Commitment to Constructive Dialogue

“Social Partnership and Education: Community-Based Opportunities for Young People” Conference was held in Goris

On 28 June, the conference on “Social Partnership and Education: Community-Based Opportunities for Young People” was held in Goris within the framework of the EU funded “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project.

The Conference was held in the scope of the sub-grant project “Capacity Building of Armenian Educational Network” sub-grant project implemented by the Teaching/P&T NGO.

The conference was aimed to present the results of the community-based community model of VET education and training, as well as the opportunities for its application and dissemination, and also the issues related to VET and professional orientation reforms.

On the same day, the opening of the “Community Center for Youth Capacity Building” in Goris Community was held within the framework of cooperation of Teaching/P&T NGO and Goris municipality.

The conference was launched after the opening of the Youth Center. Representatives of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Syunik Regional Administration, Goris and Sisian Municipalities, Members of the Armenian Educational Network, local business structures, actors in the VET sector, colleges, local and international organizations, as well as other representatives of interested structures, and youth attended the conference.

The event started by the presentation of a short video documentary that has been validating recent positive changes in Goris community.

Executive Director of Teaching/P&T NGO Mr. Artashes Torozyan, Deputy Head of Goris Community Mr. Menua Hovsepyan, Head of VET Department of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Mr. Artak Aghbalyan and representative of the Armenian Lawyers; Association NGO Mr. Artyom Mesropyan delivered opening and welcoming speeches.

In the first part of the event Teaching/P&T NGO summed up the results of the “Social Partnership 2019” awards. Within the framework of the “Social Partnership 2019” award, Teaching/P&T NGO awarded the most active social partners from Goris and Sisian communities in 2018-2019 in the following nominations:

  • Social Partner of the Year – (Goris, Erik Harutyunyan, Sisian, Vahan Vardanyan)
  • Businessman of the Year (Goris, Hayk Abrahamyan)
  • Investor of the Year – (Sisian, Rafik Gharibyan)
  • Young employer of the year – (Goris, Artur Khojabaghyan, Karlen Ohanyan)
  • Female businessman of the year – (Goris, Ruzanna Torozyan, Sisian, Karine Davtyan)

Further the results of the “Best Journalistic Contest” announced within the framework of the project “Capacity Building of Armenian Educational Network” project were also summed up.

Following the awards, the conference stakeholders made reports,

  • “VET Reforms in the RA” – Artak Aghbalyan, Head of the VET Department of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport,
  • “Non-Formal Educational Opportunities for Community Based Social Partnerships for Youth” – Karen Hovhannisyan, Director of Sisian Adult Education Center
  • “Recommendations on the Effective Use of Social Partnership Community Model and Recommendations on Professional Education and Training (VET) and Labor Market Communication”, Aram Avagyan, Director of the Global Developments Framework
  • “Youth Employment Status in the Labor Market”.

 Youth-centered and gender-sensitive study of labor market in Armenia, Lilit Chitian / Save the Children.