Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan discussed ongoing education reforms, new student support mechanisms and progress on the Academic City project with university rectors.
The meeting was also attended by Lilit Mkrtchyan, Acting Chair of the Higher Education and Science Committee, and Harutyun Sargsyan, Deputy Chair of the Committee.
Introducing Lilit Mkrtchyan, Minister Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized the need for consistent and effective cooperation between higher education institutions and the committee. She highlighted the importance of active participation and initiative from the university community, noting that the successful implementation of systemic reforms largely depends on these factors.
One of the main topics of discussion was the development of secondary legislation necessary to implement the Law on Higher Education and Science.
The minister drew particular attention to two draft regulations submitted for public consultation, concerning new procedures for organizing higher education and the conditions under which the state will provide scholarships to students. Andreasyan urged university leaders to actively participate in discussions of the drafts by submitting their proposals and professional observations.
“Our principles remain unchanged: minimizing administrative procedures, simplifying processes, digitalization and a student-centered approach. These principles must form the foundation for organizing all processes,” Andreasyan said.
Addressing the new scholarship allocation system, the minister emphasized that one of the principal objectives of the proposed changes is to make higher education more accessible, particularly for students with socially disadvantaged backgrounds and those experiencing financial difficulties.
Under the new approach, applicants who meet the competitive admission threshold and require social assistance will be eligible for scholarship support from the very beginning of their studies.
In subsequent academic years, scholarship awards are expected to be linked to students’ academic performance. At the same time, participants emphasized the importance of developing effective mechanisms to reward students who demonstrate outstanding results.
The discussion also covered new mechanisms for institutional funding of higher education institutions and opportunities for their introduction.
Zhanna Andreasyan also presented progress on the Academic City project, announcing that construction of student accommodation is scheduled to begin in 2027.
In parallel, preparatory work continues on establishing academic and technological clusters, which are important components of the project’s implementation.
Participants also discussed opportunities for the digital transformation of the higher education system, the introduction of a unified electronic platform and measures aimed at strengthening the international competitiveness of Armenian universities.
Other issues concerning the development of the sector were also addressed, with participants emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation between the ministry and higher education institutions.
