Dilijan Education Cluster Executive Summary Dilijan Educational Cluster (DEC) is a strategic program that will have a transformational effect on the education system in Armenia and become a regional center for teaching excellence and educational innovation $340M of capital investment over 5 years, from Education is a key sector to develop DEC to be launched in September 2018 which $47M will be financed by the Armenia • Co-locating private and the public schools government • Armenia 2020 and 2030 initiatives identified with enhanced infrastructures will allow the education as one of the key focus sectors implementation of effective reforms, for Armenia to unlock productivity and spur transforming Armenian education Donors and Government, economic growth partners, 293 47 • DEC will be launched in September 2018 by 14% • DEC is a pilot program to implement incorporating an Armenian-language public 86% modern yet proven education methods and high school with innovative curriculum on practices such as best-in-class teacher UWC Dilijan premises to test the public- selection and an interdisciplinary approach private partnership and joint governance $340M model • In parallel, planning, design and Dilijan is a natural place to develop construction work for the larger Cluster will educational innovation be undertaken by the founding partners, • DEC is an important component of a which will culminate in new education massive redevelopment program facilities opening doors to over 3,000 • A $300M endowment fund is targeted to undertaken by the Dilijan Development students in 2018-2021 finance operations continuously and Fund that focuses on tourism, urban sustainably in the long term redevelopment, education and the healthcare sectors • Over 3,000 students in K-12, arts, • Dilijan is already a regional education hub technical colleges, and graduate with a number of new projects launched in programs the last decade such as the Central Bank • Open and inclusive, governed by an Research and Training Center, UWC Dilijan, umbrella Coordination Council Ayb School, TUMO Center, American University of Armenia graduate programs • Public-private partnership model supported by special legislation 2 Vision of the Dilijan Educational Cluster We envisage the Cluster as pioneering high quality education at all levels and in fields of Shared Educational Shared Coordinated Special regulation knowledge and practice across STEM, music, benefits: synergies endowment governance framework art and the humanities. The Cluster will become an open platform for sharing expertise between all the components Art Art Technical of the cluster, as well as a methodological Academy school* colleges 50 High center for the design and implementation of 5 programs students 300 School educational innovations. • IT students 150 400 students • Construction Technical colleges, teachers college and students • Engineering • Healthcare 2 year graduate programs are an integral part of • Tourism DEC to help fill a critical gap in demand for Primary programs qualified young specialists in the most School Middle dynamic sectors in Armenia and the larger Kinder- region, including IT, construction, garten 500 School engineering, and healthcare. students 250 Graduate children 500 programs students • 2 year programs • 4 departments Partners Music 1,000 Sports students school* School* 300 UWC Teachers students 500 college students Music 400 College students (200 currently) 50 Operating students since 2014 Shared infrastructure: library, performing arts center, community center, dining halls and cafes, dorms, urban development * Extracurricular classes will be taken by students who attend cluster programs as well as children from other Dilijan schools 3 DEC Map UWC Dormitory Fine Arts Center New & Staff Music School & College Technical Pedestrian Football Housing Dance School College Bridges Field Park Performing Arts Middle School Sports Community Parking Church Elementary School Center & Dining Dormitory Facility Center & Garage Kindergarten Hall & Staff Housing Library Middle Graduate Teachers School Programs Сollege 4 Dilijan Vision Dilijan is a unique town with a rich multi-cultural heritage set amongst a spectacular natural scenery • Situated within the Dilijan National Park, halfway between Yerevan and Tbilisi, Dilijan is one of the most important resorts in Armenia favored by artists, composers, and filmmakers for its beauty, spring waters, and unique microclimate • In 2016, Dilijan was included in UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities We believe that Dilijan has the potential to become the Davos of the Caucasus, a dynamic center of education, culture and recreation • RVVZ and philanthropist Gagik Adibekyan set up a special non-profit urban development vehicle, Dilijan Development Fund (DDF), and committed to invest $50 million into the town’s roads, embankment, lake, sports facilities, and other infrastructure GEORGIA • DDF has already invested $15M. The redevelopment program will be augmented through dedicated fundraising campaign targeting total commitments of $200M • DDF aims to improve the quality of urban infrastructure and services, preserve the cultural and historical heritage, and stimulate the active Dilijan engagement of the urban community in the educational, cultural and AZERBAIJAN social life of the city ARMENIA • Additionally, a number of partner organizations, including the Central Yerevan Bank of Armenia, have invested substantially in the development of TURKEY Dilijan as the Armenian city of knowledge, culture and recreation • Asian Development Bank is contemplating investments of up to $50M in Dilijan’s transportation system and public utilities IRAN • The Armenian government has identified Dilijan as a priority area for development. A special law “On the City of Dilijan” was adopted in 2015 to foster private investment and economic development 5 Dilijan’s Recent Private Educational Initiatives Several innovative educational organizations have been established in Dilijan in the last decade such as UWC Dilijan, TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, Ayb School (Dilijan Central School), AUA and the Central Bank Training and Research Center An international co-educational boarding Ayb Foundation, in collaboration with the American University of Armenia launched school, UWC Dilijan opened its doors to its first Central Bank of Armenia, opened the Dilijan the Master of Science in Economics (MSE) students in August 2014. Central School as a basic school (with its program in 2013 in cooperation with the elementary and middle components) in • The IDeA Foundation together with over 50 Research and Training Centre of the CBA September 2013. partners and donors have already invested in Dilijan. • 118 students (27 from CBA staff families, $140M in construction and over $10M in • The Central Bank of Armenia has 91 from the local community) scholarship expenses as of November 2016 invested about $90M* in Dilijan research • Currently home to 198 students from 72 • 4,500 sqm of learning environment in and educational projects since 2011 newly constructed, fully equipped countries • Central Bank Training and Research buildings • State-of-the-art learning spaces and Center in Dilijan hosts 40% of MSE environmentally friendly facilities • Araratian Baccalaureate new educational courses platform was introduced • Many of the 2016-alumni have gone on to • Many full time staff at the Central Bank of study at leading universities worldwide such • Financed by CBA, fully operated by Ayb Armenia are enrolled in the AUA MSE as Yale, Columbia, UCL, Duke, Queen Mary Foundation program University of London, Warwick, Berkley, The University of Edinburgh, and many more * Оценка IDeA, открытые данные отсутствуют 6 Present and Future of Education in Dilijan Existing public Recent private Dilijan Educational schools educational Cluster initiatives 7 DEC is a Platform for Innovations in Education DEC will become a laboratory for replicating proven global innovative education methodologies in Armenia The Cluster will serve as a platform for sharing Integrating the public educational system with the DEC The innovations will begin in September educational expertise both internally within DEC can only be realized through a public-private 2018 in an Armenian-language pilot high and externally with other educational governance model to allow for greater autonomy in school with an innovative curriculum, to be organizations in Armenia and in the region. teacher selection and development, curriculum, and located at the UWC Dilijan premises. management structure World’s Best Education Systems Improving the quality of teachers Implementing innovative Creating is the key factor behind improving educational approaches an ecosystem quality of education with tangible • Individualised educational programs • Sharing best practice and ideas within results seen everywhere from Finland focused on students, their talents and teacher community and beyond to Korea to Massachusetts needs • Creating interdisciplinary courses and • Rigorous selection of candidates, • Emphasis on experiential / project-based integrating them into the educational targeting top-tier graduates from learning process Armenia and abroad • Interdisciplinary approach • Achieving economy of scale • Implementing quality training programs Holistic view of the individual and his/her • Creating a unique international and for teachers; regular assessments • development inspirational educational environment Providing access to leading international