EXTERNAL COOPERATION CENTER

External Cooperation Center

Address: P. Sevak 4, Gyumri 3126, Armenia

E- mail: shsuinternational@shsu.am, international@shsu.am

Phone: +374 312 69494

In order to ensure the effective implementation of the relevant principles of the strategic development plan of Shirak State University for the years 2023-2027, in May 2023, due to the resolution of the Board of Trustees, the Centre for External Cooperation and Public Relations was dissolved and the Centre for External Cooperation (hereinafter the Centre) was established with new staff and functions.
SUSh (formerly GSPI) has been involved in international cooperation programmes since late 1990s, but for the purpose of general coordination and institutionalization of these procedures, in 2005 it established the Department of Foreign Relations and Reforms (founding director: H. Melkonyan). One of the main functions of that department was to ensure the continuity of already established external cooperation programmes, as well as the involvement of the university in new programmes. Another leading objective of the department was the coordination of the reforms launched in Armenia's higher education sector in those years, the development and implementation of the educational system in line with the main directions of actions of the Bologna process.
In 2012, in order to cover and publicize the work carried out in all areas of the university life, the Public Relations and Information Department was established at the university (founding head: A. Martikian), which also coordinated the work of the Student Studio, which has been operating since 2007.
The Department of Foreign Relations and Reforms was renamed the Department of Foreign Relations in 2013 (Heads: L. Margaryan, 2013-2016; A. Harutyunyan, 2016-2019).
Since 2018 up to now, the work of the Centre for Foreign Cooperation has been managed by director H. Melkonyan.
The main goal of the centre is to promote the university's internationalization and social partnership, improve the services provided, with the consistent application and comprehensive provision of the quality management cycle. For the realization of that goal, the Centre has got the following main functions:

• Informs the public about the University's goals and main areas of activity, implemented and planned activities.
• Develops and implements a strategy for external cooperation and internationalization of the University, relevant procedures and organizes and coordinates their implementation process.
• Presents recommendations regarding the improvement of the information and advertising policy procedures of the University, basing on the "SUSh Charter", "SUSh Development Strategic Plan".
• Through feedback responds as quickly as possible to the messages and inquiries received from the internal and external stakeholders.
• Disseminates information among the public about the specialisations operating at the University by means of videos, printed materials, job visits and others.
• Organizes and coordinates educational consulting services, trainings according to relevant fields for external beneficiaries.
• Informs the structural divisions of the University about national and international cooperation programmes.
• Organizes and coordinates the process of applying and participating in national and/or international academic mobility and exchange programmes for outgoing and incoming beneficiaries of the University.
• Promotes and covers the expansion and diversification of SUSh - public relations, as well as improving the quality of their implementation, through the "University Journal" periodical programme, reports, SUSh website and social networks (YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter).
• Organizes and coordinates the work to establish cooperation with the Armenian Diaspora communities. 4.16. Supports internal quality assurance, management and monitoring activities within its functions.
Thanks to the institutionalization of external cooperation and public awareness activities, SUSh ensures its continual involvement in international cooperation programmes, in workshops and various events carried out by the university community of the republic, in close partnership with external and internal beneficiaries and stakeholders, as well as the regional and state media.
Until today, Shirak State University has participated in the work of about 25 grant programmes financed by the European Union Erasmus+ (formerly Tempus, Erasmus) and other international organizations, thanks to which the material and technical base of the university has been enriched and modernized, and modern professional educational programmes have been developed and implemented, new structural units were established.

In particular:
• Quality Assurance Department,
• Department of student support, university-employer cooperation,
• Student studio,
• Educational centre of social work,
• Foreign Languages Teaching Centre ,
• Biotechnology Laboratory,
• Club “Key to Intellect”,
• Gyumri branch of YSU distance learning laboratory,
• Bachelor's and Master's Degrees professional educational programmes in “Social Work”
• Master's Degree Professional Education Programme in “Biotechnology”
• Master's Degree Professional Education Programme in “Sustainable Tourism”
• SUSh has developed and implemented a work-based learning (WBL) model and related guidance.
• Participated in the development and implementation of the concept of promotion of internationalization and marketing of universities of the Republic of Armenia, national and sectoral frameworks of qualifications.

Today, the centre continues the work related to the internationalization of the university, the establishment of social partnership and the expansion and diversification of its scope, as well as the services provided to external and internal beneficiaries, outlined in the strategic plan of Shirak State University. In particular, cooperation agreements were signed and revised with more than 30 European, around 60 CIS and Republic of Armenia partner universities and other organizations.

During the last five years, professional training courses were held for the headmasters of about 70 schools and kindergartens, and more than 450 teachers from different regions of the Republic of Armenia. The centre ensures the regular operation of Shirak State University's official website and social networks, informing the public on a daily basis about the university's activities and various events held.