University-Business Collaboration: Achievements and Challenges

The National Erasmus+ Office in Armenia jointly with the German Business Association
organized a cluster meeting on “University-Business Collaborations through Innovations and
Work-Based Learning”, 2 nd June. The main objective of the meeting was to bring together under
the same platform the education and business representatives to share their collaboration
experiences, ongoing developments, challenges and registered results. In addition, the six
Erasmus+ KA2 Projects had an opportunity to present their key objectives, challenges and
achievements in the specified context.
The NEO Armenia coordinator Lana Karlova greeted all the participants of the Cluster meeting.
Opening speeches were made by Stanislav Toshkov, EU delegation Program Manager in
Armenia; Karen Trchunyan, Deputy Minister of RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and
Sport; and Klaus Wendelberger, Deputy Ambassador of German Embassy in Armenia.
The first plenary session was targeted at the knowledge and technology transfer between
university, industry and society, moderated by the Managing Director of German Business
Association, Mery Navasardyan.
University-Industry collaboration practices were presented based on the models of Erasmus+
CBHE Projects. On behalf of the consortium, ABioNet Project was presented by Gayane
Marmaryan, ANAU ABioNet local manager, Associate Professor of the Chair of Biology and
Biotechnologies, ANAU. In the context of the meeting, the speaker presented the main
objective of the Project, which is filling the gap and strengthening the education-
entrepreneurship-innovation link. The first step was the education component in which four
Armenian Universities have integrated modules in their curricula: Innovation and
Entrepreneurship (YSU), Agribusiness Management, Project Management (ANAU), Start-Up,
Marketing and Management (SHSU), Science to Start-Up (GSU).
Dr. Marmaryan emphasized the importance of partners and representatives from industry and
science in developing the modules. The model of partnership with enterprises and industry
representatives, student start-ups, sustainability strategy through partnership, achievements
and challenges of the ABioNet Project were presented.
The second panel discussion was targeted at “University-Business Partnership: Challenges and
Opportunities”, moderated by Director of National Center for Professional Education Quality
Assurance Ruben Topchyan. Among the panelists were the ANAU Rector Dr. Vardan Urutyan as
well as science and business representatives. Dr. Urutyan underscored the importance of
involving representatives from industry and entrepreneurship in the academic processes in the
context of curricula development, capacity building and labor market requirements.
All participants agreed that these meetings represent an effective platform for sharing
experiences, bringing together education and enterprise representatives, demonstrating
achievements and challenges, and deepening collaborations.