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A hands-on applied learning initiative where vocational education students learn about smart agriculture systems not just by studying, but by doing
What does the future of farming look like? At the Community Renewal Lab at Ararat Regional State College in Artashat, students are not waiting to find out – they are building it. Rather than studying automation and sustainability as abstract concepts, students design and construct real working systems: automated greenhouses, solar-powered irrigation and 3D digital models built using augmented and virtual reality tools. They write code using Arduino programming, assemble sensors and use their problem-solving skills to refine their ideas when things go wrong.
In a region where agriculture is central to the economy, the Community Renewal Lab’s practice is bridging the gap between traditional industry and modern technology, equipping young people with the digital, engineering and green skills they need to transform one of Armenia’s most important sectors.
“This programme helped me understand how technology can solve real problems and gave me confidence to build my own projects.” Student, Ararat Regional State College, Armenia
Read on to find out why this initiative was selected as one of the nine finalists of the New Learning Award 2026.
The project
Armenia’s Ararat region is an agricultural heartland that needs a technologically-skilled workforce to modernise the industry for the 21st century demands. Yet many young people leave vocational education and training (VET) without the practical, digital and renewable energy skills to help make this happen. Addressing the gap between classroom learning and labour market reality is a challenge the region cannot afford to ignore.
The Community Renewal Lab was created to close that gap. Rather than studying automation, sustainability and digital design as separate subjects, students blend them into meaningful, hands-on learning experiences – designing and building smart greenhouse systems complete with automated temperature and humidity sensors, a solar-powered drip irrigation system, and a fully realised 3D digital model created using AR/VR tools.
Students work in teams, writing code and testing how their systems respond under different conditions. When something doesn’t work, they analyse why and try again, developing a problem-solving mindset that engineers and innovators rely on. Instructors guide the process as technical mentors rather than traditional teachers, supporting students as they navigate genuinely complex, real-world challenges. The programme only started in October but the foundations are already strong, targeting digital, green, STEAM, entrepreneurial and life key competences.
Why this practice stands out
The ETF has selected this initiative as one of the nine finalists for the New Learning Award 2026. Here is why this learning practice stands out:
- Real engineering, not simulation: Students develop technical confidence and problem-solving skills that directly match labour market needs
- A future-ready curriculum: By combining renewable energy, Arduino programming, and AR/VR 3D modelling in a single practice, students gain hands-on experience across digital, green, STEAM and entrepreneurial key competences. Instructors report higher engagement levels and improved problem-solving abilities
- Technology meets tradition: In a region where agriculture is the major sector, the Community Renewal Lab shows how cutting-edge tools and technologies can revitalise the industry making it relevant and viable for the next generation
- Designed to scale: With a project-based model that can be replicated and ambitions to collaborate with industry partners, this practice has the potential to transform VET across the country
“This initiative transforms learning into a practical and engaging experience, preparing students for real-world challenges.” Teacher, Ararat Regional State College, Armenia
The future
The Community Renewal Lab is only just beginning and the foundations for something much larger are firmly laid.
Future plans include expanding the practice to more students, integrating Internet of Things technology and building partnerships with local agricultural communities and industry to test solutions in real environments. New AR/VR modules are in development and the team are sharing the practice with other vocational colleges across Armenia.
In a country where agriculture and technology must work hand in hand, the Community Renewal Lab is showing exactly how that partnership can be built, one student project at a time.
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- Back to: ETF New Learning Award 2026
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