New horizons in continuing education: YSU Center for Continuing Education's approaches

- Ms. Kharatyan, what are the main focus areas of the Center for Continuing Education’s activities?

- The center’s work can be divided into several key directions. The first is the professional development of YSU lecturers and academic-support staff, which contributes to improving the quality of education at the university. We develop programs in various formats aimed at advancing the professional, teaching, research, and soft skills of lecturers. These include language training, communication skills development, and more.

Second, we design educational offerings for people outside YSU, catering to different age groups and interests. For example, we develop programs for civil servants, lecturers at other universities, schoolteachers, and others.

Besides, we implement short-term professional development programs that respond to emerging needs in specific sectors. For instance, we recently partnered with YSU Faculty of Geography and Geology to develop and deliver a certified 'Engineering Geology' continuing education program for practicing engineering geologists, approved by the Armenian Urban Development Committee.

- Are students eligible for the center’s programs? 

- The Center for Continuing Education places strong emphasis on the development of non-formal education and offers programs specifically for students. In this context, I’d like to highlight an upcoming international summer school titled 'Law and Conflict in the South Caucasus', taking place from July 7-11. The school will focus on issues related to international law and regional conflicts. Organized in collaboration with the University of Graz (Austria), the program will bring together students from both YSU and the University of Graz. It will provide participants with valuable opportunities for both academic and cultural exchange. 

- You mentioned that the center organizes public events. Could you share a few examples? 

- We organize such events through our "Free Listener" platform. These include public lectures, book presentations and discussions, as well as meetings with prominent experts from Armenia and abroad. Notably, all of these events are open to the public.

- Does the center offer any programs tailored for schoolchildren?

- Since lifelong learning includes all age groups, working with schoolchildren is also a priority for us. One of our engaging programs is "Science is fun! See! Touch! Try!" — a science lab tailored for schoolchildren. In addition to theory, it offers hands-on experience to spark curiosity and interest in science. For children forcibly displaced from Artsakh, we developed a special summer science camp program, held last year in Byurakan and this year in Tsaghkadzor. The program integrates science, arts, and cultural components. 

- How would you evaluate the professional development programs for lecturers?

- Their participation in the training programs is quite high, as the outcomes of these trainings are evaluated and influence subsequent certification processes. This allows us to analyze the results and continuously improve our programs. 

- What is the center’s vision for the future?

- One of our top priorities is to offer a diverse but sustainable range of programs. We aim to make non-formal education more engaging for students, while continuing to provide high-quality, targeted professional development programs for lecturers. The center is also expanding its research activities: every year we announce research competitions. For example, this year, joint student-lecturer teams will study Armenia’s university towns as part of a collaborative initiative with the Armenian office of DVV International and YSU Center for Continuing Education.

Our long-term goal is to become a key hub for non-formal adult education in Armenia.