Summary of the Seven-Month Education Management and Leadership Program
The Education Management and Leadership pilot training program for candidates of general education institutions’ principals was concluded. This was a unique opportunity for current and future education managers to study and apply international best practices, strengthen strategic planning and leadership skills, positioning schools as self-developing educational communities.
The program was implemented by the Ayb Educational Foundation and UNICEF, in cooperation with the RA MoESCS, through EU funding.
The program aims to cultivate education leaders in different communities who are ready for lifelong learning, development, and sharing their practices, embrace innovative ideas and changes, and come together in a collaborative professional community.
As part of the seven-month intensive training program, principal candidates received comprehensive, multi-faceted training, ranging from management models to effective management of human resources and finances, from strategic thinking to the art of correctly presenting knowledge. The participants noted that, in addition to in-depth knowledge, the program provided a rare chance to pose questions and seek solutions in an open and collaborative environment, learning from both experienced specialists and peers.
“When teachers become learners, they begin to reassess not only their professional competencies but also the core purpose of their mission,” notes Tamara Simonyan, a mathematics teacher at the Yeghvard High School No. 1, adding the training evolved into a process of shifting mindsets, shaping visions, and building communities—a life-changing experience rather than just another stage.
The study of international practice played a distinct role and had a significant impact on the program participants. "We notice we are somewhat behind, with international approaches arriving later by inertia. However, that is what became our motivation. Observing others' solutions and the methods they employ provides us with a fresh perspective on challenges and helps us overcome them," tells Armen Harutyunyan, who was appointed principal of Yerevan Secondary School No. 187 following the program's launch.
According to Aram Pakhchanyan, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ayb Educational Foundation and the program manager, “The program largely met its goals. Beyond providing in-depth knowledge and skills, we managed to build a collaborative community that, hopefully, will continue working together in the future, laying a solid foundation for positive changes in the education system. Like any pilot program, it exposed numerous challenges and offered us a better understanding of how to enhance its effectiveness, supporting the critical goal of transforming Armenian schools into world-class education institutions. We are grateful to all program participants for being pioneers of this change.”
A long-term impact in education can only be achieved by fostering a continuous culture of learning and development, first transforming the mindset and ultimately the education quality. The training program for school principal candidates was carried out by the Ayb Educational Foundation's experts and specialists, who will continue implementing new capacity-building programs based on the content they have developed, which will expand the participation and the scope of change.