ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY’S EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT TRANSITION TO CREDIT
SYSTEM CANNOT BE DONE MECHANICALLY
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The State Armenian Engineering
University was the first one to experimentally introduce credit system
of education in Armenia since 2002. University Prorector Ruben
Aghgashian said this in his interview to Noyan Tapan correspondent.
In Prorector’s words, the credit system was first tested at the
University on two specialities of study for master’s degree. At first
they tried to introduce the most important principles of credit system
taking as a basis the American experience, but later, when Armenia
joined the Bologna process they took as a basis European standards.
The following year credit system was also tested at Engineering
University’s post-graduate study and later in the study for bachelor’s
degree (only at the department of foreign students) and lastly it
extended to almost all specialities of study for master’s degree. It
is planned that in 2007-2008 this system will be also used in the
whole sector of study for bachelor’s degree. Ruben Aghgashian said
that the University has already had one course of students graduated
from study for master’s degree by the credit system.
R.Aghgashian emphasized that during the whole process they have had
two kinds of problems: those connected with curriculum changes and
training-organization changes. "It would not be right to say that
there are no problems in these spheres. The more experience you get
the more problems emerge and they should be solved step by step so as
not to spoil everything," he said.
The Prorector is convinced that transition to the credit system should
not be mechanical. The main change should be done in the
training-methodical sphere, which will require more than one or two
years’ work.
R.Aghgashian said that introduction of credit system into the
Engineering University can be estimated as successful. Students are
also content with it, as they get an opportunity to take part in
formation of their curricula.