On September 4, 2025, the STEP.ai (Science & Technology Educational Program) on Artificial Intelligence (AI) was accredited by the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports (MoESCS) as a three-year elective program offered in a group-study format.
The implementation of the STEP.ai educational program in high schools stems from the Memorandum of Understanding on the “Implementation of the STEP (Science and Technology Educational Program) in General Education and Secondary Vocational Institutions,” signed in October 2024 between the Minister of ESCS, Zhanna Andreasyan; Director of Synopsys Armenia, Hovik Musayelyan; Founding President of the AGBU Armenian Virtual College and President of Synopsys Armenia, Dr. Yervant Zorian; and Executive Director of UEICT, Eduard Musayelyan.
Starting from the 2025–2026 academic year, 15 high schools in Armenia will join the program, and students will learn the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The three-year program is designed to cover “Artificial Intelligence and Python” in the 10th grade, “Machine Learning” in the 11th grade, and “Natural Language Processing and Robotics” in the 12th grade.
The multimedia interactive lessons use a hybrid format, blending virtual and in-person teaching with the support of AGBU Armenian Virtual College’s (AVC) AI experts and on-site school teachers. The classes are conducted on the AGBU AVC online platform.
Emphasizing the importance of implementing such programs in Armenia, Dr. Yervant Zorian notes, “As part of a rapidly developing world, we must harness the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. It is, however, essential that we not only consume it but also become its creators.”
The STEP.ai program was launched in 2022 and is a joint effort by AGBU Silicon Valley, Union of Information and Communication Technology Employers (UEICT) of Armenia, Synopsys Foundation, Synopsys Armenia (Educational Department), and AGBU Armenian Virtual College (AVC).
The STEP.ai program aims to equip the new generation of students with the essential knowledge and skills they need to understand the fundamentals of AI, apply them in real-world contexts, and contribute to the advancement of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in Armenia.
