YEREVAN, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The fourth Bologna Policy Forum and the 2015 ministerial meeting of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) kicked off Wednesday here in the capital of Armenia.
The two-day forum discusses and sets new standards for European education, and makes important decisions for millions of students and thousands of higher education institutions.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan stressed in his speech at the opening ceremony that higher education is the foundation for building a civilized society.
"We have a very sensitive attitude towards knowledge and education, because these are the only values that inspired our nation in the most difficult periods of history," Sargsyan said.
He said that Armenia is proud of the fact that the international community deeply appreciates the contribution of Armenian creative brains in the development of the global educational sphere.
In conclusion, the president said that the Bologna Secretariat is a great opportunity to apply international experience in the resolution of problems in Armenia's education.
The forum draws together more than 500 participants from Armenia and other countries, including 350 foreign delegations and 20 representatives on the level of ministers.
A declaration of the Bologna Policy Forum and a Yerevan communique of the Conference of the EHEA Ministerial Summit are expected to be signed at the forum.
Yerevan joined the Bologna process in 2005 and has been the ninth city to adopt the Secretariat of the pan-European educational organization for three years.
