- LISS24

Learn-Innovate-Sell-Succeed LISS24

Project aims at increasing B2B Sales and innovation capacity of Armenian and Georgian universities, especially in the field of engineering in the new digital era

The Project No

101128310 - LISS24 - ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE

Coordinated by

TURKU UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

List of Consortium Members

TURUN AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU OY

UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNICA DE VALÈNCIA

FACHHOCHSCHULE WIENER NEUSTADT GMBH

KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLAN

NATIONAL POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA

GEORGIAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIA

ARMENIAN NATIONAL AGRARIAN UNIVERSITY

AKAKI TSERETELI STATE UNIVERSITY

SHOTA RUSTAVELI STATE UNIVERSITY

BENDAHARA SEAMED REGIONAL OPEN L CENTER SEAMOLECI-DEPDIKNAS

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF GEORGIA

The methodology of the project is built on three core elements

B2B Sales courses in all partner universities ended by the assessment through sales competitions

Effective learning of innovation competences and creation of potential new products and services

Sales Labs launched to foster understanding about salesperson’s and customer’s behavior as well as accelerate new university-business cooperation in education and research

Project News

B2B is already in universities: Polytechnic and partners are training a new generation of sales professionals

Diary of the Armenian work phase of the LISS24 project. Day 3: “Sales Labs” in universities and B2B inter-university competition The 3rd day of the event was hosted by the National Agrarian University of Armenia. The discussions were dedicated to the technical issues of creating “Sales Labs” in the universities participating in the project. Installation, acquisition of equipment and software packages, Application features and integration of laboratories into the educational process, Involvement of specialists from the company producing hardware and software in the implementation process. Ruben Aghgashyan, LISS24 HAPU coordinator, reported that despite the set deadline of November 2025, the Polytechnic is ready to launch this innovative laboratory in the coming September. The laboratory is a so-called “Emotion Meter”. The devices record changes in the main emotional parameters of negotiators: anger, contempt, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, surprise and engagement. Special AI models, analyzing them, evaluate the process and provide recommendations for achieving success. Gor Martirosyan, responsible for the 3rd HAPU work package at LISS24. “The launch of the B2B sales laboratory will contribute to the improvement of soft skills of our university students, the multiplication of business contacts and communication skills. The 2 competitions held these days were of a pilot nature. The laboratory will solve the issue of more professional preparation of both lecturers and students for future competitions.” The 2nd of the competitions concerned B2B sales. 3 students each from the Armenian National University of Applied Sciences and the Armenian State University of Applied Sciences participated, who, according to the idea, as EDUX sales specialists, were trying to sell the “product” - the company's multidisciplinary training - to the “Inecobank” Open Joint Stock Company. The jury consisted of representatives of the aforementioned companies. Mariam Ghandilyan from the Polytechnic took 2nd place, the first and third places were taken by the students of the Armenian State University of Applied Sciences. It is noteworthy that the specialists of “Inecobank” OJSC made a specific offer to participate in the internship program only to one student, a polytechnic student. Arina Manukyan, who didn't even make it to the prize pool.

🇦🇲 LISS24 Armenia Onsite Visit: Innovation, Sales, and Partnerships in Action 🇪🇺

Between June 9–12, the LISS24 Erasmus+ CBHE project consortium convened in Yerevan, hosted by our outstanding Armenian partner institutions: National Polytechnic University of Armenia (NPUA) National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia (NUACA) Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU) These four days were full of strategic planning, project deliverables, Sales & Innovation Competitions, and inspiring engagement with students and industry stakeholders. Highlights included among others... Opening remarks, and important discussions, with Sargis Asatryants, Varazdat Hovhannisyan, Hrachya Zakoyan, and Vardges Yedoyan. Workshop on university–industry collaboration, featuring f.ex. HackTech. Enthusiastic participation in student competitions in B2B sales and innovative business idea development A robust roundtable on Sales Lab setup and deployment, led by Alexander Eigner and Timo Holopainen Site visits to labs and centres that represent Armenia’s academic and technical strengths 🙏 A heartfelt thank-you to project's partners and other friends of LISS24: Ruben Aghgashyan, Artur Altunyan, Varazdat Hovhannisyan Lida Aghajanyan, Lilit Ghazaryan, Tatevik Yedoyan PHD, PMP®, Mariam Movsisyan, Lusine Mnatsakanyan, Angelina Hovhannisyan, Kalipse Sedrakyan, Gevick D.., Tatevik H., Alexander Eigner, Huaan Fan, Pedro Fuentes, Eduard Demetrashvili, Khatuna Khabadze and all other partners, the students & support staff who made this a truly impactful experience. The LISS24 project is co-funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education programme. We continue to strengthen innovation and B2B sales capacity across higher education in Armenia and Georgia. On behalf of project coordinator (Turku University of Applied Sciences / Sales and B2B Business (Research Group, Turku University of Applied Sciences), Dr. Arto Kuuluvainen, Dr. Timo Holopainen & Mr. Harri Lappalainen. hashtag#ErasmusPlus hashtag#LISS24 hashtag#B2BSales hashtag#Innovation hashtag#SalesEducation hashtag#HigherEducation hashtag#CapacityBuilding hashtag#Armenia

Launched with the slogan "Learn, Innovate, Sell, Succeed", LISS24 is a new approach to engineering education. The project unites European and Caucasian universities, promoting the development of practical and creative skills

Diary of the Armenian work phase of the LISS24 project. Day 1: European experience in overcoming the sales challenge and promoting B2B sales capabilities “Learn – Innovate – Sell – Succeed” (LISS24) is an Erasmus+ project aimed at developing B2B sales and innovation capabilities of graduates of engineering universities in Armenia and Georgia. The 4-day event is attended by: Delegates from Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS) in Finland, Wiener Neustadt University of Applied Sciences (Austria), Stockholm Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden), Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain), 3 Georgian universities: Akaki Tsereteli State University, Georgian Technical University and Shota Rustaveli State University of Batumi. The national coordinator of the project is the “National Polytechnic University of Armenia” Foundation. From our country, the project also includes: National Agrarian University of Armenia, National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia. On the European side, the project is coordinated by Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS) in Finland, whose representative said that 15 years ago they had a challenge: they were providing business-to-business (B2B) sales education, which was not very effective. Harry Lapalainen, Turku University of Applied Sciences, TUAS Finland. “It was mainly a lecture-based course, and we knew that we needed to somehow update the educational system. We needed innovation. We started to apply our method in Finland and Austria, but that was not enough. We had a dream. And now, with the support of Erasmus, we are able to widely disseminate our experience.” The idea, holding and participants of the event were warmly welcomed by Sargis Asatryants, Vice-Rector for Internationalization and Reforms of the Armenian National University Foundation, emphasizing that LISS24 is truly unique, focused not only on learning in the traditional sense, but also on promoting innovation. Sargis Asatryants, Vice-Rector for Internationalization and Reforms of the Armenian National University Foundation. “Encouraging creative abilities and developing the mindset that students need to succeed in the modern world. Emphasis on sales components is especially important in many academic environments. We talk about innovation and entrepreneurship, but we often neglect one important skill: the ability to present.” The representative of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports thanked the European Commission, the Erasmus program, all national and international partners, thanks to whose spirit of cooperation and dedication such a promising program became possible. He also emphasized that the department is ready to contribute to the successful implementation of this initiative. Angelina Hovhannisyan, Head of the External Relations Department of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports “LISS24 encompasses the entire chain of empowerment, from knowledge acquisition to creativity, from entrepreneurship to sustainable success. This is an initiative that embodies our national priorities and our aspiration to create a dynamic, knowledge-based society in Armenia. Let this project become an inspiration for future cooperation and a cornerstone for creating a strong, innovative and internationally connected academic landscape in Armenia and all member states.” The first day’s program featured presentations on the topic “Experience of University-Industry B2B Focused Cooperation” by industrial partners from Finland and Georgia, as well as participating universities. The project coordinator from the Polytechnic University positively assessed the course of the work session. Ruben Aghgashyan, Head of the Digital Technologies Research Center of the Armenian National University: “Any product is created by engineering personnel. However, in today’s world, it is not enough to just create, you also need to be able to sell it. And since the focus of this European project is on developing the capabilities of students with engineering education, it is natural "The coordination of the event is entrusted to the main technological university of Armenia, the Polytechnic." In the coming days, various components of the event will also be held at partner universities.

“Innovative Business Idea Generation” Course Launched at ANAU within Erasmus+ LISS24 Project

Interesting developments are underway at the Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU). Following successful launches at the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia (NUACA) and the National Polytechnic University of Armenia (NPUA), the “Innovative Business Idea Generation” course has officially begun at ANAU as of April 23, within the framework of the Erasmus+ LISS24 project. The course aims to equip students with the skills needed to generate innovative business ideas. It is delivered by members of the Erasmus+ LISS24 project team at ANAU, alongside leading professionals from the field. Classes are conducted using an interactive, practice-oriented approach that encourages active participation. Through hands-on exercises and analytical problem-solving tasks, participants gain up-to-date knowledge and practical experience in identifying and developing innovative business ventures.

Celebrating Innovation at NPUA: Final Stage of the LISS24 Business Idea Competition

On May 2, 2025, the National Polytechnic University of Armenia proudly hosted the final stage of the “Innovative Business Ideas” Course and Competition within the framework of the Erasmus+ LISS24 “Learn, Innovate, Sell, Succeed” project. The event showcased the creative potential of students and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme learners who had completed the intensive “Generation of Innovative Ideas” course. Led by Lida Aghajanyan, Associate Professor at the Chair of Technological Management, and Gor Martirosyan, Head of the NPUA Career Center, the course equipped 23 participants with essential skills in: ✅ Creative thinking ✅ Business impact assessment ✅ Business model development ✅ Market research & idea feasibility ✅ Pitching techniques Throughout the course, students engaged in practical group work—refining their ideas through market analysis, creative design, and feasibility testing—preparing them to pitch their projects during the final competition. A total of 12 teams participated, including 2 out-of-competition groups representing the IB Diploma Programme at the NPUA Yerevan High School. Each team presented its idea to a panel of 8 external experts, evaluated based on pre-defined criteria including innovation, research, business model quality, presentation, and teamwork. Winning Projects 1st Place: “Braille Board” (Vahagn Zakaryan, Melik Khalatyan, Lusine Sargsyan): A Bluetooth-enabled tactile device empowering visually impaired users to input text and navigate smartphones independently. 2nd Place: “Smart Cup” (Vanik Tigranyan): A smart drinking cup using sensor technology to support individuals with visual impairments. 3rd Place: “HayConnect” (Nina Avetyan, Roman Margaryan): An app designed to reconnect users with Armenian heritage through cultural, community, and informational content. All course participants will receive official certificates of participation, while the top three teams will receive monetary awards and go on to represent National Polytechnic University of Armenia at the Republican Competition. We thank all mentors, participants, and evaluators who contributed to making this event a success. Special appreciation to the LISS24 consortium for fostering innovation, entrepreneurial thinking, and international collaboration.

Launch of course on "B2B Sales" at the NUACA

On March 31, 2025, within the framework of the Erasmus+ LISS24 project, the “B2B Sales” course was launched at the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia. The duration of the course is 3 weeks. It will be concluded with an in-house competition. The lectures are leaded by members of the NUACA team of the Erasmus+ LISS24 project, as well as by specialists with experience in B2B sales. The courses are conducted with an interactive approach, which ensures the active involvement of the participants. Through practical exercises, role-playing games, and solving analytical problems, participants acquire knowledge and skills in the field of B2B sales.

The project March Management Meeting

A planned periodic Management Meeting of LISS24 project was held on-line, on March 28, 2025. The meeting was opened by Project Coordinator Arto Kuuluvainen with a brief welcome and the meeting objectives’ introduction. The focus areas of the agenda included tracking progress across all work packages, readiness for upcoming milestones and deliverables, preparation for the June onsite meeting in Armenia, and reinforcing dissemination and administrative consistency. It was a good chance for the management team members to share updates, address any challenges, and conclude that, in general, the project is advancing successfully. The Meeting was finalized by a wrap-up of the Project Coordinator offering a comprehensive view of the project's achievements and future progress focused, first, on ensuring the project nearest progress reports (milestones and deliverables), regular dissemination and communication activity of all partners, as well as on the objectives coming Armenia Onsite Visit – June 8–13, 2025.

Ceremony of awarding certificates and prizes to participants of the “Generation of Innovative Ideas” training course

On April 4, 2025, within the framework of the Erasmus+ “Learn, Innovate, Sell, Succeed” (Erasmus+ LISS24) project, the ceremony of awarding certificates to participants of the “Generation of Innovative Ideas” training course and cash prizes to the teams that won the competition held on March 25 of this year was held. Mr. Paylak Karapetyan, Head of the Staff of the NUACA, and Mr. Varazdat Hovhannisyan, NUACA local coordinator of the LISS24 project, Head of the Center for Quality Assurance and Development of Education, delivered welcoming speeches. Mr. Karapetyan noted the importance of students’ participation in such competitions, as they contribute to the development of students’ innovative thinking and creative abilities. 23 students who regularly participated in the training course were awarded certificates of participation. Representatives of the three winning teams in the competition briefly presented their business ideas. The 1st prize of 150 thousand drams was awarded to the “Flinxy Marketing Platform/Application” business idea, the authors of which are 3rd year students of the “Management and Technology” faculty Nelly Zalyan and Vachagan Vardanyan. The 2nd prize of 120 thousand drams was awarded to the “Ablelife Platform” business idea, the authors of which are 2nd year student of the “Architecture” faculty Dayana Khachatryan, 2nd year student of the “Management and Technology” faculty Hasmik Ghzroyan, 3rd year students of the “Urban Economy and Ecology” faculty Hesu Aghabekyan and Eva Hayrapetyan. The 3rd prize of 80,000 AMD was awarded to the “Blazer” business idea, the authors of which are: 1st year students of the Faculty of “Management and Technology” Hayk Hyusisyan and Arman Poghosyan, 1st year student of the Faculty of “Urban Economy and Ecology” Arusyak Ghazaryan, 1st year student of the Faculty of “Architecture” Liana Petrosyan. After a brief presentation of the business ideas, each team was awarded a “Certificate of Monetary Award”. Closing remarks were made by the Vice-Rector for International Relations, Mr. Vardkes Yedoyan, Dean of the Faculty of “Management and Technology” Ms. Marine Grigoryan, Head of the Department of “Economics, Law and Governance” Ms. Tatevik Yedoyan.