Discussion of the Experience of Joint Master’s Programs
The experience of double degree Master programs of Eurasia International University was presented at the final conference of the DEGES project, held at the YSU Center for European Studies
On June 25, Yerevan State University hosted the final conference of the Developing Joint Masters Program in European Studies: Law, Management, and Communication (DEGES) Project funded under the EU Erasmus+ program. The project was aimed at creating a new interdisciplinary joint master’s program. As a result of the project, a joint curriculum and subjects of the educational program were developed, as well as the procedures and documents regulating joint admission, assessment, mutual recognition of credits and degrees, and other issues. The project was implemented in cooperation with YSU, the Universities of Vilnius, Vidzeme, Tbilisi, and Ljubljana.
Launched in 1987 to foster closer cooperation among European universities, the EU Erasmus Program evolved into the expansive Erasmus Plus (Erasmus+) initiative, encompassing education, training, youth, and sports cooperation not only within Europe but also globally. Offering diverse opportunities for both individuals and organizations in the field of education, the Erasmus+ program includes learning mobility, support for capacity building in higher education, design of high-level study programs at a master level under “Erasmus Mundus Design Measures” action, implementation of integrated Master study programs under “Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters” programs, and more.
Many Armenian universities, including the Eurasia International University, are very active in implementing numerous projects under Capacity building activities aimed to contribute to the modernization, and internationalization of higher education. However, the DEGES Project stands out as the first initiative in Armenia implemented under the “Erasmus Mundus Design Measures” action, and from the project development and implementation perspective it is also of interest to the university community.
Project coordinator Dr. Kristine Gevorgyan at the Project final conference presented the results of the project which was followed by a discussion on “Reflection on Joint Maste Programs in Europe and Beyond: Establishing Joint Degrees, challenges, and Success Stories”, which was contributed by Dr. Anna Khvorostiankina, Head of the Department of Law at the Eurasia International University.
The experience of implementation of double master’s degree programs at Eurasia International University was also presented during the panel discussion. In particular, the features of the double degree program “Security and Human Rights”, implemented jointly with the University of Tuschia (Italy) as well as the main stages of the organization of education in Armenia and Italy were presented.
Eurasia International University considers the implementation of joint (double) degree programs as a tool to provide academic diversity, expand research opportunities, improve the quality of education, and promote international cooperation. The participants of the discussion also noted that there are still some gaps in the current legislation of Armenia for the implementation of such joint initiatives, which are expected to be resolved after the adoption of a new sectoral law.
The issues related to the quality assurance and accreditation of joint programs were also considered during the next panel discussion of the final conference, which was also contributed by Ruben Topchyan, Director of the ANQA, and Atom Mkhitaryan, Dean of the International Scientific and Educational Center of the NAS RA.
It should be added that the International University of Eurasia, in cooperation with the Tuscia University, is also implementing a double degree Master’s program in “Management and Cycle Economy”, and another double degree Master’s program in Management in cooperation with the Warsaw University of Economics and Humanities.
