About Open Education

Open Education (OE) is the outreach arm of the American University of Armenia (AUA), catering to the educational needs of individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, as well as corporate organizations. OE offers a comprehensive range of courses and certificate programs, including language classes, exam and test preparation programs, and professional development courses. OE also designs tailored corporate programs and implements outreach initiatives. Additionally, the OE Test Center administers international tests for college and university admissions, as well as for gaining professional certifications. 

Through our centers in Yerevan, Stepanakert, Gyumri, Kapan, Goris, Yeghegnadzor, Dilijan, and Vanadzor, OE serves the needs of local communities. We believe that rural communities should have equal access to knowledge and skills and that they should be involved in university-public-private partnerships. To this end, through our regional centers, we expand opportunities for locals to thrive and contribute to the development of their communities.

At OE, we are committed to shaping the landscape for evolution and transformation in education. We take a holistic, fundamental approach to bolster AUA’s role in the development of the region.

OE is steadfast in its support of AUA’s mission to have an impact on students and the community as a center of academic excellence, innovation, inquiry, and diversity that contributes to the further development and advancement of Armenia, the region, and the world. 

OE seeks to serve the country by providing accessible and quality educational opportunities for learning new skills, acquiring advanced qualifications, and upgrading individual professional rankings. In alignment with AUA’s vision and its purpose of broader community outreach, OE ensures that the University’s academic programs, research projects, and student services are accessible to the communities in Armenia and Artsakh. Through its quality infrastructure and extensive regional centers, OE serves as the functional platform of the University in making a transformative impact on people’s social, economic, political, and intellectual capacities to meet the challenges of the globalized world.

Over 30 Years of Excellence

The history of AUA Open Education (OE), formerly known as AUA Extension, dates back to the University’s founding in 1992, one year after it opened its doors. In the early years, OE offered English language and TOEFL preparatory courses designed to meet the educational interests and needs of adult learners and potential applicants to the graduate programs available at AUA. At that time, Extension was the only one administering paper-based TOEFL tests. 

Parallel to the growth of University enrollment and expansion of campus facilities, OE grew to provide language courses for adults and kids, as well as professional development, test, and exam prep courses and testing services. OE also implements outreach programs. One such program is the “Sarkis Cabayan Small and Emerging Business Development Program in Armenian Provinces with Scholarships for Women” which was reactivated in September 2022. Other programs are the Turpanjian Rural Development Program (TRDP) and the Entrepreneurs in Health program (EIH).

With the launch of TRDP in 2006, OE became the training provider of the business entrepreneurship courses organized in Gyumri, Dilijan, Yeghegnadzor, and Stepanakert. Additionally, in support of lifelong learning and personal development and through the support of the Turpanjian Family Foundation, OE organized English language and professional development courses to address local needs in those rural communities. 

The next key component of OE is the Entrepreneurs in Health program (EIH). The Turpanjian College of Health Sciences (CHS)  launched the program in collaboration with the AUA TRDP. This project aims to improve access to quality health services in rural communities of Armenia and Artsakh by introducing advanced technologies and innovative approaches supporting healthcare professionals in developing private health practices.

In collaboration with the Center for Research in Applied Linguistics (CRAL) at AUA’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), AUA OE implements EEC Afterschool English Program. The EEC program offers English courses to all schoolchildren interested in learning English and improving their language skills. 

Another flagship program AUA OE has delivered for over a decade is the Women’s Entrepreneurship Program, realized with support from the Armenian International Women’s Association (AIWA). Currently, to support women entrepreneurs in Armenian provinces, OE delivers the “Sarkis Cabayan Small and Emerging Business Development Program in Armenian Provinces with Scholarships for Women.” The program is aimed at supporting businesses in rural areas, thus contributing to the economic growth of Armenian provinces. It is a six-month business training followed by six-month mentoring and coaching. Accepted students with sufficient English language proficiency immediately start with the business course, for the others, OE organizes free English courses. Special attention is given to women entrepreneurs, who will receive full scholarships for participating in the program.

Back in 2015, the Prometric Test Center (TC) was established on the premises of AUA, under the supervision of OE. Currently, our TC delivers different professional certification assessments (e.g. USMLE STEP 1 and STEP 2, CFA, SHRM), and international tests for college and university admissions (TOEFL iBT, GRE). Along with Prometric TC, OE TC delivers ACT, SAT, TOEFL iBT, IELTS, and many other tests.

OE also offered courses to government executives and promising professionals in the topics of management, leadership, and administration through the support of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).

In the third decade since its inception, OE has grown exponentially to become the leading training and testing center in Armenia. It provides language, professional development, test, and exam prep courses as well as implements outreach programs. The courses are tailored to meet the educational needs of individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions with job relevance and individual development. Additionally, OE provides testing services on behalf of various standardized tests for college admission and exams for international professional certification.