How to learn new skills in Armenia

Entrepreneurship

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

Young Armenian entrepreneurs can join the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme, open to anyone who plans to set up a business or has started one within the last three years. The programme matches up young entrepreneurs with experienced small businesses in another European country for a placement of up to six months, helping the new entrepreneur acquire the skills needed to run a small firm. The EU covers 75% of the costs of the exchange, with 25% of the costs borne by the entrepreneur.

Click here for the contact points in Armenia. They will guide you throughout your exchange: help you with your application, help you establish a successful relationship with a suitable entrepreneur, as well as providing you with all the answers to your questions.

EU4Business

If you are setting up or have a small business, the EU4Business initiative offers a wide range of advice and consultancy services to help you take the next step in developing your business. Visit the EU4Business page for full details of projects that you can apply to, as well as examples of successful beneficiaries. The programme also offers loans and grants for small businesses.

Innovative Tourism and Technology Development

If you’re thinking of creating a start-up or looking to develop skills for a career in tourism or technology, the EU4Business Innovative Tourism and Technology Development for Armenia project offers a number of opportunities to develop your skills, through advice, events and networking opportunities, as well as grant schemes to back up your business idea. Check out the project’s opportunities in innovative tourism development and technology innovation and development.

 Impact Hub Yerevan

Impact Hub Yerevan, supports social impact projects and enterprises which propel the positive development of Armenia, providing entrepreneurs and innovators with networking opportunities, resources, educational programmes and events. Since opening its doors in 2016, the Impact Hub, which is supported by the EU, has designed and implemented 20+ programmes, hosted over 400 educational workshops and events, and now hosts over 220 members with over 100 projects/organisations representing every sector in Armenia. Check out the available programmes here.

VIA Fund

The VIA Fund is an impact investment fund for social enterprises in Armenia, operated and managed by Impact Hub Yerevan. The fund was developed as a part of the EU-funded, “Collaborate For Impact” project, which aims to develop social entrepreneurship and social investment in the Eastern Partnership countries. VIA Fund aims to strengthen and nurture social enterprises that deliver tangible social impact results, with a mixture of both capital and non-financial support, including an acceleration programme and intensive mentoring. Click here for latest news and opportunities.

EU4Youth

The EU4Youth programme will soon launch a series of projects aimed at developing social entrepreneurship and career management skills, linked to the promotion of youth entrepreneurship in the green and digital economies. Under the previous wave of EU4Youth projects, almost 300 skills development activities were carried out in Armenia in 2021 alone, young people received work experience through apprenticeships and internships, others received grants to implement business ideas, while three rural innovation knowledge hubs were set up in Shirak, Lori and Tavush regions, which still provide internet access, training and skills development for young people. Follow the EU4Youth page for upcoming opportunities.

IT skills

EU TUMO Convergence Center for Engineering and Applied Science

A hub for research, education, and start-ups geared towards university students and young professionals, the EU TUMO Convergence Center brings together partners to bridge the gap between higher education and industry in Armenia, connecting students, researchers, and professionals while supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. You can already apply for TUMO Labs – a free educational programme for young professionals and university students over the age of 18, supporting collaborative projects that explore the technologies and topics shaping the new digital age – and 42 Yerevan, a tuition-free programming school designed to train the coders of the future.

TUMO has hubs in Yerevan, Dilijan, Gyumri and Stepanakert, with 5 TUMO boxes offering the TUMO curriculum in Gavar, Berd, Vayk, Sevan, Kapan and Martakert. Click here for full details of a TUMO Center near you.

EaP Civil Society Facility hackathons

The EaP Civil Society Facility organises a series of EaP Regional Hackathons – special events that bring together civil activists and IT professionals from the Eastern Partnership countries to work face-to-face on civic tech solutions that would enable civil society to better contribute to reforms and democratic changes in their home countries. Teams work with mentors to enhance their existing prototypes of digital solutions, with the winner(s) receiving financial and expert support from the European Union to finalise and launch their projects. Visit the Hackathon website for more details!

EU4Digital

The EU4Digital programme is setting up an EdTech Hub for the Eastern Partnership region, which aims to foster collaboration between the EU and the Eastern partner countries, creating new opportunities for growth and development. The EdTech Hub is set to launch its first courses in July 2023. Currently, course curricula are being developed, local partners are being selected and partnerships established. The EdTech Hub is part of the EU commitment to digitally empower 1 million EaP citizens. For more info and how to take part, click here.

Eu4Digital also highlights a range of other EU programmes to support digital skills for SMEs, including the EaP Startups ecosystem.

Technology Development for Armenia

The EU4Business ‘Technology Development for Armenia’ project supports the creation and development of tech SMEs and start-ups through a grant scheme approach as well as innovation partnerships between science, education and businesses, including support for increased participation in Horizon Europe grants. Check out the project’s actions and opportunities here.

InnoIjevan

The ‘InnoIjevan’ project hosts engineering labs for young people, with courses so far ranging from coding to robotics, from biochemistry to UAV. Check out the project’s Facebook page for the latest opportunities.

EU4Youth

The EU4Youth programme will soon launch a series of projects aimed at developing digital skills among young people, especially in disadvantaged communities, linked to the promotion of youth entrepreneurship in the green and digital economies. Under the previous wave of EU4Youth projects, almost 300 skills development activities were carried out in Armenia in 2021 alone, while three rural innovation knowledge hubs were set up in Shirak, Lori and Tavush regions, which still provide internet access, training and skills development for young people. Follow the EU4Youth page for upcoming opportunities.

Communication and leadership

Young European Ambassadors

The Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) initiative is a non-political, voluntary, vibrant communication network connecting young people from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and the EU Member States and the United Kingdom. The aim of the network is to raise awareness about the EU’s cooperation with its Eastern partner countries, showcase the tangible results of this cooperation, and contribute to policy dialogue on various topics.

Through participation in the network, YEAs learn important new skills, improving their competences in the fields of teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and communication – essential soft skills for future careers! There are currently more than 900 active YEAs representing over 34 different nationalities, including 130 in Armenia (click here to meet them). The network is open to young people aged between 16 and 26, interested in public diplomacy and outreach activities. Applications take place every year, usually in the autumn.

Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges

In recent years, thousands of young people and youth workers from Armenia have participated in joint Erasmus+ Youth projects (exchanges, trainings, policy debate, volunteering). Youth exchanges allow groups of young people from different countries to meet, live together and work on shared projects for short periods. On a youth exchange, you can expect to participate in activities such as workshops, exercises, debates, role-plays, outdoor activities and more.

Erasmus+ youth exchanges are open to anyone between the ages of 13 and 30, and last between 5 and 21 days. These exchanges take place through youth organisations and you cannot apply directly as an individual. To find out more, contact the Erasmus+ Youth Info Centre in Armenia by visiting their website or their Facebook page, calling +374 94 525254, or email [email protected].

European Solidarity Corps

One way to gain experience abroad is by volunteering through the European Solidarity Corps. This is a unique way to experience different cultures and make new friends, while also helping others and learning new skills. You need to be between 17 and 30 and be willing to spend between two weeks and 12 months abroad. Volunteer projects could be anywhere in the EU or its partner countries, and in fields as varied as culture, youth, sports, children, cultural heritage, arts, animal welfare or the environment. Find out how to apply and check out hundreds of opportunities on the European Solidarity Corps portal.

Civil Society Fellowships

The EU supports young civil society leaders and activists in Armenia and across the Eastern Partnership through its EaP Civil Society Fellowships programme. Every year, the programme helps 20 civil society activists in their efforts to achieve positive social change in their communities, offering tailored training, grants of €5,000 and access to networking opportunities. Details about the Fellows selected since the programme began 2017 and their areas of interest can be found here. Applications usually take place every year. Check here for updates.

EaP Civil Society Facility – e-learning

The EU’s EaP Civil Society Facility offers civil society representatives targeted online courses and materials adapted to their needs and the situations they face in their daily work. On the project’s e-Learning Hub, you will find a number of online courses, webinars and video-lectures that will provide you with the tools and skills in areas as diverse as policy analysis and monitoring, project management, digital competences and web-design for CSOs. The project also offers a number of blended courses that combined online elements with face-to-face trainings to have an enhanced impact. Find out more.

Eastern Partnership European School

The Eastern Partnership European School in Tbilisi offers a two-year International Baccalaureate programme for pupils from all six Eastern Partnership countries, including Armenia, with full scholarships paid by the European Union, including fees, boarding and travel home for holidays. But the number of places is limited – only 35 per year – so you have to meet certain conditions and pass through competitive process in order to apply. Since the launch of the programme in 2018, 145 students have received scholarships for the school, graduating with the IB diploma and going on to study at top universities across the world. The next cohort of students will be recruited to join for the 2024-2026 IB programme.

Learning a new profession

Vocational Education and Training

Armenia has two levels of Vocational Education and Training: Preliminary Vocational (Craftsmanship) Education, implemented in vocational schools and education centres and focusing on professions like Forester, Butcher, Baker or Carpenter; and Middle Professional Vocational Education, which is offered at middle vocational educational institutions, Colleges, and universities, and providing “specialist” qualifications such as Accountant, Technician, Veterinarian, etc. The EU is the main international donor in support of VET reform in Armenia, and the European Training Foundation is active skills development in Armenia.

InnoIjevan

The ‘InnoIjevan’ project hosts labs for young people, with courses ranging from coding to robotics, from biochemistry to UAV, a ‘Real School’ for vocational education and work-based learning and the development of hard and soft skills, and an advanced training programme for women, youth and other representatives of vulnerable sections of the population through training, retraining, work-based learning and nurturing of hard and soft skills. Check out the project’s Facebook page for the latest opportunities.

EU4Youth

The EU4Youth programme will soon launch a series of projects aimed at developing youth employment and social entrepreneurship. Under the previous wave of EU4Youth projects, almost 300 skills development activities were carried out in Armenia in 2021 alone, including apprenticeships and internships to learn new trades and job fairs, while three rural innovation knowledge hubs were set up in Shirak, Lori and Tavush regions, which still provide internet access, training and skills development for young people. Follow the EU4Youth page for upcoming opportunities.

Higher education

Erasmus+

The EU offers a wide range of study opportunities through the Erasmus+ programme, including student exchanges in European universities at bachelor, master and doctoral levels – the exchanges will be part of the programme you are following and can last between one term and one year. And your expenses will be covered! You can also apply for an Erasmus+ scholarship to study for a Master’s degree at top European universities.

For exchanges, visit the international relations office at your university – they will tell you which opportunities are available in your subject and will help you to apply.

For a Master’s degree, you need to check out the catalogue of Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees, which lists the courses offering Erasmus scholarships in the upcoming academic year (there are 193 courses currently listed), then contact the university to apply for the course and scholarship.

The National Erasmus+ Office in Armenia is there to help you with any information. You can check out their website for more information or follow them on Facebook, email them at [email protected], or call them on +374 91 216258.

College of Europe Scholarships

The College of Europe offers a large number of scholarships to university graduates coming from Armenia and other countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy for post-graduate studies. Scholarships are also available for students from the Eastern Partnership countries, funded by the EU4Youth programme. Applications for the academic year 2024/2025 will open in October 2023 and close in mid-January 2024. You can pre-register now at coleuropenatolin.eu to receive a reminder about the opening of applications.

Media literacy

EUvsDisinfo

What is disinformation? How can we avoid falling for it? How can we respond to it? EUvsDisinfo aims to help citizens develop resistance to digital information and media manipulation by increasing awareness and understanding of Russian disinformation operations. Using data analysis and media monitoring services in 15 languages, EUvsDisinfo identifies, compiles, and exposes disinformation cases originating in pro-Kremlin media that are spread across the EU and Eastern Partnership countries.

The project’s Learn platform also includes a selection of useful tools, games, podcasts and other resources to build or strengthen your resilience to disinformation.

European Media Facility in Armenia

Through the European Media Facility, funded by the European Union, DW Akademie supports a vibrant media sector by further professionalising local media and promoting broadcasting of viable information. The project offers trainings, workshops and consultation sessions in partnership with BBC Media Action, and has also set up an  E-school for media management. For resources and opportunities, sign up to the project’s monthly newsletter, or follow its Facebook page.

EU4Independent Media

The EU4Independent Media programme is active across the six countries of the Eastern Partnership. It offers online and face-to-face trainings for media professionals, on-the-job and individual mentoring to improve editorial content or enhance management and marketing skills, as well as develop new revenue streams and a better understanding of audiences. It also supports content production and networking.

Check the EU Neighbours east media opportunities page for latest information.

A number of free courses for media and communication professionals are available online:

Fact-checking in the era of fake news

Innovation in storytelling

Digital transition in the newsroom

Online media production – mastering the essentials

Running an efficient media business