ASUE RECTOR KORYUN ATOYAN’S ANSWERS TO THE WRITEN QUESTIONS, SUBMITTED AT THE END OF MEETING WITH THE STUDENTS
As we have already said ASUE Rector Koryun Atoyan had a meeting with the students on October 11, at ASUE Big Hall, during which the students raised various issues. After the meeting the students’ questions were presented to the Rector Koryun Atoyan in written form, which have been discussed, reviewed and approved by appropriate written responses. We present the questions and answers to them below.
-Less hours are allocated for foreign language teaching, is it possible to allocate more hours for foreign language teaching?
-Bachelor’s program students at ASUE in the 1st and 2nd courses study foreign languages two hours per week (68 hours x 2hours=136 hours) and in Master’s program a year (34hours x 2 hours=68hours) altogether 204 hours. We think that 204 hours are enough to strengthen your knowledge of foreign language and to use it in practice. Besides, the educational plan of Bachelor’s and Master’s program is quite overwhelmed with non-professional subjects, so it isn’t possible to allocate more hours for foreign languages teaching.
-The lecturers use different methods during the study: often not actual, outdated and ineffective.
-It is desirable this question to be specific and targeted, which will better help to solve the raised problem. Nevertheless, it’s acceptable, that there are lecturers who teach with outdated materials and methods. The Rectorate Board and Scientific Council will give recommendations to the Heads of all Chairs to discuss the problem during the Chair’s sessions and to give the lecturers a task to comply the provided material to the requirements of modern economics during the lecture, not to make it a dictation, to enrich it with statistical appropriate material and raise the effectiveness of lecturers. Besides, it will be assigned to check the course of lectures regularly.
-How does ASUE treat to Bologna Education system?
-The short answer is positeve. It is known that the Government of the RA on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Science, has signed an agreement to pass the Bologna Education system. It is already 6 years that the system has been invested in our University, there are success, why not, there are also defects to the solvation of which ASUE Rectorate Board and Scientific Council periodically reflect. That education system is used in great part of European countries and our University also follows it. Of course, the success of Bologna Education system in our University depands on active and diligent students.
-Is it possible to review the educational programs?
-Yes, it is possible to review the educational programs, they should be periodically update, enriched and fit to the use of science, new technologies and the modern demands of intellectual potential, otherwise, we will lose global developments.
ASUE Scientific Council and Rectorate Board periodically give recommendations to the Chairs and lecturers and control the implementation process.
-Is it possible to change the new order of absences or use it since next semester?
- According to the decision formerly accepted by Scientific Council the student dismisses from the University in the case of 200 unjustified absences. Scientific Council has discussed that problem recently and accepted a decision, according to which the student dismisses from the University in the case of 100 unjustified absences. It was defined that the decision would be used since October 8, 2012. This decision is right and should be used since the mentioned date. Note, the new order of absences is posted in the official website of our University (asue.am).
-When will the repair works of the University’s yard be completed?
-The University’s yard is being repaired by means of “United Nations Development Program”. The works are nearly to be completed and by November 15 will be over.
-Is it possible to add seminar training instead of 3 hours lectures?
- First, it is not clear to which 3 hours the question referes. Second, the general hours for lecture and seminar trainings are divided with 50-50% ratio. That division is enough for the lecturer to provide students with the material, and the student to adopt it fully during the seminar.
-Will we have course directors? If yes what functions does the course director have?
-It is abviouse from the question that the Chairs aren’t engaged in this issue. Each course should have course director. The Rectorate Board will discuss the problem, will give recommendation to the Deans and the Heads of the Chairs to sign course directors in all groups (if they aren’t signed) and they will present their functions (to wonder about the students’ attendance, to organize matinees, excursions, to find out internal relations of groups, to help their improvement and etc).
-How can the students choose the lecturers?
-Yes, that practice is used in many universities in abroad, but in Armenian universities no. There are some defacts in our education system, including this one. It is possible to use it concerning some subjects. Besides, there are special courses, which are developed and taught by one lecturer, there are subjects which are taught by two-three lecturers. Thers is also the following problem, our auditoriums are not generally equipped with technical devices. Nevertheless, the raised question needs an attention and should be solved.
-The quality of Master education is low, there are subjects, which are repeated in Bachelor’s and Master’s programs and the absences are many. What is being done in this direction?
-We know that defects, the Scientific Council and the Rectorate Board of the University have refered to them, decisions have been made and appropriate recommendations are given to the Chairs and lecturers. We think that the raised problems should be solved gradually.
-The quality of service in the library is low, there isn’t silence, professional literature in Armenian is less.
-The Rectorate Board, taking account the mentioned defacts, will discuss it during Rectorate or Scientific Council’s sessions and recommendations will be given to improve the service in library.
-Is it possible to implement a joint research program with relevant institutions of the RA National Academy of Sciences, or not?
-If it is about the lecturers’ staff, there is already such cooperation with Institute of Economics after M. Qotanyan of National Academy of Sciences. What about the students’ participation in implementation of joint programs, it is limited. The students can take part in such programs only during practical experience getting materials for graduate works.
-Is it possible to review the duration of intermissions (naturally to add time)?
- I want to answer immediately: no. According to the decision of Yerevan Municipality the lessons of the universities start at 9:30a.m., our lessons are organized with two queues, the lessons of the 2nd queue finish at 18:30p.m., as it is already dark at 17:00p.m., and imagine how it will be in winter concerning the hours. We think that Student Councils of the Universities can undertake and raise the question in Yerevan Municipality to start lessons at 8:30a.m..
-The directors of the scientific-research graduate theses are chosen randomly, who sometimes are not specialists and don’t know the topic.
– Of course, the question is a bit incorrect and exaggerated. Nevertheless, the raised question will be discussed with the Heads of the Chairs and relevant recommendations will be given. The questionnaires (projects) of practical experience don’t coincidence with the place of practice. What’s mean the questionnaires don’t match with the place of practice. On the other hand, students are sent to manufacturing, service organizations, Ministries, Commercial organizations, Banks and other economic formations and the questionnaires of the practical experience project is formed taking account the activities of the place of practice and advantages.
-The condition in technical laboratories are bad and why?
-The Management of the University knows the condition in technical laboratories and the problem will be solved soon.
- Which is the optimal form of examinations, oral and written test?
-Profession Chairs decide the form of exams. We think that the students shouldn’t wonder about the form of the exams. And if the question has other consideration, then the Mnagement of our University knows all control forms of the exams and do a great work concerning this.
-Is it possible to create an ethics committee to assess the lecturers’ dress code, behavior and methods of teaching?
-And why isn’t it suggested to create such committee to assess the students dress code, behavior. We’ll think about it...