The workshop entitled “The Framework for Institutional Regulation of Doctoral Education: the experience of Teramo University ” was held at the University of Teramo, Italy, within the framework of the Erasmus+ ARMDOCT Capacity Building Program, in the period from November 15-17. More than 50 representatives of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, EU and RA partner universities, research institutes – institutional leaders, and researchers participated in it.

The purpose of the visit was to study the process of organizing doctoral education in Italy and the reforms of recent years, the innovative doctoral program models – industrial, national, cooperative, and others, as well as the mechanisms for ensuring the quality of research work at Teramo University. Dino Mastrocola, Rector of Teramo University, Paola Pitti, Vice-Rector for Internationalization and Joint Curriculum Programs, Barbara Barboni – Vice-Rector for Doctoral Education, Dario Compagnone – Vice-Rector for Scientific Research, and ARMDOCT program coordinator Arevik Ohanyan gave an opening speech at the workshop.

Welcoming the participants of the workshop, Rector Dino Mastrocola emphasized the importance of doctoral education reforms and international comparability, noting that in the course of reforms, the ARMDOCT program has a reliable and supportive partner in the face of Teramo University. Citing the university mission, he mentioned: “The University of Teramo defines its mission on three levels: teaching, research, and public service. We value promotion, internationalization, and sustainable development, in this context, it is gratifying that the higher education third-level reforms launched in Armenia match the priorities of the European Higher Education Area and the European Research Area. I am also happy that Teramo University is part of such a crucial mission as the doctoral education reform in Armenia is.”

After welcoming the attendees, the Vice-rectors of Teramo University highlighted the role of the ARMDOCT and other programs scaffolding doctoral education reform. Actively working on the project since its inception, they witnessed the significant work done by partners and ensured that in the context of internationalization, the third-level higher education reform in Armenia has no alternative.

Arevik Ohanyan, presenting the progress of the works carried out within the framework of the ARMDOCT project and the expected results, highlighted the following. “The RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports greatly contributes to the successful implementation of the project, sharing the vision of the project, which is to reform doctoral education in Armenia in line with the Salzburg principles. At this stage, one of the main achievements of the program is the approval and implementation of the concept of reforms of the third (postgraduate) level of RA higher education. It was a step forward, enabling and supporting the development of doctoral education, the diversity of PhD programs, and the introduction of innovative infrastructures. Based on the reform concept, the program members developed and amended relevant legal documents and by-laws regulating the third degree of higher education, and they are currently under discussion and revision, shortly due for the planned pilot implementation. Summarizing her speech A. Ohanyan also stressed the willingness to promote long-term cooperation between the members of the consortium, expressing hope that the ARMDOCT program will initiate a new line of cooperation and international joint doctoral programs.

During the event, RA universities and research institutes presented their plans for future doctoral schools/programs. In addition to the thematic presentations and experience-sharing meetings, a panel discussion was also held with the participation of representatives of European universities, aiming at the best practice in organizing doctoral education, the options of localizing it in Armenian universities, as well as reform implementation at national and institutional levels.