The overall goal of this project is to decrease the negative impact of aquaculture and fishery industry on the environment in Armenia and Ukraine through the designing and development of Master’s degree programs in aquaculture and fisheries, that is benchmarked to high-quality similar programs in Europe and responsive to national and regional needs, and strengthening the university-enterprise-research cooperation (concept “from education to ecology”).

AFISHE project will create a network between Armenia, Ukraine and EU partner countries in the fields of aquaculture and fisheries. This network will serve as a platform for the implementation of joint educational and research activities with the purpose of promoting the best ecology-based approaches and activities in these fields in line with UN SDG goals and EU Green Deal.

AFISHE project will strengthen university-enterprises cooperation resulting in the implementation of research-based and ecology-based operations and increasing operational effectiveness of aquaculture and fishery enterprises.

The main activities of the project are the creation and development of Master’s degree study programs with all supporting materials, the establishment of laboratories, and the training of teaching and non-teaching staff of Armenia and Ukraine.

The main results of the project are:

• 3 new and updated Master’s degree programs in Armenia and Ukraine,
• teaching and learning materials,
• modernized infrastructure and well-trained teaching and non-teaching staff,
• as well as a network, established between HEIs and the labor market, who will contribute to education and retraining of needed specialists in Armenia and Ukraine.

During the implementation of the project 44 teaching staff, 8 non-teaching staff, and each year about 25 Master’s students will benefit. Due to this project, a sustainable network will be created between Armenian, Ukrainian, EU universities and the labor market, which will act jointly on behalf of sustainable environment.

The broad goal will be achieved by developing and implementation of the following specific objectives in AM and UKR participating HEIs. The specific objectives are combined into 3 main groups:

1. Curricula designing and development

1.1. Designing and development of curricula and learning outcomes for a Master’s degree program in aquaculture and fisheries according to the requirements of business and modern society, the newest standards of HE and the NQF.

1.2. Designing and development of modules for the new designed Curricula according to worked out learning outcomes.

1.3. Designing and development of teaching and learning materials according to newly developed modules and Curricula.

2. Creation of a conducive academic environment, development of human resources

2.1. Establishment of labs with modern equipment (hardware) and software to build and modernize the academic environment as a platform for training and retraining, PhD, LLL.

2.2. Training of the staff on new modules, that are part of the Master’s degree curricula.

2.3. Training and education of the staff on how to operate in the new established laboratories.

3. Establishment of a sustainable network for joint activities in aquaculture and fisheries

3.1. Creation of sustainable network between participating universities as well as close links with local aquaculture and fishing businesses to implement joint activities and solve the current ecological issues.

3.2. To set the groundwork among participating universities for future implementation of Joint/Double Master’s Degree education in aquaculture and fishery.

WP1 – Project management and coordination

Project management carries out all activities related to the coordination and management of the Project. Management, coordination and administration tasks ensure that the project activities are delivered according to the plan and budget in each country and in project level. The main applicant – ANAU is the lead of this WP.

WP2 – Preparation

Benchmarking of curricula and studying programs, designing and development of new LOs and Modules on aquaculture and fishery will be implemented in the frame of WP2. This WP is a base for WP3 and especially for WP5.

WP3 – Development of human resources

This WP is devoted to strengthen and development oh human resources. Three types of trainings will be realized: a) training of teaching staff on new modules in EU universities; b) training of teaching staff on student-centered education, interactive methods and practice-based education at AM and UKR universities; c) training of non-teaching staff on how to operate the new established laboratories.

WP4 – Development of infrastructure

This WP is devoted to the development of laboratory infrastructure in AM and UKR universities. Purchasing, installation and usage of equipment are the main activities of WP4.

WP5 – Development of capacities

This WP is one of the biggest WPs of the project. The main activities and tasks are: creation and development of teaching and learning materials based on newly developed modules; approval of revised curricula by the universities and state authorities of AM and UKR, and accreditation/licensing of them piloting of new Master’s Degree program.

WP6 – Quality assurance

To ensure transparency of activities and role balance in the project, WP 5 is managed by another partner (SUA) rather than coordinator ANAU. QAT is responsible for internal quality assurance. In addition, external administrative and financial experts will contribute to the evaluation and ensuring the quality of the project.

WP7 – Impact and dissemination

All activities, mentioned in WP7 ensure the transparency of the program, the awareness of the final results and process to external and internal stakeholders. In the frame of WP7 a network between AM, UKR, EU universities and labor market will be created which will ensure the sustainability of the project.

Armenia

• Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia
• Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia
• “Sevani Ishkhan” CJSC

Ukraine

• Private enterprise FOP “Panchyshnyi Mykhailo Oleksiiovych”
• Private enterprise FOP “Vasylenko Roman Anatoliiovych”
• State Agency for Land Reclamation and Fisheries of Ukraine under the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine