Working together to improve the quality of of higher education

 The Strengthening Integrity and Combatting Corruption in Higher Education in Armenia Project was launched in May 2015. In his opening speech Ambassador Traian Hristea, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Armenia stated: “This project supports the efficiency of education in the country and it will bring a brighter future to upcoming generations. Reducing corruption, not only in higher education but also in many other spheres in the country, is a difficult and long journey; let me reassure you that the EU will stand side by side and will always offer support”.

 The Government of Armenia has declared that the fight against corruption is one of its main objectives. The Project aims at strengthening integrity and combatting corruption in higher education institutions by supporting effective implementation of the Armenian Government’s Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2015-2018. The Project objective is to support the development of prevention and integrity mechanisms for practicing professionals and to increase good governance in the field of higher education in Armenia.

 As a result of the Project implementation it is anticipated that the awareness of corruption risks and strategies for enhancing integrity among students, academic professionals and other stakeholders in the field of higher education will be raised. Institutional framework for ensuring integrity and combatting corruption in higher education in Armenia will be further developed and effectively implemented. It is anticipated that the project will support development of guidelines and recommendations, including legislative changes and code of ethics for enhancing integrity among major higher education stakeholders. The project will focus on the 26 state-owned higher education institutions as a matter of priority.

 Education has a fundamental role in the development and quality of any society. Implementation of reforms in this sphere has the biggest potential in achieving long run change in the society. Education is an important part of the public governance system, and there is a particular need to focus on the wider governance of public higher education, and associated issues. Armenia hosted Bologna Secretariat during 2013-2015 and by this confirmed the importance of higher education in its priorities. The issues linked to transparency in education are very much on the agenda in the European Higher Education Area too.

 This project funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe’s under the Partnership Co-operation Framework in the Eastern Partnership Countries for 2015-2017. The duration of the project is 24 months with a budget of 400,000 EUR.