On 25 June, during the meeting with the Deputy Minister of Education and Science Hovhannes Hovhannisyan in the scope of the “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” Project, the representatives of the “Social Partnership and Education: Community-Based Prospects for the Youth” Project, which has been awarded the sub-grant in the target sector of education.

The objective of the project is to contribute to the improvement of vocational education and training (VET) and employment in Armenia throug the proper participation of civil society coalitions and raising the role of social partnership.

Ms Suzanne Soghomonyan, CSO-Government Dialogue Coordinator of the “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” Project, Lawyer of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association: Mr Artashes Torozyan, “Social Partnership and Education: Community-Based Prospects for the Youth” Project Manager, Ms Lilit Beglaryan, representative of the “Partnership and Teaching” / P&T NGO  and Mr. Khachik Gevorgyan, Education and Related Sectors Coordinator of the CCD project participated in the meeting

Artashes Torozyan noted that the VET supply and labor market demand in Sisian and Goris enlarged communities in Syunik marz should be improved in the scope of the project. The effectiveness of career counseling through the creation and implementation of a new model of social partnership at the community level based on the CSO coalitions would be increased as well.

In this framework, it was also suggested to create college councils. Related to this Deputy Minister Hovhannes Hovhannisyan said: “We need to carry out research on the model of college councils. A research should be conducted, taking into account both international and local experience, to understand which is the most effective option. The ministry should have the minimal influence on the selection of board members,” he said.

According to Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, the issue of appointing directors of educational institutions will be monitored through the College Board, and henceforth there will be no way for the mother to transfer the position to the son.

At the end of the meeting, the parties decided to hold regular meetings to discuss and present the implemented activities.

The “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project is implemented with the financial support of the European Union by a Consortium of civil society organisations, which are the Armenian Lawyers’ Association (lead organisation), Agora Central Europe (NGO based in the Czech Republic), the Armenian Centre for Democratic Education-CIVITAS, the International Centre for Human Development, the SME Cooperation Association and the Union of Communities of Armenia. The project is funded by the European Union and launched on 15 December, 2016. Duration of the project is 34 months.