ARMENIA READY TO IMPLEMENT EDUCATION REFORMS AS PART OF BOLOGNA PROCESS

ARKA
Sep 10, 2008

YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. Armenia is ready to implement all
necessary reforms to become a full-fledged participant of Bologna
Process, Education Minister Spartak Seyranyan said on Monday at an
international scientific conference focused on higher education in
CE member countries.

"Armenia acknowledges the importance of education in building democracy
in transition countries, since educated and well-informed community is
necessary for forming a democratic and law-observing society", he said.

The minister pointed out that knowledge is viewed in European countries
as factor influencing human, social and economic development. He said
that special attention must be paid to self-government of universities,
participation of students in university administration, introduction
of credit system and international cooperation.

"The necessity of reformation has two reasons – internal, aimed at
effectiveness of quality enhancement system, and external, aimed
at international integration and enhancement if education system
competitiveness", Seyranyan said.

The two-day conference was launched in Tsakhkadzor on Monday.

Delegates from Denmark, Italy, England, Moldova, Estonia, Hungary,
Kazakhstan, Latvia and Ukraine and representatives of Armenian and
European organizations attended the conference. The participants of
the conference considered unified criteria in Europe.

Bologna Convention was signed in Italy on September 18, 2002.

Armenia joined it in 2005. Armenia’s commitment is to bring its higher
and postgraduate education in conformity with the convention by 2010.

On November 2, 2006, Armenian Government approved the schedule of
introduction of the convention principles.