ArmInfo. It is no secret that the university system of Armenia is in a serious crisis. On February 5 at the sitting of the RA National Assembly Commission on Science, Education, Culture and Diaspora, RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vahram Dumanyan stated this, having presented a new draft law "On Education and Science" in the first reading.
According to the minister, the scientific sphere is also in deep crisis. Together with the sphere of school education, the university and scientific spheres areinterrelated, and it is impossible to imagine one from another. The reason for the crisis is the inferiority of the system. The processes taking place in the university system prove the inability to manage them. The university - the state - the authorities began to confront each other, as a result of which an unhealthy atmosphere developed, and this is unacceptable for any government in any situation. The issue of appointing a business representative to the management structures of the university also became problematic. At the same time, the state has no right to interfere in all these processes, which is also unacceptable. It is also illogical to demand the mandatory presence of students in the Boards of Trustees of universities, in the funds of universities, since both the student and the teacher cannot be in a structure in which they must listen to reports and evaluate their higher superiors, including rectors. There is a clash of interests here. Meanwhile, the work of universities should be understandable for the founders. The new law provides for a significant reduction in the number of members of the Board of Trustees. Currently, the composition of the Council of the university includes 34 representatives, including 50% of the executive branch and departments. Meanwhile, there are 16 state universities in the country, which leads to serious problems in the country's university system. Now the Councils of the Board will have 9 people, 5 of whom are from the authorized body and 4 from the university, including students. The selection of the head of the university will begin six months before the expiration of the term of office of the current rector. The number of applicants should not exceed three people. Their names are presented to the competent authority, which makes a choice in favor of a particular candidate. It is possible that the authorized body will not stop its choice on anyone at all. In a university that is being created or reorganized, prior to the formation of the Council, the head of the authorized body of the relevant field shall appoint an acting rector for no more than a year. This means that the project, for example, gives the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports the unanimous right to appoint an acting minister. university rector or director of a scientific organization.
The minister noted that the founder of a state university, represented by the state itself, should be 100% responsible for the situation in each specific university. The two leading positions in the political and educational field should also be incompatible. The heads of the branches of universities will be appointed by the rector by his order.
Reforms are also envisaged in the field of science, where the main task of the state will be to try to involve young personnel in its system. The necessary legal foundations are being laid for deepening and closer cooperation of scientific organizations and higher educational institutions, as well as their gradual integration by creating opportunities for independent activities of scientific organizations, the formation of research networks and consortia, the inclusion of research institutes in the structure of universities. However, the science management system raises questions. It is envisaged to provide academic institutions with the opportunity to unite. The work of these institutions will be coordinated by the appropriate authority.
It should be noted that earlier, the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia issued a statement in which it demanded to withdraw the document from the circulation of the parliament. According to the Armenian academicians, the presented bill will destroy the academic system of sciences of the Republic of Armenia, jeopardize the development of fundamental sciences. "Academic autonomy, academic freedoms stipulated by the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, stipulated by various laws, are abolished, the rights and legitimate interests of the main beneficiaries of education and science are violated. The draft law" On Higher Education "in this difficult period of martial law in the country without final discussions is unacceptable to be put on the agenda Considering all of the above, the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia demands: Immediately withdraw the draft Law of the Republic of Armenia "On Higher Education and Science" from the National Assembly; Organize discussions with representatives of interested organizations to develop conceptual provisions of the draft law ensuring the development of higher education and science " , - said in the statement of NAS.