YEREVAN. – Armenia's Education Minister Armen Ashotyan on Friday met with his Swedish counterpart Helene Hellmark Knutsson on the margins of the Ministerial Summit of the European Higher Education Area and the Fourth Bologna Policy Forum (photo).

Minister Ashotyan thanked his counterpart for participation in the forum, adding that the event is important both for the future of the Bologna process and for the development of bilateral relations.

The Minister presented the system of higher education in Armenia, in particular the principles of inter-state universities and university autonomy. According to him, after joining the Bologna process, Armenia launched eforms, including in relation to the quality of education. As a result, the number of private universities reduced twice, and the process of international accreditation received new impetus.

Helene Hellmark Knutsson noted importance of the internationalization of universities, stressing importance of the program of interuniversity cooperation and student exchange. She provided information on the involvement of women and men in education, particularly in research and development programs.

The ministers discussed a draft agreement on education cooperation and research between Armenia and Sweden.