Established in 1945 Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts had two departments, Painting and Sculpture, with enrollment of only 22 students. During the years of 1953 to 1994 the functioning of the Academy was mainly intertwined with that of Theatre Institute. In 1994 the Academy started to function as an independent higher education establishment and in 2000, according to the decree of RA Government it was renamed into Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts. Currently, two departments are active at the Academy:

• The Department of Fine Arts
• The Department of Design and Applied Decorative Arts

Currently, 764 students are enrolled at the Academy, 231 of which are on tuition free basis and 92 are foreign students.

The Academy offers programs in the following eight specialties:

• Painting
• Sculpture
• Graphics
• History and Theory of Fine Arts
• Design
• Applied Decorative Arts
• Outfit Design
• Computer Graphics

The YSAFA has two campuses in Gyumri and Dilijan. The Gyumri branch offers programs in four specialties and the number of enrolled students comes to 169. The Dilijan branch offers one program and there are 34 students currently enrolled.

The YSAFA has all the necessary facilities for productive functioning including but not excluded to computer laboratories, studios, libraries and exhibitions. A special attention is attached to information network development.

In the course of the past two years, with the aim to integrate into the European Higher Education Area, the YSAFA has adopted a three-tier educational system: BA, with duration of 4 year; MA with duration of two year and PhD with duration of three years.

YSAFA MISSION STATEMENT

The YSAFA mission statement is:

To train highly qualified specialists in the fields of Arts Theory, Fine Arts, Design and Applied Decorative Arts.

To make the creative and educational process compatible with the contemporary needs and demands of arts and society at large.

• To prepare students for further professional development and life-long learning
• To contribute to not only arts specialist training but also to an adroit citizen formation
• To become not only an educational but also arts development center in the Republic
• To learn and to preach not only national but also international culture values. 

YSAFA VISION

YSAFA strives to become a higher education establishment, which

• welcomes talented, gifted and keen on Arts individuals both at national and international levels.
• aims not only at offering educational programs but also at becoming a pivotal center for arts development in the Republic
• prepares students for creative activities in Arts
• aims to follow the principle of combining theoretical and practical classes
• applies recent developments in Information Technology
• considers international relations very crucial and promotes student and teacher mobility
• tries to preserve good traditions established throughout the 60 years of its history while integrating the contemporary demands, therefore, striving to create coherence via curricula and program flexibility and modifications
• considers the main point in its strategy maintaining and raising even more the prestige of the academy, therefore, its recognition at international level as well as integration into the European Higher Education Area.

YSAFA VALUES

Throughout the decades of its history, the Academy has developed its values, which unite several generations of teachers and students and have found their unique place in the development of Armenian arts and culture.

The preserved values are: 

• Its unwavering image as well as its school established throughout the decades. The academy remains true to its traditions and necessitates its preservation and transition over the years on to next generations.
• Revealing student creative skills, talents and their further development
• Responsibility for the native culture and arts development both at present and in the future
• Creating necessary moral and psychological environment conducive for student and teacher creative thinking
• Encouraging and preaching new ideas in fine arts
• Student involvement in the Academy governance
• High quality of education

The Academy also aims at enlarging international cooperation and becoming competitive and attractive not only at the national level but also at the European one.

The Academy assesses the quality of the education provided according to European standards, for which it applies not only the existing mechanisms but also strives to adopt and integrate European quality assurance mechanisms.

The Academy targets at

• Promoting student and teacher mobility
• Studying and researching not only national arts and culture but also that of other nations
• Emphasizing promotion of not only the national language but also promotion of foreign ones.

YSAFA STRATEGIC GOALS, OBJECTIVES

AND IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTIONS

GOAL 1

TO ENSURE A STEADY GROWTH OF STUDENT POPULATION

Being the main higher education establishment that promotes painting, applied fine arts, design and other arts directions, the Academy strives to maintain its student population while considering its inner potential. Moreover, the Academy aims at internationalizing its student population. Albeit its prestige abroad the Academy endeavors making the process more steady to become more attractive for international students.

OBJECTIVE 1

To achieve the goal the following objectives are set forth:

• Taking society and market demands into consideration to make the Academy entrance plan more elaborate
• Organizing long-distance education offering the Theory of Arts Program
• Taking measures for providing education in the English language for making the educational process more available and attractive for the international students
• Enlarging cooperation with leading Schools of Arts abroad, developing joint degrees and programs and making the qualifications as much comparable to the European standards as possible
• Developing and centralizing the education on Decorative Fine Arts, Design, and Graphics not only in the capital and in its branches but also aiming at new areas considering the capacity of the target location.

OBJECTIVE 2

To take necessary steps to ensure the steady in-flow of students

• To take steps to establish a base college while solving the issue of physical facilities
• To initiate preparatory courses at all the campuses
• To widely advertise the programs offered
• To take steps to expand the YSAFA programs promotion abroad. With the aim the Academy will regularly modify and update its web site, air booklets, organize visits and the like. Moreover, the Academy will regularly conduct market research to identify demands and, therefore act flexibly to satisfy them.

OBJECTIVE 3

To take measures to maintain the YSAFA structural entirety and provide for its sustainability.

The main directions

• To conduct educational analysis and take measures to raise the YSAFA competitiveness
• To develop a joint academic plan for student body strengthening and development while taking the quality of programs and availability of resources into consideration
• To establish admission requirements and inform the applicants on the changes long before the entrance exams
• To promote student career services establishment
• To promote the quality of education, student learning as well as build up student capacity
• To take steps for effective allocation of scholarships as well as student loans.

Evaluation and Monitoring

(Five-year plan)

By the means of major and minor programs by the year of 2010 the number of newly admitted students will have increased at least to 315 including

• Bachelor students – 210
• Master students – 50
• PhD – 5
• International students – 30
• Supplementary and Life-Long Learning  - 20

By the year of 2010, the total number of students enrolled will have reached to

• Bachelor – 800
• Master – 100
• PhD – 15
• International students – 120

GOAL 2

IN LINE WITH BOLOGNA PROCESS REQUIREMENTS TO PROMOTE QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF EDUCATION

The high level of professionalism and competitiveness of the YSAFA graduates is mainly dependent on education quality. Both the curricula and highly professional teaching staff are crucial for the success. With the aim the YSAFA policies are aimed at promoting compliance with European standards as well as integration of ECTS.

YSAFA especially stresses the importance of students’ creative skills promotion. The latter requires individual approach to student needs, based on student competences as well as interests. Within this frame the assurance of education quality becomes even more crucial and forces paralleling practical work with theoretical studies and analysis.

OBJECTIVE 1

To develop and integrate a new quality assurance mechanism and create compliance with that of European countries

Main directions:

• To develop an action plan for quality assurance mechanisms establishment
• To develop mechanisms for program evaluation
• To develop university and department self-assessment mechanisms
• To develop an action plan due to which the assessment will take a gradual and regular character
• To develop internal quality assurance mechanism
• To promote formative assessment of student learning
• To get organized for the academy accreditation
• To ensure transparency of all the processes
• To ensure standardization of policies and procedures both in the main and regional campuses.

OBJECTIVE 2

To review the existing curricula and create compliance with European requirements

·         To review the list of programs offered

·         To review the specialties and considering the market demands, student interests as well as Academy’s resources to launch new programs

·         To develop ECTS package

·         To increase student awareness

·         To develop student entrepreneurial and managerial skills

OBJECTIVE 3 

To develop and integrate ECTS and ensure accordance with European standards

• To introduce ECTS at YSAFA
• To launch ECTS in the academic year of 2007-2008 at bachelor’s level
• To promote student independent work and involvedness in the education process. To promote academic counseling services by involving experienced teaching staff.
• To create structural compliance with European standards
• To develop student electronic registration  system
• To promote student mobility especially aiming at EHEA.

OBJECTIVE 4

To develop teaching methods as well as mechanisms promoting quality education

• To develop  student assessment system
• To take student interests into consideration
• To make student-teacher relationship more productive
• To create all necessary conditions to promote student practical skills, to develop internship policies and procedures as well as endeavor creating contacts between YSAFA graduates and labor market.
• To promote student computer skills, grant proposal writing and other skills necessary in real life functioning.
• To benchmark and to import the good teaching experience
• To promote research projects

Evaluation and Monitoring

·         New programs are established considering the demands

·         By the year 2010 accrediting all YSAFA academic programs

·         Beginning 2007, all the programs will have new qualifications descriptors

·         The number of students enrolled at Master’s programs will count for 30% of the existing bachelor students

·         The developed plan of ECTS integration

o   The launch of credit system will take place at the beginning of academic year of 2007-2008

o   At Master’s level the credit system is planned to be launched at the beginning pf 2010

o   An efficient system of summarizing student achievements will be established.

GOAL 2

TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT POLICIES FOR HIRING NEW STAFF THUS INVOLVING YOUNG AND INNOVATIVE SPECIALISTS IN THE FIELD.

OBJECTIVE 1

Effective and efficient ways of staff hiring

• To assess and analyze the teaching staff while considering the programs and changes taking place at the Academy
• To develop a strategic plan aimed at involving young specialists
• To develop procedures for young teacher hiring
• To attach special attention to creativity of candidate teachers
• To develop and effective incentive system
• To develop and realize professional development
• To develop standards and procedures for teacher workload allocation

OBJECTIVE 2

To create policies for qualitative growth of the administrative staff

• To plan the required workload, to achieve an optimal teacher-student-administrative staff ratio
• To gradually involve young administrative staff, to ensure experience exchange and to try to comply with contemporary needs
• To develop incentives for ethical and financial encouragement of the young teaching staff
• To develop an effective and efficient system for teacher performance evaluation and consider the results when contracting anew
• To develop programs for teacher training and professional development

OBJECTIVE 3

To create an environment  conducive to improving  the YSAFA’s administrative activities

• To efficiently allocate the workload
• To organize administrative trainings with the aim to integrate innovative management methods
• To develop plans to attract the younger generation

OBJECTIVE 4

To promote development of ethical and psychological healthy environment conducive to creating learning cultures

• To create a strong system of values as well as regulations of proper behavior on the basis of the Academy’s good traditions  while considering the current demands
• To combine the protection of the Academy’s interests with that of an individual, therefore raising the sense of responsibility and accountability of the staff
• To promote student-teacher effective and productive cooperation and mutual understanding
• To improve transparency of information as well as that of decrees and regulations
• To involve more teachers in the decision-making process as well as to create more incentives for them to get involved in the Academy’s life
• To promote cooperation between the Academy, Trade Union and Student Council as well as other public institutions
• To encourage leisure activities

Monitoring and Evaluation

• To achieve at least 55% rate of the academic staff holding degrees
• To integrate teacher performance assessment system
• To integrate an elaborate system of differentiated salaries
• To achieve at least 35% of teaching staff aged below 50
• To achieve teacher-technical support  ratio of at least 4/1
• To achieve teacher-administrator ratio of at least 4/1
• To achieve teacher-student ratio of at least 6/1
• To improve socio-economic status of the employees

GOAL 3

TO IMPROVE THE YSAFA RESOURCES TO COMPLY WITH THE HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION PROVISIONS NEEDS

One of the main objectives of the Academy administration is to provide the necessary physical resources and their maintenance. Special attention should be attached to the Academy’s branches is Gyumri and Dilijan. With the aim a multiple-stage program for the objective realization is to be developed.

OBJECTIVE 1

To provide resources necessary for improved realization of the educational process and creative programs both in the Academy and in its branches

·         To conduct needs assessment of the Academy based on which to develop its maintenance plan and ensure its gradual renovation/repair

·         To conduct needs assessment for the lecture-halls and studios and provide for their renovation

·         To use both the educational and physical resources to their full potential

·         To develop plans for renovating/repairing the Gyumri and Dilijan campuses as well as to provide for the necessary resources

·         To provide for the safety in the laboratories

Monitoring and Evaluation  

• The compliance of the resources with the current educational demands
• The existence of the Academy as well as its campuses resource provisions plan and development of events related to it
• The physical location per capita ratio is to be 10/1 in Yerevan, 17/1 in Gyumri, 50/1 in Dilijan
• Planned allocation of resources for renovation/repair
• Raising the percentage of money allocation to 1.5% for enriching library expositions  on annual basis
• A five-year development plan for the internships in Shorzha and Dilijan

GOAL 4

TO PROVIDE FOR THE ACADEMY’S SUSTAINABILITY AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES

Financial sustainability is the main prerequisite for the Academy’s successful functioning. With this aim the Academy’s strategy is to search alternative ways of financing. Therefore, the mainstream of events at the Academy should be targeted towards being more entrepreneurial in its search for grants, alternative services provisions and penetrating other sources of income. Of no less importance is effective allocation of the existing funds.

OBJECTIVE 1

To establish compliance of the Academy’s financial resources with the implementation of the strategic plans

• To strategically plan all the aspects of the Academy’s functioning
• To provide effective and transparent allocation of finances
• To initiate yearly budget planning
• To provide a stable financial basis and to take steps towards its growth.

OBJECTIVE 2

To provide for the financial in-flow with the aim to realize the Academy’s main goals

·         To aim at the governmental budget allocation stable growth through active participation in Arts events initiated by the government

·         To take the necessary measures to make the programs and services provided by the Academy commercial

·         To decentralize the expenditure thus involving and activating the Chairs and Departments  

·         To expand the tuition-based services

·         To conduct analysis of each program expenditure and to consider them while calculating tuition rates

·         To consider the coefficient of productivity of each program while developing lists of programs and number of students

OBJECTIVE 3

To raise the productivity of financial resources management

• To develop the Academy’s financial management
• To initiate events aimed at efficient usage of water, gas, electricity and other resources
• To optimize the Academy’s administrative services thus reducing the expenses
• To develop an efficient system of salary allocation
• Based on the final outcomes of the work performed, to develop and to integrate an efficient mechanism for financial rewards of the employees

Monitoring and Evaluation  

By the year 2010 the following is expected:

• 10% growth of the extra-budget as compared with the year 2006
• At least 10% growth of expenditure necessary for the developmental events
• 2% growth in money allocation to maintain the subdivisions
• At least 50% of salary raise for the employees
• Student financial support growth for at least 10%

GOAL 5

TO IMPROVE THE ACADEMY’S MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

To ensure further development of the Academy as well as to realize the goals set by the strategic plan the current management system is to be restructured to make it in accordance with the contemporary demands, therefore to the quality of administrative services.  With the aim the collegiality and transparency of the decisions should be ensured. Moreover, standards for evaluating the functioning of all the aspects should be put in order by the means of which a regular analysis of quality provisions is to be conducted.

OBJECTIVE 1

To improve the Academy’s management system

• To assess and analyze the management system and the compliance of the latter with the strategic goals
• To restructure and optimize the organizational structure with the aim to create conformity with the new demands
• To develop strategic plans for the Academy’s all structures and campuses

OBJECTIVE 2

To raise the productivity and quality of the Academy’s management

·         To employ modern management techniques and to ensure staff development programs

·         To ensure mutual  collaboration of all the structures as well as to define job responsibilities

·         To improve information provisions of  the management system

OBJECTIVE 3

To promote student involvement in the Academy’s management to comply with Bologna principles

• To activate student participation in the Academy’s management
• To raise the role of the Student Council in the programs promoting Bologna principles
• To promote international relations of the Student Council

Monitoring and Evaluation  

• Establishment of a contemporary management system
• Promotion of strategic planning in the branches
• Installment of the information system
• An efficient system of quality management assessment

GOAL 6

EFFECTIVE APPLICATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

In order to ensure future development of the Academy it is crucial to provide programs which integrate information technology resources. One of the main issues is to provide both the staff and the students with the necessary resources.

OBJECTIVES

Integration of information technology into the programs offered

• To conduct needs assessment with the aim to reveal the current state of resources
• To develop a gradual plan for information technology integration
• To establish a database of the Academy’s information resources
• To establish an electronic version of the library and to ensure its provisions for both teachers and students
• To initiate integration of technologies and therefore necessary methods into the programs offered
• To develop the intranet and to establish a joint information system
• To establish a joint information database for the Academy’s management
• To organize trainings for the staff to enable the effective functioning of the information system

Monitoring and Evaluation  

• A progressive plan for the information resources development
• Electronic library system
• Electronic connection with the branches
• Programs providing trainings for information technology application
• Fast-speed internet

GOAL 7

TO ENSURE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ACADEMY’S CREATIVE POTENTIAL AND APPLICATION OF THE LATTER IN CULTURAL PROGRAMS

The Academy considers it its duty in a due manner to respond to the Bologna developments, reform and to create compliance with European standards in research programs as well. The latter is considered to be the potential that promotes professional development and education quality.

OBJECTIVES

• To develop a research promotion program and to create compliance between the latter and the contemporary developments in Fine Arts
• To consider the PhD programs to be an essential part of the Academy’s educational process and research. Therefore, the topics for research should be in compliance with both Academy’s requirements and market demands
• To promote joint research programs with international partners
• To promote mobility of Master and PhD students
• To strive to make the research available for the international audience
• To promote integration of Academy’s students and staff in international research projects as well as grant proposal development.

GOAL 8

TO PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE ACADEMY

Encouragement of international relations will ensure not only quality education provisions and promotion of the Academy abroad but also for student and teacher mobility.

·         To establish international relations department

·         To develop a plan for promoting international relations

·         To encourage student and staff mobility

·         To ensure Academy’s participation both in national and international projects

·         To activate Academy’s relationships with the RA institute of arts in the aspect of joint program development

·         To increase the number of contracts both at national and international levels

·         To expand the link between the Academy and its graduates and to try to promote solicitation

·         To establish the foundation of the “Fine Arts” to more effectively promote the Academy’s strategic plans

·         To strengthen relationships with the RA Artists’ Union and RA Designers’ Union

·         To strengthen the links with the society, to make Academy’s functioning, problems and goals more transparent for the society.