AUA Participates in a Twinning Training on Student Assessment

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YEREVAN, Armenia – Three American University of Armenia representatives, Rubina Gasparian, Anna Karapetyan, and Mikayel Tovmasyan participated in an European Union Twinning Training, which was held at Yerevan State Medical University on October 27-29.

The training focused on three areas of student assessment: A new student assessment conversion system to easily and accurately convert grades and other forms of student assessment among higher education institutions across Europe, including Armenia; challenges and best practices of grading; and, finally, a grading system that is based on the assessment of learning outcomes.

Rubina Gasparian, Lecturer, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, said, “The Twinning Training was a step towards integrating Armenian higher educational institutions into the European higher education sphere. The training gave participants an opportunity to exchange ideas and get engaged in the challenging tasks designed by the presenters.”

There are many benefits to a more integrated system, including making student and faculty mobility between institutions easier, international recognition of degrees and qualifications, and increased opportunities of cooperation with higher education institutions in 47 European countries.

Experts from Finland and Germany provided information on student assessment methods that are used in their countries, and gave an overview of developments in this sphere in the European Union.

Anna Karapetyan, Compliance and Assessment Coordinator, at AUA’s Institutional Research Office, said, “The Twinning Training on Student Assessment provided a good foundation for capacity-building and for further discussions on the different grading systems in Armenia and abroad. It helped channel ideas on how grades can be converted within the European Credit Transfer System framework (Egracons Project) and how grading can be based on transparent assessment of learning outcomes. It became clearer how teaching and learning methods are linked to grading practices. The training was practical in providing certain tools and raising actual issues for discussion, not just between Armenian and EU higher education institutions, but also within participant institutions. It helped fuel a dialogue among local universities who could share their experiences and ideas on the implementation of reforms in higher education in line with the Bologna requirements.”

Mikayel Tovmasyan, Lecturer, College of Business and Economics, found the training helpful in answering some questions he has had for “quite some time,” among them how to grade group projects fairly. “I will try new methods to assess group project by using peer assessment making it possible to give higher grades to hard-working ‘silent workhorses’ and lower grades to less committed ‘free riders.’ I used to give everyone the same grade in the group.”

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.