News
Concluding workshop at the ASPU
13.06.2025
The concluding workshop of the “Establishment of the “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics” Excellence Center, Capacity-Building for Future and Current Teachers” grant program was held at the Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU). The program was launched in 2023 and funded by the Armenian Foundation for Competitive Innovations in Higher Education.
Among those attending the workshop were Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, Chairperson of the ASPU Board of Trustees Zhanna Andreasyan; Director of Competitive Innovation Fund for Armenian Higher Education Grisha Hovhannisyan, as well as the University’s administration, professors and teachers.
ASPU Rector Srbuhi Gevorgyan stated that the two-year program embodies the necessity and priorities of the Armenian State Pedagogical University in the STEM disciplines, adding that the University is concerned about providing the innovative opportunities for integrated instruction (courses on mathematics, technology, engineering, biology and geography) which are aimed at enhancing pupils’ critical thinking, analytical thought, creative abilities and the soft skills for teachers of the 21st century.
The Rector shared the results of the study of international organizations and noted that, taking into account the longstanding cooperation with the University of Oulu in Finland, the Center will introduce programs aimed at enhancing the necessary capabilities and will shape knowledge-based, research-based and soft skills. She expressed gratitude to Minister Zhanna Andreasyan and Director of the Competitive Innovation Fund for Armenian Higher Education Grisha Hovhannisyan for the initiated programs, support and replenishment of the Center. She is certain that the Center will become the best platform for pupils’ professional orientation, as well as for engaging them in an interesting environment, improving the integrated STEM courses and solving the current issues in schools.
Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, Chairperson of the ASPU Board of Trustees Zhanna Andreasyan congratulated the attendees on project implementation and the outcomes.
The Minister talked about the changes planned in this major sector, emphasizing that the Center serves as a major circuit for these changes. “We have talked about the need for teaching of natural sciences subjects and improvement of the quality of education several times. The studies of the past few years, including international studies show that we still have the same problems in the teaching of natural science subjects. Whereas some growth has been recorded in mathematics, we don’t have the desired progress in natural sciences, and this entails a major problem in terms of improving the instruction of natural sciences subjects in schools,” the Minister remarked, adding that there are several actions in the Government’s programs that are aimed at solving this problem.
According to her, the most important problem is the introduction of a new general education criterion in schools where the opportunities for organizing the process of making the curriculum have also essentially changed, new conditions and instrumentation have been created to make teaching of natural sciences subjects more accessible, available and interesting.
Zhanna Andreasyan notes that the teaching of natural sciences subjects cannot be completed, if the required conditions are missing; this is one of the key targets of the Government, as a result of which 648 schools already have laboratories, which will have an essential impact on the teaching of natural sciences subjects and the educational outcome.
According to the Minister, the “Establishment of the “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics” Excellence Center, Capacity-Building for Future and Current Teachers” grant program is aimed at making this chain complete; the major university preparing teachers may not be out of the circuit. The conditions at the Center allow students of the University, who will be teaching at schools and joining the ranks of teachers, to have the necessary knowledge and skills in order to teach properly in school.
According to the Minister, through the Center, practicing teachers will be armed with new knowledge and will undergo training, providing the ASPU with the opportunity to implement one of its most important missions — to be a coordinator in the field, guide and lead the way to innovation in teaching, experience, new knowledge and skills in pedagogy.
Minister Andreasyan noted the availability of educational posters and the opportunity to use didactic materials and accessories in the teaching process as one of the major outcomes of the program.
ASPU Vice-Rector for HR Management and International Cooperation Marianna Harutyunyan presented the goal and actions of the program and attached importance to the creation of an open electronic platform (stem.aspu.am).
She assured that the ASPU is aware of the importance and significance of the program, and considered the workshop the start for expanding the mission of the institution. She also thanked the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and the Project Implementation Office for supporting the program.
The workshop was followed by master classes in a number of professional directions and the process of identifying needs. The representatives of the Armenian State Pedagogical University are certain that they will implement their mission to learn and teach together.
