ArmInfo. Armenia and the EU discuss the possibility of introducing new financing mechanisms for universities. This became known following the results of the online working meeting of the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia Karen Trchunyan
with the EU delegation, which included Director of Financial Affairs of the Association of European Universities Thomas Estermann, representative of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research of Austria Alexander Paul Kohler and representative of the Association of Universities of the Netherlands Victor Mayer.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Education, Thomas Estermann presented to the meeting participants the results of the monitoring carried out by the Association within the framework of the EU
Tempus ATENA program on the financing models operating in Armenian universities, the new situation created as a result of the pandemic, and other problems.
Highlighting the priority challenges, Estermann noted that the results of their monitoring show that over the past decade, pressure on institutions receiving state funding has increased in Armenia. "There is a growing demand for funding, and there are high expectations that universities will operate more transparently and accountable, especially in the case of public funding," he said.
In turn, Karen Trchunyan noted that the introduction of the correct financing mechanisms for higher educational institutions is a priority, since the quality and efficiency of education depends on it.
It is reported that during the meeting, representatives of the educational systems of the Netherlands and Austria presented the experience of financing universities in their countries to the meeting participants.
According to the source, the meeting was held within the framework of the expert mission of the TAIEX Technical Support and Information Exchange Program at the initiative of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.