The capacity-building activity for the “Establishment of a National Framework of Key Performance Indicators for Good Governance and Quality Towards Inclusive, Digital, and Green-Oriented Higher Education in Armenia” (KPI4HE) project, funded under the EU Erasmus+ program, took place at the University of Oldenburg, Germany, one of the project’s partner institutions.

Eurasia International University (EIU), as a partner in the project, was represented at the workshop by Ruben Markosyan, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at EIU, Mariam Jilavyan, Head of the Quality Center, Sirarpi Davtyan, Head of the Student Office, Anna Martirosyan, Head of the Department of Management, Sevak Torgomyan, a lecturer from the same department, and Mary Tumanyan, an administrative staff member.

The workshop aimed to familiarize the Armenian partners of the KPI4HE project with European best practices in promoting research, internationalization, innovation, and startups. These areas contribute to improving the effectiveness of key performance indicators (KPIs) for institutional strategic planning at the project’s partner universities: Oldenburg (Germany), Dresden (Germany), and Genoa (Italy).

Around 60 researchers, professors, and institutional leaders from Armenia, Italy, and Germany participated in the workshop. Participants engaged in working meetings to discuss issues related to higher education management, quality assurance, and internationalization. European experiences were examined, and further steps were outlined for advancing the higher education system in Armenia.

Ruben Markosyan, Vice-Rector of EIU, emphasized that the implementation of performance indicators in Armenia’s higher education and science sectors is a pressing issue. This is also highlighted in the new draft law governing the field, which is currently under extensive discussion. The inclusion of performance indicators is viewed as a crucial element in the processes of institutional accreditation and university funding. Markosyan noted that observing international best practices and testing approaches within the framework of the KPI4HE project can significantly contribute to the effective implementation of systemic reforms.

It is important to note that the KPI4HE project was launched this year to enhance the management of Armenia’s higher education system and the strategic planning of universities. The project aims to foster quality, inclusive, digital and green-oriented higher education in Armenia by developing and implementing a national framework for higher education performance indicators, creating institutional research frameworks, launching planning services, and revising national accreditation standards for institutions.