Within the framework of the Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia (MAVETA) project, professional orientation visits were conducted on February 13-14 at Tashir Primary Schools No. 1 and No. 2, and Stepanavan Primary Schools No. 3 and No. 6.
During the visits, MAVETA project VET consultant Lilit Beglaryan introduced students to the project’s objectives and the vocational programs offered at Stepanavan State Agricultural College through the dual education system. She highlighted the advantages of this approach, including hands-on training and strong partnerships between the college and employers.
The project’s private sector partners discussed the growing demand for skilled professionals in agriculture, particularly the shortage of veterinarians, dairy technologists, agricultural machinery technicians, and farm management specialists. They emphasized the importance of attracting and training qualified specialists to meet the industry’s needs.
Kamo Jilavyan, the college’s career guidance officer, provided an overview of the college’s programs, outlining the benefits of vocational education and the diverse career opportunities it offers.
More than 150 students participated in the sessions, engaging actively with questions about admission requirements and the duration of training for various specialties.
The MAVETA project is funded by a broad coalition of international and local organizations led by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), including the Austrian Development Agency, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Government of Armenia, the Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER) NGO, Izmirlian Foundation, the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO and Vanand Agro CJSC.
The project’s implementing partners are the GIZ and HEKS/EPER with the involvement of SDA and the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (HAFL).