President attends opening of Simulation Education Center at State Medical University

President Serzh Sargsyan today attended the opening of the Simulation Education Center at Yerevan State University after M. Heratsi. Accompanied by the RA Minister of Education and Science, Armen Ashotyan, the Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Health Care, Maternity and Childhood, Ara Babloyan and YSMU Rector Mikayel Narimanyan, Serzh Sargsyan toured the newly-opened center of N1 University Clinical Hospital, familiarized with the opportunities of the center founded as part of the reforms which have been implemented in Armenia’s higher education sector.

The Minister of Education and Science presented the implementation process of the projects being carried out by the Armenia Higher Education Competitive Innovation Fund and its spheres of activities. He noted that with the opening of the simulation center, Yerevan State Medical University is introducing a new method of medical education – simulation education. This kind of innovative method allows students to upgrade their practical skills and reduce the number of medical mistakes during their professional activities both at the stages of graduate and life-long education. The innovation project is generally directed at substantially improving the quality and effectiveness of medical education.

The simulation center involves four main directions – clinical skills, reanimation, surgery and midwifery, and gynecology. The center is equipped with necessary moulages, movers and computers installed with educational programs. The YSMU has reviewed the educational programs and has conducted retraining sessions. The full-fledged introduction of simulation education at the YSMU is planned to launch in February of 2015.

According to the executives, in case of necessity after the end of the project a new video course available to other beneficiaries via the university webpage will be designed. It is planned to organize special retraining courses for lecturers and employees of the center on a regular basis in order to involve the best international experience and ensure reforms yield the best results.