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The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia, the Higher Education and Science Committee, and the Academic City Foundation are launching cooperation with QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a global higher education organization providing university rankings, research, analytics and guidance.
At the event dedicated to the launch of the cooperation, which took place in Yerevan on September 15, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan recalled that one of the most important goals of the education development program is to do everything possible to ensure that by 2030 at least four Armenian universities are included among the top 500 in international ranking systems.
Andreasyan said that the agreement reached through the cooperation includes Yerevan State University, Yerevan State Medical University, and the National Polytechnic University of Armenia.
“Polytechnic University, together with several other universities and scientific institutes, will be at the core of the technological cluster, Yerevan State University at the core of the classical cluster, and the Medical University at the core of the medical cluster. We are doing this work by launching it with our universities, which in the future, during the consolidation of universities and the integration of work with scientific institutes, will be the foundational infrastructures, institutions of very important clusters,” the minister said.
According to her, they expect that with the support of QS partners, Armenian universities will be able to make the necessary changes and make progress in ranking systems, while progress primarily indicates the quality of education, employer and labor-market satisfaction, and the increased attractiveness of higher education for students.
Zhanna Andreasyan said that the cooperation is not short-term in nature; several years of work are planned. According to the minister, a lot depends on us. “We must realize the need for these changes and be ready for them. Achieving quick results depends on the extent to which we work, and I am confident that the 2030 target is very realistic,” she concluded.
QS Quacquarelli Symonds Head of Consulting and Insights Jacques de Champchesnel presented the broad scope of their activities and assured the attendees that with the right questions, critical approaches, and constructive work by Armenian universities, it is possible to achieve quick results.
According to him, higher education entails teaching, research, innovation, and impact.
“Our focus is on the student, and we position ourselves from the student’s perspective. We are here to support students in building their future. Our ambitious goal is to empower the one-billion-strong army of future learners spread across the world. We believe that we have the relevant expertise and grounds to support you in fulfilling this ambitious mission,” Jacques de Champchesnel said, emphasizing the role of data, experience, and the link connecting them—passion.
According to the QS Quacquarelli Symonds executive, the focus is on the ambitious aspiration that Armenia has expressed to meaningfully position itself as a world-class center of education and research. “We are guided by a national vision, and then we focus initially on three Armenian universities to assess their activities, support them, help them position themselves correctly, and offer practical solutions and advice toward strengthening their positions on the global stage. Armenia’s long-term positioning is important in terms of gaining a stronger reputation and recognition in the research sector. This is the main idea, but this global idea of higher education has its purpose—to prepare the next generation that will continue to develop global knowledge and have a positive impact on the world,” he said.
Speaking about the way the ideas will be implemented, he said that they will regularly visit Armenia and hold interactive workshops and seminars.
“We are here to present recommendations, highlight key points, and provide in-depth insights and analyses. It is expected that you will approach the process with an open mind and critical thinking; it is important to ask the right questions and make the information we present a subject of discussion, which will also help you look at your own activities with a self-critical perspective. It is also important to involve relevant specialists at the country, government, sector, and individual-department levels, so that everyone understands the essence of the process and realizes that these analyses, data, and recommendations will be presented in the format of a dialogue, with the aim of supporting you,” Jacques de Champchesnel emphasized.
The event was attended by rectors of Armenian universities, representatives of academic staff, and representatives of the education sector.