Armenia
The European Training Foundation (ETF) is supporting Armenia to develop education and training to boost employability, increase access to opportunities and promote social cohesion, complementing the work of the EU's External Action Service and upon request of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia.
Entered into force in 2021, the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement sets a framework for cooperation between the EU and Armenia on issues such as better living standards (more jobs and business opportunities), and more choice in education (better quality of education, with a focus on lifelong learning).
The EU’s first regional programme supporting education reforms and skills in the Eastern Partnership region was formally launched in Turin in May 2024. This EUR 2.5 million, three-year (2024–26) programme – implemented by the ETF – aims to enhance the efficiency, quality, equity, equality and relevance of education systems in five countries of the region, including Armenia.
Since 2010, Armenia has been actively engaged in the Torino Process, a participatory analysis of education and training systems and policies, contributing to the ongoing and future policy reforms in this field. We are supporting national reforms in work-based learning and career guidance, and in 2022 we carried out a survey of the Armenian career development support system. In 2022, we also launched a review of labour market policies in Armenia to better target our policy advice on education, reskilling/upskilling and employability.
We have also investigated new forms of employment in the country, such as platform work, focusing our research on the changing patterns of work triggered by digitalisation; and studied the future skill needs in the construction sector (see also the summary note) to understand how various drivers of change impact occupations and related skill needs in the sector, and how the education and training system is adapting to these changing needs.
Armenia actively participates in our regional initiatives and networks, such as the Forum for Quality Assurance in VET, the ETF Network for Excellence, the Governance, Learning, Action and Dialogue – GLAD – network, the Creating New Learning initiative.
Read our 2025 update on Key policy developments in education, training and employment (ETF, 2026). For a quick overview, see below:
2025 developments at a glance
🏛️ Legislation and policy reform: the Government Programme 2021-2026 prioritises evidence-based policy making across all sectors. It recognises education as the key to sustainable, inclusive development and societal well-being, aligning with the Armenian Transformation Strategy 2050, (adopted in 2020);
🤝 Strengthening EU-Armenia cooperation: in March 2025 the National Assembly of Armenia adopted the EU Integration Bill, initiating Armenia’s EU accession process. The new Strategic Agenda for the EU-Armenia Partnership, covering a wide range of areas, including democracy and rule of law, justice reform, human rights, socio-economic development, connectivity, energy security, digital transformation, trade diversification, and new cooperation on security and defence, was adopted in December 2025. Following the launch in 2024 of the Visa Liberalisation Dialogue, the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan was launched in November 2025.
🎓 Educational reforms: Progress was made in 2025 on the implementation of the State Programme for the Development of Education in the Republic of Armenia 2030. This education strategy prioritises quality, accessibility, and efficiency, emphasising lifelong learning, school-to-work transition, and aligning skills with labour market needs to reduce youth unemployment. Following the approval in 2023 of the 'Academic City' project - a major reform plan to reorganise higher education and research institutions, a revisited master plan was presented in 2025. In 2025 the new law on Higher Education and Science came into force, with a focus on aligning the system with international standards.
🏫 Vocational education and training (VET): Armenia has made significant progress in expanding access to VET. In 2025 the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports has progressed with the operationalisation of the new VET Law adopted in May 2024. The new law strengthens links with the labour market, promotes greater private sector collaboration, and prioritises work-based learning and dual education. It also introduces certification for learning outcomes, laying the foundation for micro-credentials.
💼 Employment and the labour market: in 2025 the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has progressed with the operationalisation of the Strategic Employment Programme 2025-2031, adopted in December 2024. The programme takes a comprehensive approach to human capital development, focusing on increasing employment, supporting vocational education, and targeting NEET youth, women, individuals in social benefit schemes, and residents of regional cities.
👦 👧 Youth in focus: the share of 15-29-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEETs) decreased from 25.9% in 2022 to 24.4% in 2023. In 2025, the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia approved the country’s first ever Law on Youth Policy, aiming at ensuring young people’s participation in decision-making.
💻 The digital transition: in Armenia, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 69.5% of total employment and play a vital role in the economy. However, many SME workers lack digital skills, hindering the country’s digital transformation. To address this challenge, the government is prioritising digital literacy, with the National Centre of Educational Technologies (NCET) leading initiatives to enhance digital education and skills development. Additionally, the TUMO Centre for Creative Technologies is making a substantial impact by providing free IT training. TUMO equips 12-18-year-olds with essential digital competencies and offers specialised web-based courses for 19-26-year-olds in fields such as robotics, 3D modelling, and graphic design. These efforts are helping to bridge the digital divide and prepare Armenia’s workforce for the future;
📈 PISA - In 2025 Armenia joined the PISA for the first time, marking a significant step in educational benchmarking.
Priorities for 2026
👉 Armenia is working towards the implementation of the new law on VET, prioritising the revision of the National Qualifications Framework, strengthening quality assurance mechanisms, and improving work-based learning arrangements.
👉 Armenia aims to implement the new Strategic Employment Programme 2025-2031, focusing on employment growth in regional cities, increasing opportunities for youth and women, and supporting individuals in social benefit schemes.