Autonomy of Armenian Academy of Sciences may be under threat

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.