A teachers’ conference titled “The Role of Technological Innovations in Education” was held in Yerevan, bringing together officials, international partners and members of the education community to discuss the opportunities and challenges of using technology, AI and innovative solutions in the education system.

Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Araksia Svajyan said that Armenia’s general education system is among the regional leaders in technological education.

She noted that the introduction of technology in education brings both significant opportunities and certain risks.

“On the one hand, technologies ensure innovation, stimulate students’ creativity and contribute to the creation of new ideas and products. On the other hand, numerous studies show that they can negatively affect children’s health, motivation to learn and other processes. Therefore, it is very important to find the right balance and understand which technologies can be used for which age groups,” Svajyan said.

She emphasized that the goal of the conference is to present successful practices and share experience.

Svajyan said that many interesting projects are currently being implemented in general education schools, some of which evolve into startup prototypes and can become the basis for students’ future professional activities.

“We also organized today’s conference in an expo format so that school representatives could learn about existing programs in general education and students’ initiatives. It is truly inspiring to see children’s interest and creativity,” she said.

Addressing the use of technology, Svajyan stressed that its introduction into schools is inevitable in modern education.

“No matter how interestingly a teacher presents the material, technological tools, videos, laboratory experiments and interactive methods can still make learning more effective and engaging,” she said.

At the same time, the deputy minister emphasized the importance of clearly defining the limits of artificial intelligence use, noting that while it can create major opportunities, it may also pose risks if students become fully dependent on such tools.

Yerevan State University (YSU) Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, in his remarks, said that since its founding, YSU has been an important center of knowledge, science and educational progress.

He noted that today the rapid transformation of the education system is driven by technology, including artificial intelligence, digital learning platforms, interactive content and personalized approaches.

“Today, many universities around the world are developing regulations and approaches to ensure that artificial intelligence tools serve higher-quality education,” Hovhannisyan said.

He emphasized that technology cannot replace the human presence of a teacher, their professional responsibility and ability to inspire, but when used correctly, it can expand teachers’ capabilities and make learning more effective.

Silvia Mestroni, UNICEF Representative ad interim in Armenia, noted that the teachers’ conference has already become an important annual platform for discussing urgent issues in the education sector.

She said that the relationship between technology and education is currently one of the most widely debated topics in the field worldwide.

“Technological progress is advancing very rapidly, and this can sometimes create challenges for teachers. However, many teachers have turned this challenge into an opportunity and have become pioneers in the effective use of technology,” Mestroni said.

She emphasized that discussions on the use of technology in education should not be limited to devices or platforms alone.

“The quality of education also depends on pedagogical methodology, the learning environment, policies and, most importantly, the teacher,” she said.

Mestroni stressed that technology alone cannot solve all existing problems in education systems and may, in some cases, even deepen existing gaps. She noted that access to technology is not equal across communities in different countries, which can also affect educational opportunities.

Within the framework of the conference, students from several schools presented innovative projects of their own, which could in the future serve as a basis for new and useful technological solutions.