On October 9, the STEP.ai program for artificial intelligence education was officially launched with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Synopsys Armenia company. The program will be implemented in public and vocational schools across Armenia, focusing on advancing science and technology education in these institutions.
The curriculum was developed by experts from the U.S.-based Synopsys and reviewed by Armenian-American specialists. For the past few years, the course has been piloted in six schools, and now there are plans to expand it to more schools across the country. The program’s expansion will build on its success in these six pilot schools, four of which are in Armenia and two that were established after the resettlement from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) following its occupation by Azerbaijan in September 2023.
The MoU was signed by Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, Zhanna Andreasyan; Director of Synopsys Armenia CJSC, Hovik Musayelyan; Founder and President of the Armenian Virtual University of AGBU, Dr. Yervant Zorian; and Executive Director of the Union of Employers of Information and Communication Technologies (UEICT), Eduard Musayelyan.
Andreasyan highlighted the importance of private sector involvement in advancing technology within the education system, noting that many pilot programs are developed through partnerships with the private sector. She stated, “The application of artificial intelligence in education has many unique aspects, and the pilot programs allow us to identify areas for improvement and further work before full-scale implementation. It is crucial that we carry out these initiatives with the active participation of the private sector, as this is the most effective path forward. Technological development and progress in schools create a demand for specific skills and competencies,” expressing confidence that the program will produce graduates who are in high demand.
Minister of High-Tech Industry, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, praised Synopsys Armenia for its substantial role in the tech sector and its contributions to enhancing education quality. He stated, “This is one of the brightest examples of government and private sector collaboration, working in harmony on shared reflections, visions, and perceptions of technological development.” He also emphasized the importance of preparing students for the future: “It is a joint effort to ensure that students at the general education level begin familiarizing themselves with artificial intelligence (AI) tools while still in school. I am confident that this new generation of AI will transform the entire economy and contribute to the effective implementation of our country’s digital transformation policy.” He further noted that few countries have implemented multiple artificial intelligence programs at the general education level, adding, “This positions Armenia as a country that has replaced conservative approaches to technological development with innovative, bold, and flexible strategies.”
Founder and President of AGBU’s Armenian Virtual University, Yervant Zorian, described the day as historic, noting that a new chapter is being written in the field of artificial intelligence.
The STEP.ai program, which was launched in 2022, targeted high school students in several schools across Armenia and Artsakh. It was initiated, developed, and implemented through a collaboration between the Synopsys Foundation, AGBU Silicon Valley Chapter, UEICT, Synopsys Armenia’s Educational Department, and AGBU Virtual University. Consisting of three courses, the program’s multimedia lessons were enhanced with modern remote learning solutions. During the 2023-2024 academic year, students from six schools participated in the program, and 64 of these students successfully completed the first course.
The event also featured a presentation of graduation projects by high school students who completed the first course of the STEP.ai artificial intelligence program, followed by a certificate awarding ceremony.
