From November 9 to 12, Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) named after Mkhitar Heratsi is hosting an expert panel formed to carry out the institutional accreditation process.
In July 2026, the University submitted an application for institutional accreditation to the National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance (ANQA) of the Republic of Armenia. Subsequently, ANQA assembled an expert panel consisting of both local and international specialists.
The expert panel is led by Hayk Kocharyan—Head of the Department of Arabic Studies at Yerevan State University, Candidate of Historical Sciences, and Associate Professor. The group includes Narek Kostanyan—a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Organization of Service Business at the Armenian State University of Economics and a PhD in Economics; as well as Naira Hunanyan, a lecturer in Histology, Embryology, and Cytology at the Mkhitar Gosh Armenian-Russian International University, and an Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Senior Researcher at the Orbeli Institute of Physiology and Candidate of Biological Sciences; Rolf Heusser, Chair of the Scientific Council of the German accreditation agency AHPGS, coordinator of the Swiss national support program for young researchers (doctoral level), and lecturer at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) and the University of Zurich; Professor Irine Pkhakadze, Head of the Department of Medicine at Akaki Tsereteli State University, Director of the English-language medical education program, Doctor of Medical Sciences; and Khachik Avetisyan, a student majoring in Management at the French University in Armenia.
The work of the expert panel is coordinated by Varduhi Gyulazyan, Head of the Institutional and Program Accreditation Division at ANQA (National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance).
During the working visit, the experts will hold meetings with the Rector and Vice-Rectors of YSMU, representatives of the Board of Trustees, Faculty Deans and heads of departments, local and international students, the academic staff, the Head of the Educational Programs Division, heads of various units, the working group responsible for the self-analysis, and the Center for Quality Assurance and Enhancement of Education.
The agenda includes professional meetings and discussions with the heads, academic staff, and students of the “Public Health,” “General Medicine,” and “Dentistry” educational programs.
At the conclusion of the visit, the members of the expert panel will prepare a report analyzing the University’s activities based on the 10 criteria for institutional accreditation. Subsequently, the ANQA Accreditation Committee, having reviewed the documentation package and held meetings with representatives of the University and experts, will make a decision regarding the granting of accreditation.
It should be noted that in 2015, the ANQA Accreditation Committee granted institutional accreditation to the Medical University for a period of 4 years, and in 2020, it granted institutional accreditation for a period of 6 years.
