This initiative, forming a key component of the Armenian ICT Master Strategy, responded to the identified weaknesses in human capacity. As a legacy of the Former Soviet Union, Armenia was left with a solid passion for education with strong mathematics and science foundation. However, the curriculum of both secondary and higher education was highly theoretical and in the ICTs areas of study, students graduated with very little practical knowledge. This meant employers often had to invest upwards of a year in building the capabilities they required before the employee's technical resources could be considered productive.
In order to address this structural issue, substantive curriculum renovation in the Armenian university system was required in order to inject qualified technical, managerial, and entrepreneurial IT professionals into the Armenian economy. The project deployed equipment, software, consulting and training services intended to satisfy present and future market demands of the IT sector. The curriculum renovation was a marriage of present needs of the private sector and integrating the curriculum of the world's top academic institutions.
By renewing and reforming ICT education at universities through updated curriculums, the retraining of professors, and the establishment of cross university course offerings, the academic system can prepare its students to use their knowledge of technology to participate in the public and private sectors as capable and qualified professionals. The three universities that participated in the formation of the University Consortium are: the State Engineering University of Armenia, specializing in networking, security, and hardware; Yerevan State University, specializing in Software Development and Configuration Management; and the Yerevan State Institute of Economy, specializing in Project Management and Entrepreneurship.
To date, a needs assessment has been performed and project proposals and negotiations have taken place with three of the top universities in Armenia. This initiative, upon conclusion of the pilot phase, has great potential, as it has the potential of extrapolation to multiple countries within the region and beyond. Following the conclusion of the pilot phase, the next phases will include equipment deployment and installation, as well as relationship building with western academic institutions, product developers and vendors.
