What needs to change in our HEIs? What kind of education do today’s students need? Can young researchers go beyond discussing problems and take part in addressing them? These questions were at the heart of a meeting between Ruben Topchyan, ANQA’s director, and PhD students from different fields at Yerevan State University.
With this meeting, ANQA launches a series of discussions with young researchers from different HEIs. The aim is to hear their perspectives, understand the challenges they identify in the education and research environment and create opportunities for their engagement in QA processes, expert activities and ANQA’s work.
The discussion highlighted several key issues.
- What we assess shapes what we teach.
If students are expected only to reproduce theoretical knowledge, it is difficult to require graduates to apply that knowledge to real professional problems. Assessment should demonstrate not only “What does the student know?” but also “What can the student do with that knowledge?” - Professional practice should start at the HEIs.
Students should not encounter real professional challenges for the first time in the workplace. HEIs should provide the necessary foundation, while internships should build on that foundation and further develop students’ professional competences.
- Good education and research require a conducive environment.
Modern laboratories, access to information and research resources, effective research supervision and targeted funding are essential for education quality assurance. - Quality assurance is not just about checking.
One of the key questions in QA is: “How do we know whether our decisions are working?” Data and evidence should help us understand what works, what does not, and where change is needed.
Ruben Topchyan highlighted that the purpose of quality assurance is not to require HEIs to operate in the same way. On the contrary, HEIs may have different missions, programmes and development paths. What matters is their ability to justify their choices, demonstrate the results and take responsibility for the education quality they provide.
Young researchers can be more than observers in this process. They can actively participate in transforming education within their HEIs, serving as QA experts or joining ANQA's team.
ANQA will continue its meetings with PhD students and young researchers from different Armenian HEIs.
Photos from the Facebook page of the YSU Academic Writing Center.