ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan participated in the 25th annual congress of the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE). The Minister welcomed the participants of the congress, emphasizing that cooperation between the education sector and the technology community is a success story.

“Education is an integral part of the technological community. The history and experience of the UATE are characterized by extensive cooperation in the field of technological education. Technology education is perhaps the field in which cooperation between the ESCS Ministry and the private sector is most developed, with UATE playing a vital role. Generally, cooperation with the state is successful if private companies and institutions operating in a given sector are organized and have defined agenda with tasks and issues. When there is a clearly defined agenda, the state becomes a supportive partner, contributing to the implementation of the proposed solutions. We have walked the path of sectoral development together, and I would like to express my special gratitude to the technological community for its self-organization, clear agenda-setting, and efficient partnership with the state,” said the Minister, welcoming the participants of the UATE 25th Annual Congress.

Zhanna Andreasyan referred to joint programs implemented in cooperation with the UATE within the framework of technology education, emphasizing that technology education is emerging as one of Armenia’s education brands. As stated by the Minister, the sector holds significant potential not only in Armenia but also beyond its borders. Therefore, the state’s targeted policy focuses on developing technology education, the outcomes of which can be exported, positioning Armenia within the international education system.

“We have ongoing success in technology education, yet there is still much to accomplish. As a result of the collaboration, 17,000 children are currently enrolled in the “Armath” Engineering Laboratories program, which has been running in public schools for several years. This program creates a mutually beneficial synergy between the education and technology sectors, which on the one hand, contributes to the identification and productive resolution of issues in the field of education, thereby strengthening the general education system, on the other hand, it is also beneficial for the technology community, since children convey innovative ideas and enthusiasm. Working effectively with children leads to outstanding outcomes,” the Minister said, highlighting the increasing number of children enrolled in the “Armath” program.

She expressed confidence that the state’s cooperation with the UATE will continue, with clear objectives and targets to be set contributing both to the advancement of the technology sector and to enhancing the quality of education.

Note that, within the framework of cooperation between the ESCS Ministry and the Union for Advanced Technology Enterprises, 1,070 “Armath” engineering workshops operate with state funding in 638 public schools. Since 2014, the Government has supported the operation of the Armath laboratories by covering the salaries of the instructors.

Also present at the congress were ESCS Deputy Minister Araksia Svajyan, UATE Chairman Alexander Yesayan, UATE CEO Sargis Karapetyan, and representatives of state bodies, the private sector and technology companies.

During the congress, the achievements and upcoming programs of the “Armath” laboratories were presented, and elections for the UATE board and president were held.

An expo was also organized within the framework of the conference with the participation of schoolchildren attending the “Armath” engineering workshops. The Minister and the other attendees familiarized themselves with the works exhibited at the expo.