Can the Establishment of an MA Programme in Armenia Have a Greater Impact on Education Quality Than the Entire Quality Assurance System?

In 2010 the Centre for European Studies of the Yerevan State University signed a grant contract with the EU for the establishment of an MA programme in Human Rights and Democratization in Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. This has been the first attempt in Armenia to establish a joint study programme, which led the Centre to numerous legal and administrative challenges on the way to setting up a joint programme. As a result of the partnership with the University of Essex, this MA programme introduced a number of quality education elements into the teaching and learning activities, academic integrity, and professional development. The procedures of course mapping, double marking, external examining and mobility elements were first introduced into the Armenian higher education system with the establishment of this MA programme. However, there were and still remain number of administrative difficulties connected with the university systems in the partner countries which hinder the full implementation of the planned quality assurance policies.