ՕՏԱՐԵՐԿՐԱՑԻ ՈՒՍԱՆՈՂՆԵՐԻ ՆԱԽԱՊԱՏՐԱՍՏԱԿԱՆ ԿՐԹՈՒԹՅԱՆ ԴԵՐԸ ԵՐԵՎԱՆԻ ՄԽԻԹԱՐ ՀԵՐԱՑՈՒ ԱՆՎԱՆ ՊԵՏԱԿԱՆ ԲԺՇԿԱԿԱՆ ՀԱՄԱԼՍԱՐԱՆՈՒՄ. ԲԱԶՄԱՄՅԱ ՓՈՐՁԻ ՎԵՐԼՈՒԾՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ

<jats:p>The article presents an analysis of a decade-long period in preparatory education of international students at the Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU), along with a comparative overview of students survey results. Between the 2014–2015 and 2023–2024 academic years, 1,015 international students from 28 countries completed their studies at YSMU’s preparatory department, with an average annual enrollment of 95.1 students. The majority of students came from Iran and then, Jordan, admitted under intergovernmental agreements. Traditionally, a significant part of students consisted of members of the Armenian diaspora from Syria, Russia, Georgia, Lebanon, Iraq, and other countries. During this period, several substantial reforms were introduced into the educational process. In 2017, the “Regulation on Preparatory Education for International Students” was developed, followed by the implementation of an algorithm for its realization in the 2018–2019 academic year, aimed at improving the procedures for assessing current and final academic performances. The curricula became more flexible, and main subject programs - biology, chemistry, and physics - were significantly revised in accordance with Armenian school standards and international best practices. The effectiveness of these reforms was evaluated based on the academic performance indicators. The lowest rate, 71.7%, was recorded in the 2017–2018 academic year, coinciding with the initial implementation of the new regulation. Due to the implementation of new regulation and updated curricula, in subsequent years the academic performance has steadily improved, reaching a peak of 92.1% in the 2023–2024 academic year. To identify challenges in preparatory education and objectively assess the impact of reforms, two student surveys were conducted in 2018 and 2024. Comparative analysis of the results revealed improved student perceptions across all main subjects, further confirming the success of the implemented changes alongside rising academic performance. Thus, preparatory education for international students at YSMU represents an important component of the global educational system, helping to bridge knowledge gaps essential for admission to the Medical University. The reforms carried out over the years, along with the introduction of a student feedback mechanism, have significantly enhanced the effectiveness of the training process, although continued improvement remains a priority.</jats:p>