On December 19, ahead of the external review, a meeting was held with ANQA’s director, the expert panel and the coordinator of the Aragatsotn Regional State College. The agenda covered the results of the desk review, the issues raised and the key hypotheses the experts will observe during the site visit.
The discussions covered the extent to which the education institution considers the region’s specific characteristics and needs, while building capacities to meet the demands of the regional labour market.
The following issues were addressed:
- the institution’s teaching process and methods;
- the institution’s assessment criteria, formative assessment practices;
- the outcome-based approach to education, the mechanisms ensuring the achievement of intended learning outcomes throughout the studies, and the methods for outcome assessment during the study period and upon graduation;
- whether student assignments develop professional practical skills and a research-oriented mindset aligned with employer settings.
The meeting ended with an emphasis that the expert panel report should focus on the institution's ability to effectively implement the academic programmes (APs), with recommendations geared towards the enhancement of the student-centered environment and APs.