State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia is happy to announce the successful closure of the project. The implementation of the project is assessed “good” by Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency. European Commission highlights the technical and financial management of the project and states that the results of the project are visible.

In the report sent to the coordinating institution, the executive agency mentions that the training activities carried out for the academic and administrative staff of HEIs and high school teachers are relevant for the achievement of the objectives. The quality assurance measures and quality plan are assessed positively as it has allowed a close monitoring of the work packages. EACEA appreciates the structural changes that the project has brought at institutional level so that to ensure the development of inclusive education at HEIs. The executive agency positively considers the website, which contains relevant information of activities and outputs achieved.

State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia as a coordinating institution congratulates and is thankful to all the partners for the successful implementation of the project.

ERASMUS + INCLUSION final conference was organized on September 25, 2019. Coordinated by State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia and hosted by American University of Armenia, the final conference presented the major achievements of the project highlighting the productive cooperation among countries.

Among the guests were Zaruhi Batoyan, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of RA, Arevik Anapiosyan, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of RA, representatives from Erasmus Plus national office and organizations of the field, staff and faculty members from Armenian and Bosnian universities and high schools, as well as INCLUSION project consortium members from Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Austria and London.

Randall Rhodes, AUA Provost, opened the conference welcoming all the participants and wishing productive discussions. Aram Isabekyan, SAFAA Rector, on behalf of the coordinating institution, briefly presented the impact of the project on the Academy’s activities focusing on the benefits. Zaruhi Batoyan and Arevik Anapiosyan also delivered welcoming speeches and highlighted the importance of the project on the Armenian educational system. Ruzanna Minasyan, INCLUSION project coordinator, presented the project, the activities implemented by the consortium during the 3 years and the major achievements.

The final conference provided a platform for fruitful and interactive discussions on the issues of organizing inclusive education in Armenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, providing examples of best practices in Austria, Belgium and Great Britain. The panel discussions were mainly focused on the following issues;

• Panel discussion 1: What is inclusion? (concept, legislation, overcoming the stereotypes, policies and procedures, why inclusion matters, how do we address the issue of inclusion, what are the cultural differences and similarities).
• Panel discussion 2: Teaching and Practicing Inclusion (teaching technologies, toolkit, best practices, quality assurance mechanisms).
• Panel discussion 3: Future of Inclusion

During the panel discussions the consortium members presented the impact of INCLUSION project on their universities and the changes the institutions implemented taking into consideration the project’s outcomes.

The management team closed the conference extending its gratitude to all participants, project partners and NGOs and wished active cooperation in future.

On September 24, 2019 a coordination meeting was organized within ERASMUS PLUS INCLUSION project to highlight the activities to be implemented after the final conference.

Before the coordination meeting, the consortium members gathered at State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia, visited laboratories of sculpture, ceramics, graphics, and fashion design, got acquainted with SAFAA students’ works and educational programs.

The second half of the day continued at American University of Armenia, where the SAFAA management team conducted a coordination meeting. They represented the main activities, including the preparation of a final report that each partner organization should do for the successful completion of the project.

The day ended with a cultural tour to Charents Arch, Garni and Geghard organized by coordinating institution to introduce guests the historical-cultural features of Armenia.

The coordination meeting was followed by INCLUSION final conference which was held on September 25, 2019 at AUA.

Armenian consortium members of INCLUSION project met on August 27 in AUA to discuss the preparatory activities to be implemented before the final conference.

The consortium members outlined the agenda for the final conference, defining the main format and the major topics to be discussed. It was agreed to have 3 panel discussions on the topics suggested by INCLUSION team during Graz workshop held in July. Management team will draft the agenda and send to the consortium members for further discussions.

The Armenian team looked through the “National Guideline on Inclusive Higher Education” and made final comments. The document should be finalized and published in both languages (Armenian and English) for dissemination.

P.S Final conference of ERASMUS + INCLUSION project is going to be held on September 25, in AUA, Yerevan. Management team will carry out a coordination meeting on September 24 for disusing the main financial and technical issues.

A 2-day workshop was organized within ERASMUS + INCLUSION project on July 9-10 to finalize the methodology toolkit on inclusive teaching and learning. Hosted by University of Graz, the consortium discussed the guidelines on inclusive education.

University of Graz invited a guest speaker, who represented the best practice, including the most recent tools/e-didactic and resources for ensuring inclusive education. Representatives from Armenian and Bosnian ministries briefly introduced the ways the national guidelines on inclusive teaching and learning should be circulated among other universities/stakeholders. Consortium members summarized the pilot teaching sessions held in partner institutions on inclusive education, representing the ways for ensuring the further use of inclusive methods. The first day ended with a discussion on self-evaluation reports to be conducted by each consortium partner.

The second day workshop was mainly focused on inclusive teaching and learning methodology toolkit, outlining the further steps to work with high schools to ensure better transition of students to universities. Armenian and Bosnian consortium members outlined activities for awareness raising campaign to be implemented for the academic communities in the respective countries.

State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia, as a coordinating institution, conducted coordination meeting discussing project’s overall management, the first draft of the final conference meeting and dissemination strategy. The management team also represented the requirements for the final report.