Armenian Delegation Discusses Cooperation Opportunities in Academic City with German Universities

The Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of Armenia, Zhanna Andreasyan, visited the Federal Republic of Germany as part of a working trip, where she attended Munich University of Technology and Bundeswehr University.

The delegation includes Sisak Gabrielyan, the head of the National Assembly's Permanent Commission on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sports, and Sargis Hayotsyan, the head of the Committee on Higher Education and Science at the Ministry of Education and Science.

During the visit to Germany's higher education institutions, the Armenian delegation discussed collaboration under the framework of the “Academic City” program. The meeting with Frederike Hettinger, the director of Munich University of Technology, and Robert Schmidt, the head of the “Energy Research” program, specifically addressed the potential for joint development of the technological cluster concept based on the university's structure and management model.

The Minister of Education also suggested exploring opportunities for joint retraining and research programs with sectoral universities in Armenia, as well as the development and implementation of short- and long-term inter-university joint projects.

The delegation led by the Minister also toured Munich University of Technology, visiting the technology center, studying the Munich experience of collaboration with businesses, and meeting with local Armenian students to understand their experiences. Opportunities for involving these students in the “Academic City” program were discussed for the purpose of experience exchange with students from Armenian universities.

In a meeting with Professor Karl Heinz Renner, the Vice President of Bundeswehr University, the Armenian side discussed the potential for joint development of the concept of the military cluster within the “Academic City” project. The Minister of Education was presented with the educational programs and features of Bundeswehr University, followed by a campus tour.

According to Zhanna Andreasyan, this example and experience of combining military and civilian education can be beneficial in the context of implementing the Academic City project. The sides also discussed the possibilities of workforce training, retraining, and implementing joint educational and research programs between Armenia and Germany.

Several other meetings are also planned as part of the Minister of Education’s visit to Germany.