“Erasmus+ ‘EU Bridge’ Project Launched”
January 30, 2026
On January 29, 2026, the official launch of the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education project “EU Bridge: Strengthening Higher Education for European Project Management in Armenia” took place at the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.
“EU Bridge” is a two-year project co-funded under the EU Erasmus+ Programme and implemented through cooperation among partner institutions from Armenia, Spain, and Italy. The project aims to strengthen the capacities of Armenian higher education institutions in the development and management of European projects. One of the key components of the project is the creation of an open-access digital learning platform, which will ensure continuity of learning and the long-term impact of the project results. “EU Bridge” will contribute to the internationalization of Armenia’s higher education system, institutional development, and the strengthening of the country’s role within the European Higher Education Area.
The coordinating institution of the “EU Bridge” project is the International Scientific-Educational Center of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (ISEC NAS RA). Project partners include Eurasia International University (Armenia), the NGO “Center for Civil Society Development” (Armenia), the University of Murcia (Spain), the NGO “Empresas con Valores” (Spain), and the University of Tuscia (Italy).
The launch event was attended by representatives responsible for internationalization in the higher education sector from Armenia and European partner institutions, as well as representatives of participating and beneficiary organizations. As rightly noted during the meeting, the event brought together academic leadership, European partners, and representatives of higher education institutions who share a common goal: to strengthen higher education in Armenia through cooperation, capacity development, and closer integration with the European education area.
Welcoming the participants, Mr. Aram Papoyan, Vice President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, congratulated the staff of ISEC NAS RA, and Armenian and international partners, on this achievement. He emphasized the importance of such initiatives in the field of higher education, noting that research-based education is of particular importance for Armenia and that ISEC NAS RA, with its vision, fully aligns with this approach.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Armen Sargsyan, Director of ISEC NAS RA, highlighted the significance of the day, the importance of the project, and the key factors ensuring its success. He stated in particular:
“The launch of the project is both timely and essential. Armenian universities are becoming increasingly active in European and international programs. This growing engagement opens up new opportunities, but at the same time underscores the need for strong institutional structures, well-prepared professionals, and effective project management capacities to ensure sustainable and meaningful participation. The ‘EU Bridge’ project has been designed precisely to respond to these needs. ‘EU Bridge’ aims to support universities in moving from being mere participants in European initiatives toward more confident and strategic engagement. The impact of ‘EU Bridge’ is much broader: it contributes to the modernization of university governance and the development of professional approaches, while also supporting the long-term internationalization of Armenian higher education.”
As the coordinating institution, ISEC NAS RA is fully committed to supporting this process. At the same time, we are deeply convinced that the success of “EU Bridge” depends on strong partnerships, shared responsibility, and the active engagement of all parties.
The Director also highlighted the shared vision of the project: “Stronger universities, better prepared for European collaboration, and more capable of contributing to Armenia’s social and economic development. ‘EU Bridge’ provides the necessary framework; it is now our collective responsibility to turn this opportunity into reality.”
Welcoming the participants, Mr. Václav Štěrba, Deputy Head of the Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Armenia, emphasized that the Erasmus+ Programme is considered one of the most successful initiatives in the region, and that “EU Bridge” can already be regarded as a successful project. He also referenced the visa liberalization initiative launched in cooperation with the Armenian government, expressing hope that its implementation will expand mobility opportunities for students and staff.
Mr. Suren Ohanyan, Rector of Eurasia International University, highlighted that within the framework of the project, a new curriculum will be developed, a practical academy for European project management will be established, and the project will contribute to the internationalization of universities.
Ms. Mariana Sargsyan, Coordinator of the Erasmus+ National Office in Armenia, welcomed the fact that in recent years Armenian universities have actively participated in European programs and noted that the Erasmus+ National Office is always ready to support such initiatives. She also highlighted the significance of “EU Bridge”, noting that it is the first time ISEC NAS RA serves as a coordinating university under the Erasmus+ Programme.
Mr. Atom Mkhitaryan, Dean of ISEC NAS RA and coordinator of “EU Bridge”, welcomed the participants and outlined that the project is aimed at developing the professional capacities of university faculty, researchers, administrative staff, and students. He further clarified that the project will include the development of a specialized curriculum in European project management, the establishment of a Pilot Academy, a Social Innovation Laboratory, and a practice-oriented learning environment.
Ms. Angela Papikyan, Head of the Foreign Relations Department at ISEC NAS RA, along with the representatives from the partner institutions, delivered informational presentations, outlining their institutions and their roles within the project.
Italian and Spanish partner representatives emphasized the importance of initiatives aimed at sharing experience in European project management. Ms. Sheila Rubió from the Spanish NGO “Empresas con Valores” and Ms. Stefania Astolfi from the University of Tuscia (Italy) presented their institutions’ experience, highlighting the potential for developing and disseminating learning modules in European project management.
On January 30, working groups from the partner institutions continued their work, discussing the project implementation plan and action roadmap, and engaging in productive discussions. This process helped identify key issues related to the project’s launch phase and clarified shared visions and agreements.
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