At the start of the 2026-2027 academic year, three leading state universities of Armenia have launched new courses on digital citizenship education (DCE). The university representatives have developed courses based on the experience and resources gained through participation in the Council of Europe’s European Forums on Digital Citizenship Education held in Strasbourg in May 2025 and May 2026.
Brusov State University has launched an elective DCE course for fourth-year students of the Faculty of Intercultural Communication and Political Science, developed by Senior Lecturer Stella Martirosyan. The course draws on Council of Europe expertise and educational materials and incorporates practical tasks, discussions, case studies and analysis of real-life situations. A dedicated Padlet learning space provides students with access to course resources, materials and opportunities for peer collaboration.
I wanted to bring the ideas and experience I gained at the Forum back to the classroom and turn them into a practical learning experience for our students. Through this course, I hope to help students better understand relevant aspects of the digital environment and make informed and responsible choices online.
– Ms. Stella Martirosyan, Senior Lecturer at Brusov State University.
At Khachatur Abovyan Armenian State Pedagogical University, the course is offered by the Faculty of Primary Education as a mandatory four-credit course for fourth-year students. Developed by PhD, Associate Professor Ms. Lilit Mkrtchyan, it prepares future teachers to promote responsible, critical and informed engagement with digital technology.
Commenting on the launch of the course at State Pedagogical University, Ms. Mkrtchyan, who is also the DCE Promoter for Armenia, said:
Digital citizenship education is essential for preparing future teachers to guide young people through the opportunities and challenges of the digital environment. By making this a mandatory course, we are giving digital citizenship a meaningful place in teacher education.
Yerevan State University also introduced the 6-credit courses as mandatory in the Faculty of Journalism. The courses are aimed at explaining the transformations in the media system resulting from the development of digital technologies, as well as at the development of professional approaches to assessing, identifying and meeting the needs of online audiences. Students also have the opportunity to conduct research on a number of topics, such as exploring the impact of digital platforms on online media audiences, mechanisms of constructing and reproducing political myths on digital platforms and challenges of algorithmic governance in Armenia. Ms. Anahit Menemshyan, Deputy Dean and Head of Office of the Faculty of Journalism at Yerevan State University noted:
This academic year, Bachelor’s capstone projects and Master’s theses addressing relevant aspects of digital communication and digital citizenship are being developed, alongside research initiatives undertaken by members of the Faculty’s teaching staff. In the process, the researchers are expected to develop the ability to work critically with digital information, interpret evidence, identify patterns, and evaluate the social and professional consequences of technological change. These are essential competences for all the professionals working in today’s media environment.
Taken together, these examples illustrate how digital citizenship education can be integrated into different academic fields and through different models.
The introduction of DCE courses at three of Armenia’s biggest state universities is an important contribution to the implementation of the Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)10 of the Committee of Ministers on developing and promoting digital citizenship education. It demonstrates how the Recommendation and Council of Europe expertise can inform concrete educational practices in member states. The initiatives also mark a significant development in strengthening DCE in Armenia. They reflect the growing efforts of the higher education system to equip students with skills that respond to changing academic, professional, and social demands while preparing future educators and professionals for informed civic participation in Armenia.
