In a statement made by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, he emphasized the importance of centralizing university operations within the Academic City to ensure compliance with international standards and strategic planning for the future of higher education in Armenia. He expressed his belief that there should be no universities outside of the “Academic City” in the long term, stating that all Armenian universities should operate within this strategic project.
Pashinyan highlighted that there are deep-rooted issues within the university sector in Armenia, with 60 universities in the country lacking certification according to international standards. To address these issues, he proposed merging various institutions into clusters within the Academic City, such as the Academy of Fine Arts and the Theater joining the Conservatory in the arts cluster.
However, opposition has arisen from some institutions, with a petition against the decision and expressions of disagreement from the rector of the Academy of Fine Arts. Despite these discussions, estimates for when the full functioning of the Academic City range from 2030 to 15-20 years later.
The Prime Minister’s vision for the university sector involves centralizing operations within
