From March 23 to 27, representatives of the Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) participated in the “International Week” event held as part of the Erasmus+ Academic Mobility Project at the University of Aveiro.

Among the delegates were Deputy Dean for Science and International Cooperation of the Faculty of Special and Inclusive Education Susanna Muradyan, Associate Professor of the Chair of Special Pedagogy and Psychology Vera Marukyan, as well as Associate Professors of the Faculty of Primary Education Marianna Amiraghyan and Armine Dallakyan.

During the visit, they attended professional lectures, particularly lectures devoted to the current key issues in special and inclusive education; the mechanisms for organizing inclusive education; the approaches to ensuring access to education; effective strategies for the education and social inclusion of children with developmental features, as well as the characteristics of organization of pre-school education and the protection of children’s rights in the Republic of Armenia.

The lectures provided the opportunity to share with the Phd students of the University of Aveiro the Armenian practice, present the current challenges and achievements, and also to get acquainted with the European best practice and innovative methods and consider the current issues and approaches, establishing an open and interesting academic dialogue.

The visit also helped promote academic cooperation, exchange of experience and the dissemination of educational innovations between the two Universities; new professional ties were established, the existing partnership was strengthened, and the opportunities for the implementation of new programs, development of research initiatives and future exchanges were considered.

As the participants noted, the visit fostered not only the exchange of professional experiences, but also the dignified presentation of Armenia’s educational system, culture and academic potential on the international platform. They had the opportunity to present the activities, educational programs and research areas of the Armenian State Pedagogical University which serve as an important precondition for increasing international visibility of the University.

The working visit also laid the foundation for future cooperation, contributing to improvement of the quality of education and the implementation of joint scientific and educational initiatives of the University of Aveiro and the Armenian State Pedagogical University.