Declining enrolment forces Armenia to merge military and aviation universities

The Armenian government has decided to reorganise the Vazgen Sargsyan Military University and the Marshal Armenak Khanferyants Military Aviation University and establish a Military Academy. Such a decision was made at today's meeting of the Cabinet.

The academy will also be named after Vazgen Sargsyan, Caliber.Az reports quoting Armenian media.

"In recent years, due to a decrease in the number of applicants and the demand for certain specialties, it has become urgent to optimize their management and funding system," reads the reasoning for the government decision.

Due to the limited number of academic staff as well as the lack of research councils, it is difficult to carry out research work at these universities (and the work of a university, in addition to the training of cadets, must include a research component). The merger will make it possible, at lower cost, to modernise training facilities and the training base (both in physical training and laboratory facilities), the decision says.

The Armenian government believes that "the merger of these military-educational institutions will not only consolidate management bodies and units performing the same function but will also create opportunities to introduce a new culture of management of military-educational institutions in accordance with international standards and ensure the quality of education and the formation of a single, modern training and material base".