants discussed the results of the program and its manifestation at the level of the indicators formulated in the monitoring plan. As the grant project coordinator presented, the necessary repair works were carried out in the specially separated area as a result of the project. The university carried out the works to strengthen the bearing walls, roof constructions as well as the works for the connection of necessary communications. Ventilation and security systems have been acquired. Improvement of the adjacent territory of the center has also been carried out, an opportunity of the auxiliary entrance has been created, the adjacent territory was built up with metallic columns and got modern look. As a result of the project, the center was equipped with the necessary property and technics, with the equipment that promotes practical skills and clinical thinking, simulators, and resources for about one and a half years. An appropriate educational content has also been developed to make the best use of the opportunities created in the educational process. Due to the head of the newly created center Margarita Kharatyan, introduction of such innovative skills in the higher and post-graduate education as well for lifelong learning allow to develop students' practical skills and minimize the number of medical errors during their professional activities. During the visit professional consultant L. Grigoryan, who assisted CEP PIU during the YSMU grant project discussed a number of issues connected with the maintenance of necessary equipment and use of the spare parts and materials. According to Baykov, as a result of grant project, the university has also implemented a modernized curriculum for the specialty "Stomatology" in line with the current labor market requirements, the subject descriptions of which have also been adapted to the RA National Qualification Framework (NQF). Development, compilation and printing of educational methodological manuals for four professional subjects, that is to say children's orthopedic, surgical, therapeutic stomatology in Armenian language, have also been carried out. The 5 printed manuals, in contrast to the existing fragmented literature, fully cover and include the necessary professional material, in the frameworks of common methodology and requirements, considering a result of collective work.
Speaking about the opportunities of the center, A. Baykov noted that for the introduction of advanced experience and the best result of reforms, the center will provide trainings on contractual basis for future and current doctors by internationally recognized experts, as well as will organize mutual visits of specialists, training exercises. In addition, what is not less important, the center will also allow to provide dental services in the future, which can essentially contributed by the program accreditation process. Due to the grant project coordinator, the university is considering the possibility of software accreditation. “The fact of having such a material-technical base, as well as, subject descriptions of the content and structural aspects of continuous and integrated dental program, which have been thoroughly revised, will be created precise preconditions for the university, in order to expect a favorable outcome from the program accreditation process”, added A. Baykov. Such kind of steps can contribute to the continuity of the program, which becomes an important condition for further project effectiveness, in the presence of created infrastructure.