May 26, 2025 | 13:30
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YSU delegation participates in study visit to Salzburg
Yerevan State University holds a distinct position among European Union universities in the exchange of experience and best practices. This was evidenced by the recent study visit of YSU delegation to Salzburg, held within the framework of the Erasmus+ project titled "Promoting Values Education in South Caucasus Higher Education Institutions" (PROVE), and their participation in the "VaKE" training conference.
The aim of the visit was to support higher education institutions in the South Caucasus region in establishing and delivering sustainable and effective value-based education, while also promoting regional cooperation between South Caucasus universities and EU educational institutions to jointly address emerging challenges.
Organized in Salzburg, Austria, the study visit was among the most notable initiatives of the Association for Values and Knowledge Education (Salzburg), focusing on the "VaKE" (Values and Knowledge Education) methodology.
Participants included representatives from the Private University College of Education of the Diocese of Linz (Austria), the University of Western Macedonia (Greece), as well as universities from Armenia and Georgia. Yerevan State University was represented at the Salzburg "VaKE" training conference by Armen Budaghyan, Director of the Quality Assurance Center; Mari Santurjyan, Deputy Director of the center; Lusine Hayrapetyan, Associate Professor at the Pedagogy and Educational Development Center; and Serob Khachatryan, Assistant at the Chair of History, Theory and Logic of Philosophy.
The training, focused on the core principles of value-based education, was conducted by experts from the Association for Values and Knowledge Education (Salzburg), Ilia State University, and Telavi State University named after Iakob Gogebashvili (Georgia). It primarily included approaches to fostering critical and independent thinking, as well as strategies to bridge the gap between knowledge and values through moral dilemmas.
The Salzburg training within the PROVE project aimed to integrate "VaKE" values—such as universal and national values, professional ethics, and social responsibility—into academic programs, thus contributing to the development of value-based education.
Over five days of lectures, discussions, and practical sessions, participants gained a comprehensive understanding of how moral dilemmas can stimulate critical thinking, support students' personal development, and enhance the pedagogical proficiency of educators. The workshops featured group discussions, formation of initial opinions, analysis of facts and values, strategies for presenting and justifying positions, as well as sessions for reflection and feedback.
Such training initiatives are designed to foster inter-university cooperation and enhance the capacity of lecturers to deliver value-oriented education.
