Paris, France – September 4, 2024
On September 2, the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) officially presented Armenia’s experience in implementing advanced AI education in public schools at the Digital Learning Week at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, the annual flagship event on digital learning and the digital transformation of education.
This global gathering brought together experts from governments, research institutions such as Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, along with Ministers of Education of different countries to discuss the various ways the world is trying to integrate AI in education and implement AI education both on national level and through industry leaders.
In her presentation, Suzanna Shamakhyan showcased the Generation AI High School Project, a nationwide educational pipeline program launched in Armenia by FAST in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia. She also shared with this international community of educators and policymakers the robust public-private partnership framework that ensures the program’s sustainability and scalability across the country.
“We have been part of the global dialogue on digital transformation in education and AI education for over six years now. Today we were proud to see that our vision for scaling programs that nurture AI creators, empowering them to lead in the future of technology rather than simply preparing AI-literate youth is also becoming part of the global agenda. The Generation AI program demonstrates that Armenia is at the forefront of shaping advanced AI school programs and has a big potential of leading innovation in education.”, said Suzanna Shamakhyan, Vice President of Strategic Programming, the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology.
“The Permanent Delegation of Armenia to UNESCO marks this as a significant opportunity to share Armenia’s progress in AI education and to serve as a knowledge partner in the ongoing global discussions shaping the future of learning.”, said Aram Hakobyan, Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Armenia to UNESCO.
FAST aims to inspire other nations to adopt innovative approaches in education and to create global collaborations, aligning with UNESCO’s mission to promote education, science, and culture for a sustainable future.
ABOUT FAST & GENERATION AI HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT
Founded in 2017, the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) is a non-profit
organization dedicated to the advancement of science and technology in Armenia. By focusing on the core pillars of education, research, and commercialization, FAST develops and pilots programs with the potential for long-term, sustainable impact on the science, technology, and innovation ecosystem in Armenia. To date, the foundation has implemented 26 programs impacting more than 15,000 beneficiaries.
The Generation AI High School Project is a multi-layer and multi-year educational program implemented by FAST in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Republic of Armenia. and industry partners. The program aims to create an educational and career pipeline of Artificial Intelligence researchers and innovators, starting at the high school level. The Generation AI program is implemented in seven regions and 15 schools across Armenia with around 500 students involved. The program is planned to be accessible to more than 80% of public school students by 2026.
