Today, a memorandum was signed in “Synopsys Armenia” company on the introduction of the STEP.ai Science and Technology Educational Program in RA public schools and VET institutions.

The memorandum was signed by RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, Director of “Synopsys Armenia” CJSC Hovik Musayelyan, Founder and President of the Armenian Virtual University AGBU Yervant Zorian and Executive Director of the ICT Employers' Union Eduard Musayelyan.

Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, representatives of the program's partner structures, as well as participating schools also attended the event.

In her opening remarks, ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized the significance of the accomplishments achieved through collaboration with the “Synopsys” Foundation and the commencement of a new phase of collaboration.

We frequently raise the necessity of increased collaboration between the private sector and education, since graduates need to possess the skills, knowledge, and competencies necessary for the economy. I am glad that there is strong interest from the private sector in technology, and the programs we are piloting in the education system are often implemented on the initiative, development and as a result of joint work of the private sector,” said Zhanna Andreasyan.

The ESCS Minister underlined the pilot status of the program, its accessibility and inclusiveness. In this context, Zhanna Andreasyan stressed the importance of including public schools in the pilot program: “This indicates that such programs are not the monopoly of schools with specific conditions but are accessible to all public schools.”

Zhanna Andreasyan also stated that knowledge about artificial intelligence is now a curriculum piloted in public schools in Armenia: “We are among the few countries currently offering diverse experiences in teaching artificial intelligence in schools, thanks to collaboration with the private sector. If other countries are seeking guidance on how to approach this issue, we already have several approaches and the outcomes of pilot programs, and we can compare and understand the most efficient training method ourselves. Furthermore, it is a field in which we can use various approaches and apply them in different situations,” noted Zhanna Andreasyan and added that various international platforms are already interested in Armenia's experience.

Zhanna Andreasyan expressed gratitude for the joint work and also congratulated the Synopsys partners on the 20th anniversary of their activities.

“With the Union of Employers of ICT, we already have experience in implementing several successful programs on the microelectronics course in schools and other areas. We are willing to work, expand and strengthen our partnership. I also congratulate our children, who are the first beneficiaries of the program,” concluded Zhanna Andreasyan.

Welcoming and congratulating the attendees, Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan highlighted the activities of “Synopsys Armenia”, focused on the philosophy of technological education, the development of human internal capital, and the identification of talents in Armenia. The Minister emphasized the RA Government's commitment to coordinated collaboration with private sector partners.

Mkhitar Hayrapetyan highlighted that the STEP.ai program represents a bilateral commitment to integrate efforts, enabling students in general education to become acquainted with artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

“I am confident that this new AI generation will change the economy as a whole and contribute to the efficient implementation of the digital transformation policy in our country,” said Mkhitar Hayrapetyan.

The event also featured the presentation of the graduation projects of high school students who completed the first year of the STEP.ai artificial intelligence program, and students who completed the first year of the program were awarded certificates.

The training was conducted by AI specialists from the AGBU Armenian Virtual University in a hybrid format, which combines online and offline training with the support of a school teacher and a distance lecturer.

The attendees were also greeted by the Director of “Synopsys Armenia” Hovik Musayelyan, Founder and President of the AGBU Armenian Virtual University Yervant Zorian and Executive Director of the ICT Employers' Union Eduard Musayelyan. The schoolchildren participating in the program also shared their experiences and impressions from the course, underlining that for many of them, it was also decisive in terms of professional orientation.

The STEP.ai program was launched in 2022 for several high school students. The program was initiated, developed and implemented jointly by the Synopsis Foundation, the AGBU Silicon Valley branch, the Union of Employers of Information and Communication Technologies (UEICT), the “Synopsys Armenia” Department for Education and the AGBU Armenian Virtual University (AVU). During the 2023-2024 academic year, students from “Mkhitar Sebastatsi” Educational Complex, Yerevan High School No. 122, “Eurnekian Public School” of the Mother See of Holly Etchmiadzin, and “STEM” High School at Yerevan State University, along with the Gyumri branch of Synopsys and young students from the “MOONQ” Technical School established in Armenia following the forced displacement from Nagorno Karabakh, participated in the program.