Progress of eCAMPUS project presented to visiting EACEA expert

The eCAMPUS project aims to enhance the digital competencies and skills of academic staff, as well as improve the quality of online teaching, learning, and assessment (TLA), in line with the EU's "Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027", by introducing appropriate digital systems.

As part of his visit, the EACEA expert held a meeting in one of YSU's smart hybrid-learning auditoriums to hear the perspectives and expectations of representatives of the project's participating universities—YSU, YSMU, Northern University—as well as representatives of the RA MoESCS Higher Education and Science Committee and the National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance (ANQA). 

Participants emphasized that the project will make it possible to enhance lecturers' digital skills and competencies in online TLA, which will lead to significant changes in the educational process. 

The discussion also touched upon legislative regulations concerning the potential need to conduct fully remote instruction when required, which would allow universities to admit applicants who are unable to attend classes in person—such as those residing abroad or in remote provinces of Armenia.

During the visit, the technical equipment and capabilities of YSU's smart hybrid-learning auditorium were also presented.

YSU Quality Assurance Center Director Armen Budaghyan stressed that within the framework of the project, a digital competency framework for teaching, learning, and assessment (TLA) will be developed for higher education in Armenia. This framework will define and regulate the competencies and skills required for academic staff engaged in TLA practices, ensuring alignment with global trends in digital education. Upon completion, the framework and related documents will be submitted to the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports (MoESCS).

"The official document will define the digital competencies that lecturers conducting remote or hybrid instruction must possess. Subsequently, a training program will be developed, and a group of trainers will be formed. These trainers will receive preparation at European partner universities, and upon returning, will train local lecturers. In the first phase, more than 100 lecturers from all participating universities are expected to undergo training. The first group of lecturers will be ready for teaching by 2027," said Armen Budaghyan.

Since the launch of the project, representatives of all participating universities, as well as those of the RA MoESCS and ANQA, have visited partner institutions in Europe—the University of Lisbon, the Autonomous University of Madrid, and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm—to become acquainted with their practices and experience. 

The monitoring meeting was attended by Armen Budaghyan, Director of the YSU Quality Assurance Center and Project Coordinator; Meri Santurjyan, Deputy Director of the Center; Lusine Kharatyan, Director of the YSU Continuing Education Center; Artur Avagyan, Director of the Information Technologies Educational and Research Center; Aram Hayrapetyan, Head of the Education Quality Assessment and Assurance Center at Yerevan State Medical University; Lusine Fljyan, Vice-Rector for Research and Internationalisation at Northern University; Harutyun Sargsyan, Deputy Chairman of the RA MoESCS Higher Education and Science Committee; and Ruben Topchyan, Director of ANQA.

The eCAMPUS project was launched on December 1, 2024. Four Armenian universities participate in the initiative: Yerevan State University (coordinator), Yerevan State Medical University named after Mkhitar Heratsi, Northern University, and the Armenian State Pedagogical University named after Khachatur Abovyan.