Practical Training and Curriculum Development for Construction and Monument Restoration at NUACA College
1. Introduction and Context
Armenia is at a pivotal moment in reforming its Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, following the recent enactment of new legislation promoting work-based learning. The country faces a critical shortage of skilled construction and restoration specialists, with a widening gap between education programs and labor market needs.
NUACA College is a vocational education institution specializing in construction, architecture, and design, with 14 study directions and 515 students. Founded in 1921, it has a long history of training skilled professionals for Armenia’s construction sector. The number of students is increasing every year although the college faces significant challenges, with aging facilities in need of urgent rehabilitation and outdated courses that require modernization to meet current industry demands.
This project will serve as a pilot initiative, laying the groundwork for integrating dual education and apprenticeships into the national VET framework and to introduce innovative courses in monuments preservation.
2. Project Objectives
General Objective
To establish a work-based learning model at NUACA College by enhancing practical training in construction and developing a new curriculum for monument restoration in alignment with Armenia’s new VET law. The project aims to improve the quality of the workforce, ensuring that rehabilitation and restoration projects in Armenia can meet normal quality standards and adhere to best practices in conservation and construction.
Specific Objectives
❖ Enhance the Practical Component of the existing Interior Construction and Finishing Works program by engaging students in the rehabilitation of their own learning spaces, ensuring hands-on experience under the supervision of local and international experts.
❖ Develop a Specialized Curriculum for Monument Preservation, incorporating international best practices, and submit it for approval to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport.
❖ Strengthen Institutional Capacity by training educators and establishing partnerships with industry professionals, ensuring the long-term sustainability of work-based learning in construction and restoration.
3. Implementation Approach
3.1
Work-Based Learning Model Integration
The project will be aligned with Armenia’s new VET framework, integrating the following agreements:
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to define the commitment between NUACA and SIREH.
• Cooperation Agreements between NUACA and construction firms to facilitate internships and apprenticeships
• Employment Agreements for selected students, allowing them to work under professional supervision.
• Internship Contracts ensuring structured, hands-on learning experiences.
3.2 Practical Rehabilitation of College Facilities
Some indispensable rehabilitation works will be implemented under the supervision of experts from NUACA that will take care of the project design, the collection of all the necessary agreements, procurement and works supervision. These will include the rehabilitation of the roof of the first building on the right of the entrance and the installation of new windows in the first floor of the same building.
The project will also provide the necessaries tools and materials to allow students to learn by doing and to restore their own classrooms under expert supervision, using traditional and modern materials. This hands-on project will enhance their employability by equipping them with practical skills and in the same time will improve the condition of the classrooms, creating a more decent environment for the students. Three international specialists will be invited to introduce the students to advanced restoration techniques.
3.3 Curriculum Development for Monument Preservation
• A team of local and foreign experts will develop a new curriculum for monument restorers (stony materials experts), integrating historical techniques with modern conservation methods.
• The curriculum will be submitted for government approval and serve as a model for future VET programs in Armenia.
3.4
Didactic Materials & Communication
• During the project implementation some activities will be documented, and the information will be organized in training manuals, useful for the future teaching activities.
• SIREH will ensure project coordination, reporting, and compliance with the new VET policy.
4. Expected Outcomes
1. Implementation of work-based learning at NUACA, integrating practical training into the curriculum.
2. Enhanced hands-on training for students, equipping them with real-world construction skills.
3. A new, government-approved curriculum for monument preservation, ensuring long-term workforce development in heritage conservation and sustainability.
4. Increased visibility of Armenia’s vocational education reforms, demonstrating the effectiveness of dual education models.
5. Sustainability & Long-Term Impact
• Institutional Integration: The new curriculum will be embedded in NUACA’s official programs, establishing a long-term work-based learning framework.
• Stronger industry collaboration, Cooperation agreements will ensure structured apprenticeships and improving employment prospects for graduates.
• Scalability & Growth: The initiative will serve as a foundation for expanding work-based learning into additional vocational specialties.
6. Monitoring & Evaluation
• Quarterly Reports: NUACA and SIREH will oversee progress and compliance with workbased learning agreements.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Regular feedback sessions with industry partners, students, and faculty.
• Final Assessment: Evaluation of student skill development and employer satisfaction.
7. Conclusion
This project represents a strategic first-year investment in modernizing vocational education in Armenia. By combining hands-on learning with expert-led curriculum development, it will establish NUACA as a leader in VET innovation and set a model for future workforce training in Armenia’s construction and heritage conservation sectors
8. Budget Summary
The actual situation of the building. Urgent repairs are needed for the roof and for the windows.