REFORMS IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
30 March 05

In NKR the law on higher and post-graduate education is to be adopted
soon. The bill has already been approved by the Ministry of
Education, Culture and Sport. The bill will also be discussed by the
government and then proposed to the National Assembly. To find out
what changes and innovations are expected in the system of higher
education we had a talk with the head of the department for higher and
secondary education of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport
Sos ARZUMANIAN. Sos Arzumanian: `Perhaps many people already know that
the law was adopted in the Republic of Armenia too. Having a common
system of education, the NKR bill on higher and post-graduate
education is identical to the RA law. According to the bill, the
system of education should provide necessary liberties important for
the improvement of the quality of education. At the same time it is
attempted to clarify the functions of the government in this
sphere. The bill maintains the major directions and the system of
higher educational institutions fulfills those functions. The next
innovation brought about by the bill is the introduction of the two
degree education: the undergraduate course for obtaining bachelor’s
degree and the graduate course for obtaining master’s degree. The bill
introduces several new notions as well, such as the credit system
which means following the principles of human liberties in
education. The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System will
be introduced in Artsakh giving students access to the European higher
education area. That is to say, having collected the necessary amount
of credits students from Artsakh can continue their studies at other
universities both in the same country and in other countries. In other
words, the credit system means access to the European
universities. The bill also involves the system of student grants.
Students will be given a chance for free education depending on how
well they study, taking into consideration the social factor as
well. Importance is attached to the educational standards and
curriculums which will be worked out in accordance with modern
standards. The bill has a new approach to the state policy for higher
and post-graduate education. The bill maintains equal rights for all
the accredited higher educational institutions independent of the form
of organization thus solving the problem of difference between state
and non-state university diplomas. After the adoption of the law each
university will grant its diploma bearing the number of the
accreditation licence. The new bill eliminates the state diploma. The
introduction of the new order of giving diplomas will act as a
stimulus for the educational institutions, includingthe state ones, to
become accredited as soon as possible. It should be noted that the
process of accreditation will not be easy, and it will take the given
institution much effort to meet the requirements for accreditation. A
university will be accredited if the qualification of 60 per cent of
the students and graduates of two years is evaluated as positive. At
least 75 per cent of the specialties must be accredited. Certainly the
committee for licensing and accreditation should be much more
demanding in reference to accreditation than licensing in order to
favour the improvement of the quality of higher education. After the
application of the law admittance will be held in accordance with the
curriculums for the bachelor’s course. In art colleges the former
curriculums will not be replaced in certain specialties. Until the
academic year of 2009 – 2010 the former system of five year
education will exist along with the two degree system. The
introduction of the credit system is planned in the academic year of
2006 – 2007.’

SVETLANA KHACHATRIAN.
30-03-2005