ASPIRE Project

Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia is the member of the TEMPUS IV “Access to Society for People with Individual Requirements” (ASPIRE) Project.

The duration of ASPIRE Project is 3 years (October 2012 - September of 2015).

Partners of the ASPIRE Project:

1. Ilia State University – Coordinator (Georgia)

2. Edge Hill University (United Kingdom)

3. The Pyramid Group (Germany)

4. Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland)

5. Technical University Of Kosice (Slovakia)

6. Shota Rustaveli State University (Georgia)

7. Akhaltsikhe State Teaching University (Georgia)

8. Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (Georgia)         

9. Georgian Postage Association (Georgia) 

10. Eurasia International University (Armenia) 

11. Armenian State Pedagogical University after Kh. Abovyan (Armenia) 

12. Goris State University (Armenia) 

13. Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia (Armenia) 

14. Bridge of Hope (Armenia).

TEMPUS IV “Access to Society for People with Individual Requirements” (ASPIRE) Project Monitoring

Monitoring of Tempus IV Project “Access to Society for the People with Individual Requirements” (ASPIRE) Project took place on October 12, 2013.

Members of consortium, Eurasia International University, Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia, Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan, Goris State University and Bridge of Hope NGO discussed progress of works during the first year of Project implementation.

Ms. Lana Karlova, National TEMPUS office Coordinator in Armenia managed monitoring of the Project.

Consortium members presented the works which they have done pursuant to the working plan and schedule, as well as addressed upcoming tasks and activities.

The specialists of Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia have participated in kick-off meeting of the project (organized in Technical University of Kosice), two-week training course in  “English for Specific Purposes’’ (organized in Eurasia International University), as well as curriculum development training for eight training modules (organized in Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland)) conducted by experts from the European partner institutions, Edge Hill University (UK), Technical University of Kosice (Slovakia), Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland), and Pyramid Group (Germany).

The pilot project, introduction of four modules, is planned to conduct in November, one of them is “Use of Library”, which will be piloted by Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia. Librarians of Consortium member institutions will be invited to participate in module piloting.

Training Modules' Development for the People with Individual Requirements at Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland)

PublicAdministrationAcademyof the Republic of Armenia (PAARA) is a member of the consortium of Tempus IV “Access to Society for the People with Individual Requirements” (ASPIRE) Project.

From  July 28 to August 14, 2013  Mrs Tereza Khechoyan, PAARA Vice-rector for International Relations, and Ms Tatevik Danielyan, Chief Specialist of the Department of International Cooperation and Foreign Affairs, participated in the training modules’ development for the people with individual requirements at Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland).

Representatives of consortium members fromArmeniaand Georgia, 4 universities and one non-governmental organization from each country, participated in the working out of modules.

The work was carried out in guidance of experienced professionals from Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland), Edge Hill University (UK), The Pyramid Group (Germany), Technical University of Kosice (Slovakia).

Pilot Training Module on “Use of Library” Launched

Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia (PAARA) is a member of the consortium of Tempus IV “Access to Society for the People with Individual Requirements” (ASPIRE) Project. The duration of the Project, which launched in 2012, is three years. Apart from Public Administration Academy, members of consortium are Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan, Eurasia International University, Goris State University, and Bridge of Hope NGO from Armenia, as well as five institutions from Georgia and four from the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland and Slovakia.  

The objective of the project “Access to Society for the People with Individual Requirements” is to develop and introduce training modules for people with individual needs in the institutions of consortium members.

On November 8, within the framework of the Project the pilot training module "Use of Library" launched at Public Administration Academy of the RA, in which librarians of the consortium member institutions participated. On November 11, the second day of the training, European partners from Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland), Jerald Cavanagh and Padraig Kirby, visited Public Administration Academy for observation. The purpose of the visit was to study and evaluate pilot training module.

Mr. Arsen Lokyan, the rector of the Public Administration Academy welcomed the guests and participants of the training course. He emphasized, that the Academy intends not only to strengthen capacities of the library, but also to establish a new library. He also expressed the hope that the knowledge gained during the training will be effective for the participants in their work.

"We have planned to establish a Presidential library at the Academy, which does not exist in our country yet. In order to serve the goals, it is necessary that it will be circumstantial. “I think this Project will give us such prerequisites.”- said the rector of  the Academy.

European Project partners highly appreciated the training. Jerald Cavanagh, Limerik Institute of Technology expressed the hope that it will enhance the professionalism of librarians.

 In addition to lectures, practical case studies and group works, a study visit will be organized to the well equipped and renovated library of the American University of Armenia.

Pilot Training Module “Use the Library” Completed

On November 25, the pilot training module “Use the Library”, within the framework of Tempus IV “Access to Society for the People with Individual Requirements” (ASPIRE) Project, completed in Public Administration Academy of RA. Librarians of consortium member institutions participated in training launched on November 8.

Lectures, group works were held within the framework of the project, European partners from Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland), Jerald Cavanagh and Padraig Kirby, visited Public Administration Academy for observation.

The participants visited the library of American University of Armenia, which is well equipped with modern technical facilities. Satenik Avakyan, the director of the library, introduced to the members of consortium the work of library, all capabilities maximally satisfying the demands of readers (including people with special needs). Hasmik Galstyan, head of circulation and reference services, introduced in details and peculiarities of her work at the library.

At the end of the project Arsen Lokyan, rector of Public Administration Academy, awarded certificates to participants and expressed his confidence, that all participants were interested in obtaining much information during training.

“Public Aministration Academy aspires to have better a library to provide with higher level of services” said the rector. Ms. Lana Karlova, head of National TEMPUS Office in Armenia, attended final session and certificate awarding ceremony.

Awareness Day will be held in the framework of ASPIRE Project

Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia (PAARA) is a member of the consortium of Tempus IV “Access to Society for the People with Individual Requirements” (ASPIRE) Project.  The program launched in 2012 year. The purpose of consortium members is to develop and introduce training modules for people with special needs.

Last November, within the framework of the Project the pilot training module “Use the Library” was conducted for librarians of the consortium member institutions in Public Administration Academy. It was highly evaluated by training participants, as well as by European partners.

The next stage of the “Access to Society for the People with Individual Requirements” (ASPIRE) Project will be held in April 2013. Awareness day will be organized for disabilities for implementation of which the working group is preparing from today.

On February 13, the European partners of the Project, Gerard Cullen (Germany) and Fiona Hallett (United Kingdom), visited Public Administration Academy. They conducted a master class for members of the working group, as well summarized pilot courses organized in November. Mr. Arsen Lokyan, the rector of the Public Administration Academy, welcomed the meeting participants. He mentioned the success of the previous stage and wished fruitful work to participants of the Project.

Equal Opportunities for People with Individual Requirements

It is nearly a year and a half that Tempus lV Program “Access to Society for the People with Individual Requirements” (ASPIRE) Project is in process and Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia (PAARA) is a member of the consortium. The goal of this project is to develop and introduce training modules for the people with individual requirements.

On April 30 the awareness day of the needs for the People with Individual Requirements was organized in Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia (PAARA), four consortium members’ universities and Bridge of Hope NGO from Armenia, as well as the representatives of Coordinator Ilia State University of Georgia were participating in awareness day. The experts of European partners from Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland) and Technical University of Kosice (Slovakia) day visited Armenia for monitoring of Awareness day activities.

Mr. Arsen Lokyan, the rector of the Public Administration Academy welcomed the guests and participants and mentioned that the project has already given its results. He expressed his thankfulness the representatives of consortium members and the TEMPUS project and whished the partners success in further work.

The surprise of that day was the performance of "Bridge of Hope" NGO young people (boys and girls with special needs). They presented two small sketches of Vardan Atchemyan. "Bridge of Hope" NGO is also a member of the consortium.

Tereza Khechoyan, the vice-rector for international relations of Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia  considered extremely important the “Access to Society for the People with Individual Requirements” (ASPIRE) project.

She said. „Our goal was to inform the problems of People with Individual Requirements to people living among us. How to make equal opportunities for people with individual requirements, how provide them right to get higher education, create access to transport, elevator, library, ete.?”

Then the representatives of consortium members with the organization of European Security and Co-operation had round table discussion about the problems of people with individual requirements within the framework of “Access to Society for the People with Individual Requirements” project.

Higher Vocational Education for People with Individual Requirements

The Project “Access to Society for the People with Individual Requirements” (ASPIRE) within the framework of Tempus IV launched in 2012 year. Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia (PAARA) as a member of the consortium, at this period has been active in the framework of the project.  The pilot training module “Use the Library” has been developed and implemented in Academy for librarians, lectures and students of consortium members.

Since the launching of the project, every year on April the awareness day is holding in Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia, the participants of the project are introducing with the problems of people with individual requirements. The awareness day again was hold on April 30 in the Academy, the participates of that day were as the consortium members of Armenian institutions as European Project partners from Ireland, Germany, Slovakia and from Georgia.

Mr. Arsen Lokyan, the rector of the Public Administration Academy welcomed the attendees and mentioned that during this period; through this program the library of the Academy enrich a large number of literature and (shape) establish with video-conference hall. However the importance of this program is to involve and to form correct attitude towards people with individual requirements in society.

Anna Arustamyan, the second year student of Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia of Public Administration specialty, made her master's thesis report about the results of the research done by a number of universities; she tried to find out whether our universities have necessary conditions to get full education for people with individual requirements. It turns out even though some steps have been done in recent years, but we still have much work to do in this direction (sphere).

After that the participants of the event were presented the videos, which told about people with individual requirements achieved obviously success in their life. Various diseases do not hinder the people with the willpower and targeted to express themselves in the field of science, art, politics, sports and other fields.

The results of the project “Access to Society for the People with Individual Requirements” discussed during round table, which took place in Armenian-American Wellness Center. The roundtable was organized by Eurasia International University which is the coordinator of the ASPIRE project. The participants were Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia, Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan, Goris State University, Bridge of Hope NGO and National TEMPUS office in Armenia. The participants of round table discussed the theses about "Higher Education for People with Individual Requirements". Speakers talked about the importance of events within the framework of the project, achievements, prospects and about problems.

The discussion finished with the signature of a joint memorandum “Education for everyone. Equal rights, equal opportunities", on how to input and promote the experience of inclusive education in the field of higher education.

Participation in ASPIRE Project Final Conference on “Challenges of Inclusion”

28-30 September, 2015 Tereza Khechoyan, Vice Rector for International Relations of the Public Administration Academy of the RA and Lusine Zilfugharyan, Head of the Educational-Methodological Department, in the framework of the ASPIRE (“Access to Society for People with Individual Requirements”) Project of the EU Tempus IV Program took part in the final international conference entitled “Challenges of Inclusion” in Batumi (Georgia).

The aim of the conference was the presentation of the final reports of the consortium member institutions and discussion of the work carried out during the Project. Representatives of Armenian, Georgian, European HEIs and Project member NGOs as well as officials ensuring education on different levels for people with individual requirements were invited to the conference discussions.

During the discussions of the conference working group a number of issues were raised existing in organizing education in HEIs for people with individual requirements and making it more accessible. In the terms of efficient organization and implementation of inclusive education after specific professional consultation students should be able to build their individual studies. Inclusive education also requires introduction of the institution of study consultants and regular monitoring of student performance. Issues of infrastructure and creation of special conveniences for inclusive program students were highlighted. Representatives of the Academy also had meetings and discussions with relevant responsible people for ensuring education for people with individual requirements where the need for ensuring quality education and mutual support in educational programs was outlined.