Rima Khachatryan

Rima Khachatryan was born into the family of survivors of the Armenian genocide. Her mother was from Van, and her father was from Alashkert. Her parents met in an orphanage of the Near East Relief in Alexandropol.[12][13] From 1955 to 1960 she studied at the Department of Biochemistry of the Armenian State Pedagogical University, and was qualified as a teacher of Chemistry and Biology. In 1965 she graduated from the Armenian National Agrarian University,[14][15] and in 1969 received Diploma in Chemistry from the School of Pedagogy of the National Polytechnic University of Armenia.[16][17]

From September 1, 1965, till her death in 2020 - for 55 years, Rima Khachatryan taught pharmaceutical, inorganic, analytical, and organic chemistry at the Yerevan Basic Medical College (in 2002–2013 – Head of the Department of Pharmaceutics).[18][19] “She believed that the purpose of education should not be reduced to the acquisition of a certain set of skills, but rather the realization of one's potential and the ability to use those skills in the real life”, Armenian media reported in 2020.[20]

In 1987, as a finalist of the pan-USSR socialist emulation in pedagogy, she was awarded with an Honorary Certificate for exceptional achievements by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Council of Ministers, All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions and All-Union Leninist Young Communist League.[21]

In 2007–2009 she authored and published two textbooks for the students of medical colleges, namely the two-volume "Inorganic Chemistry" and "Analytical Chemistry". For about one-and-a-half decades both textbooks have been the core learning resources for seven state medical colleges around the country.[22]

“Their [the textbooks’] main advantage is the consistency of the instructional design and the learner-centred approach to presenting the content. Being able to apply the theoretical knowledge through the application and practice activities, the student is given a broader opportunity for self-learning", News.am stated in 2020 calling them "Textbooks that are never outdated".[23]

In 2013 she led the efforts of introducing in medical colleges of Armenia the new educational program for “Pharmaceutics” discipline aimed at learning outcomes.[24][25] “The innovative educational methodology developed by Rima Khachatryan caused a wide resonance in Armenian society and attracted substantial attention of the professional pedagogical community. More than that, it was about transforming the edu­cational experience itself.”[26]

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan awards Rima Khachatryan with Anania Shirakatsi medal, May 27, 2009

In 1969-2020, for five decades she led the trade union of the Medical College, which media recorded as "a record leadership experience in itself".[27] She considered "two fundamental elements – schools and civil society – to be major topics needing attention to encourage nurse education system".[28]

During the First Nagorno-Karabakh War for the first time in Armenia she introduced the principle of “the trade union treasury as a cash register for mutual support"[29][30] in the Yerevan Medical College to honor those who served and to raise money for the College's veteran students and their families.

She also significantly contributed to the elaboration of the RA Law on Medical Assistance and Service to the Population[31] adopted in 1996, where for the first time ever "issues regarding legal regulation of nursing, assessment of the workload of mid-level practitioners and fair pay were touched upon"[32][33]

A merit-based scholarship was established in 2020 in memory of Mrs. Rima Khachatryan[34][35] for scholars and research fellows of the Executive Coaching and Training Institute (ECTI). It was set up to enhance lifelong learning and self-development. The fellowships are awarded by the ECTI Board of Trustees. A total of ten scholarships are awarded annually.[36]

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan awards Rima Khachatryan with the badge of Honored Pedagogue, May 28, 2017

• "Honoured Pedagogue of Armenia" Honorary Title[37] (Decree of the President of Armenia No. NH-388-A, dated May 17, 2017);
• "Anania Shirakatsi" Medal (Decree of the President of Armenia No. NH-123-A, dated May 26, 2009)
• Commemorative Medal of the Prime Minister of Armenia (Resolution of the RA Prime Minister No. 291-A, dated March 27, 2018);
• Gold Medal of the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia (Order of the RA Minister of Education and Science No. 503-A, dated September 29, 2005);
• Medal "Veteran of Labour" (Resolution of the Presidency of the Supreme Council (Armenia) No. 1378, dated March 22, 1984);
• Medal of the General Confederation of Trade Unions (Resolution of the Executive Committee of the Confederation No. 10-14, dated June 21, 2017).

• The most natural photo-portrait of Rima Khachatryan was made by Soviet Armenian photographer Armenak Hovhannisyan in his private studio in 1982, which later appeared on the cover of her book “Untold Story” published by the NewMag.[38]
• The portrait of Rima Khachatryan in a traditional guise of the Armenian mother with an icon of the Virgin and the Child in her hands was painted by Zurab Modebadze [39] (Tempera, 2012).
• The sculpture "On a Step Above Heaven" by David Minasyan (Դավիթ Մինասյան) was placed on the Nork Hills in Yerevan, Armenia (Marble, 2020).
• Ricardo Sanz (pintor) produced her portrait from photographs of different years (Canvas, 2020).

• Rima Khachatryan: Untold Story. Yerevan, NewMag. 2020. ISBN 978-9939-884-04-2.
• Rima Khachatryan, Munich: The Terminus. Yerevan, NewMag. 2021. ISBN 978-9939-884-12-7.
• Rima Khachatryan: The Daughter of an Émigré. London, Freestyle Print. 2021, ISBN 978-1-7399652-0-4

• Khachatryan, Rima (2007). Inorganic Chemistry: Textbook for medical colleges, Volume I, Yerevan. Lucky Print. ISBN 978-99941-71-19-4.
• Khachatryan, Rima (2007). Inorganic Chemistry: Textbook for medical colleges, Volume II. Lucky Print. ISBN 978-99941-71-19-4.
• Khachatryan, Rima (2009). Analytical Chemistry: Textbook for medical colleges. Legal Plus. ISBN 978-9939-815-19-0.

• Rima Khachatryan: “Munich: The Terminus” on NewMag
• Rima Khachatryan: Biography
• ‘Rima Khachatryan’ scholarships
• RIMA KHACHATRYAN: The Daughter of an Émigré on NewMag
• RIMA KHACHATRYAN: The Daughter of an Émigré Kindle Edition on Amazon.com
• RIMA KHACHATRYAN: The Daughter of an Émigré on Kobo.com