The Erasmus+ VETfarm Project reached an inspiring milestone with its Final Conference and Physical Management Meeting, held on 13–14 October 2025 in Yerevan, Armenia. Hosted by the Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU) and Under Sun LLC, the event marked both the conclusion of the two-year VETfarm initiative and the 95th anniversary of ANAU.
A Collaborative Effort for Agricultural Transformation
Funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Vocational Education and Training (CB VET) programme, the VETfarm project — “VET Demonstration Partnership for Pistachio Farm in Armenia: Geospatial Approach” — united four partners:
- AgriWatch B.V. (Netherlands)
- Wirelessinfo (Czechia)
- Armenian National Agrarian University (Armenia)
- Under Sun LLC (Armenia)
Since its launch in December 2023, VETfarm has worked to strengthen vocational education in agriculture through geospatial technologies, digital learning tools, and demonstration farming.
Day 1: Field Visit to Under Sun Demonstration Farm
The event opened with a field visit to Under Sun’s demonstration pistachio farm in Artamet, Armavir Province. Participants observed the use of precision agriculture practices — a key aspect of the project — and discussed how the VETfarm educational modules have been applied in real-world farm management.
The visit offered participants a hands-on perspective on the integration of RS&GIS tools, data-driven crop monitoring, and sustainable land management strategies developed through VETfarm.
Day 2: Management Meeting and Academic Exchange at ANAU
On October 14, the final management meeting took place at ANAU, bringing together representatives from all partner institutions. Discussions focused on:
- Reviewing the status of deliverables and milestones,
- Evaluating project results,
- Planning the completion of the Evaluation Report (D6.1) and Dissemination Report (D7.2) due by November 2025.
The meeting also featured an engaging session with VETfarm intern students, who shared their learning experiences and contributions to project activities.
Following the management discussions, participants gathered for an academic presentation by Dr. Karel Charvát (Wirelessinfo) titled “Education in the Era of LLM (Large Language Models)”. The talk highlighted the transformative role of artificial intelligence in modern education and agricultural training.
Final Conference and ANAU’s 95th Anniversary Celebration
The afternoon concluded with the Final VETfarm Conference, held in the Grand Hall of ANAU, as part of the university’s 95th anniversary celebrations.
Dr. Naira Aloyan (ANAU) presented an overview of the VETfarm achievements, showcasing:
- The VETfarm Network and developed seven educational courses,
- Integration of RS&GIS tools into vocational curricula,
- The success of the Under Sun demonstration farm,
- The establishment of long-term partnerships between academia and industry.
The celebration brought together more than 370 participants from academia, government, and the private sector, including organizations such as Academy of Public Administration, Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center, Yerevan Beer CJSC, German International Cooperation Organization (GIZ), and Goris State University.
Reflections and the Road Ahead
The Yerevan event underscored the tangible impact of the VETfarm initiative — from empowering students with modern digital skills to fostering collaboration between European and Armenian agricultural institutions.
As the project nears completion in November 2025, partners expressed their commitment to continue strengthening vocational education, ensuring that VETfarm’s legacy lives on through sustainable teaching practices and innovative learning tools.
