Araksia Svajyan is an education policy and leadership professional with expertise in teacher education, inclusive education and child protection. Since 16 October 2026, she has served as Acting Rector of Khachatur Abovian Armenian State Pedagogical University. She is an alumna of the University, holds a PhD in Education and the academic title of Associate Professor.

From 2023 to 2026, she served as Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, coordinating policy and reforms in general education, preschool education, vocational education and training, and supplementary education. From 2020 to 2022, she was Director of the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center, where she led work on inclusive education and the development of pedagogical and psychological support services.

She has taught at ASPU since 2008 and has served as Associate Professor at the Chair of Special Pedagogy and Psychology since 2012. From 2013 to 2019, she was Scientific Secretary of the specialised scientific council in Pedagogy hosted by the University. Her professional work spans teacher preparation, inclusive education, special educational needs assessment, child protection and the development of education and social support services.

She has led and contributed to programmes supported by UNICEF, the World Bank, World Vision Armenia, Save the Children, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other partners. She is the author and co-author of more than 60 scientific and methodological publications. Her research interests include teacher education, special and inclusive education, school readiness, autism, speech and language therapy, child protection and education policy.

As Acting Rector, her priorities include enhancing the quality of higher education, aligning teacher education with national reforms, advancing student-centred learning, strengthening research and expanding international cooperation.