As part of the Erasmus+ Capacity Building project “Development of Soft Skills in Line with the Requirements of the 21st-Century Labor Market in the Universities of Armenia and Georgia” (DeSIRe), a Capacity Building Training for External Stakeholders was held on November 4, 2025, at VSU.

The event brought together representatives of educational institutions and various organizations in Vanadzor, with the aim of enhancing awareness on soft skills development and sharing the best practices achieved within the project.
The training was officially opened by Lusik Vardanyan, Coordinator of the DeSIRe Project, who welcomed the participants and emphasized the growing importance of soft skills in today’s rapidly changing labor market. In her speech, Mrs. Vardanyan presented the main objectives, ongoing activities, and key accomplishments of the DeSIRe Project, highlighting its contribution to aligning higher education with the evolving needs of employers and society.

During the session, VSU academic staff members who had previously participated in the training programs at European partner universities shared their experiences and presented the structure and content of the Modules and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) developed within the project.

The training continued in an interactive format. Participants took part in an “Icebreaker” activity designed to encourage communication and collaboration, followed by a group practical task demonstrating the relevance and practical application of soft skills in professional environments.

The event concluded with an open discussion, where participants reflected on the importance of integrating soft skills into both educational programs and workplace settings. The session served as a meaningful platform for strengthening cooperation between academia and external stakeholders and contributed to promoting the sustainable impact of the DeSIRe Project in Armenia.