Lusik Vardanyan, the coordinator of the DeSIRe Project, participated as a plenary session speaker at the Two-Day International Conference on “Embracing the Forte of SDGs in English Language and Literature: A Cognitive Perspective,” held on 28–29 March 2024 and organized by the Department of English and Foreign Languages, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM Nagar, Kattankulathur.

She delivered a presentation entitled “Empowering Sustainable Futures in Higher Education Institutions of Armenia.” In her talk, she highlighted the increasing importance of soft skills in contemporary academic and professional settings. Despite their growing relevance to well-rounded education, many higher education institutions in Armenia and Georgia still rely on traditional teaching approaches that prioritize subject-specific knowledge.

This creates a gap between the soft skills students acquire at universities and the competencies demanded by today’s labor markets. The Erasmus+ DeSIRe project, coordinated by Vardanyan, addresses this challenge by modernizing teaching methodologies, strengthening soft-skill-based learning, and aligning academic programs with the needs of the 21st-century workforce. Through these initiatives, the project aims to enhance students’ employability, career readiness, and entrepreneurial mindset.

Moreover, the project contributes to the 4th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG4) by promoting inclusive and equitable quality education, supporting lifelong learning, and fostering the development of essential skills for active global citizenship.