Georgian Technical University is 100 years old. The first jubilee event was opened by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili together with the Minister of Education and Science, Mikheil Chkhenkeli.

In connection with the 100^th anniversary, owing to the decision of the Prime Minister, the full rehabilitation of the VI building of the Georgian Technical University will begin this year. As a result, an academic infrastructure in line with modern standards will be created.

Within the framework of the event, the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia. Mikheil Chkhenkeli addressed the audience, congratulated the academic community of the Georgian Technical University on the anniversary and wished them success in their future endeavours.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli: "Congratulations on the 100^th anniversary of the Georgian Technical University! A century ago, today - on January 16 - the Georgian Technical University was founded. This was an event of great importance in the history of university education in Georgia.

It is well known to the public that the establishment of the Georgian Technical University was preceded by a large-scale preparatory activity, which was headed by a small group of Georgian professionals with the engineering education. It was through their selfless work and great efforts that the case was crowned with success.

In 1918, the country's eminent scientists were able to open the first Georgian national education centre - Tbilisi State University, which on January 16, 1922, established the Polytechnic Faculty, which later became a university. Thus, the Georgian Technical University became the first centre of engineering education not only in Georgia, but also in the South Caucasus region. Since its inception, the University has made a huge contribution to the development of engineering and technical sciences and the training of national engineering staff.

I would like to emphasize that the University with 100 years of tradition and great experience is celebrating its anniversary with an ambitious modernization project, which aims to maintain and strengthen the position of a leading institution in engineering and technology not only in Georgia but also in the region.

It should be noted that the Georgian Technical University has the longest history among engineering high schools - starting with the construction of one of the boldest ideas in the history of Georgian technical thinking - the Enguri hydropower plant - and launching the reflector of the Georgian space object into space.

The high scientific results of the University have been achieved in collaboration with successful world-renowned institutes of the relevant profile (CERN, KEK, Fermilab and many others).

I would especially like to highlight the recent achievements of the Georgian Technical University - moving to a new stage of cooperation with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), which, together with experienced scientists, opens new opportunities for our young people. "

Moreover, in his speech, Mikheil Chkhenkeli also spoke about the results achieved in terms of science development and noted that last year he participated in a historic event - the signing of the new EU framework for research and innovation in Georgia Horizon Europe International Association Agreement. According to the Minister, this is an extremely important step towards the return of our country to the European family.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli emphasized that the representatives of Georgia in the competitions of the Horizon Europe program have the same conditions and rights as the scientists of the EU countries. The Georgian scientific community already has access to the competitions announced within the framework of the research and innovation program with a budget of 95.5 billion euros.

According to the Minister, the National Office of Horizon Europe has been established in Georgia, which has an important mission - to provide mediation and coordinated work between the EU and Georgian higher education institutions and research institutes. A network of university scientific grant offices has also been set up, which will gradually cover all universities.

In connection with the 100^th anniversary, the office of Horizon Europe was established at the Georgian Technical University. The Minister noted that new opportunities for scientific cooperation of professors and research institutes of the Georgian Technical University by participating in the competitions of the Horizon Europe program are opened together with the scientific community of Georgia.

The Minister also spoke about the policy of the Ministry in terms of internationalization of higher education and highlighted the recent achievements of the Georgian Technical University, in particular, the fruitful cooperation with the French-Georgian University, within which two-degree educational programs were launched. In addition, the University is preparing 6 programs to receive accreditation from the American Engineering and Technology Accreditation Board (ABET).

Mikheil Chkhenkeli also touched upon the close connection between higher and vocational education levels and noted that the Niko Nikoladze Agrarian College will be opened soon in cooperation with the Georgian Technical University.

The Minister stressed that the Georgian Technical University also supports school education. The winner of the 7^th Millennium Innovation Competition 2021 and the first place winner became a team of students from the Department of Engineering Physics, Faculty of Informatics and Management Systems. The youngsters will travel to the United States to participate at the NASA Space Center University curriculum and a summer camp.

Furthermore, due to the 100^th anniversary of its founding, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II awarded the Georgian Technical University with the highest award of the Georgian Orthodox Church - the Golden Order of St. George for its outstanding contribution to the development of education and science and the revival of the country.

Within the framework of the first jubilee event of the Georgian Technical University, the guests placed a capsule for future students in the square near the administrative building, which will be opened in 2072, on the 150^th anniversary. The message conveys future wishes.

The event also featured works by university students and staff, archival materials, and modelled sketches of a plan to arrange a recreational area adjacent to the GTU. In addition, the presentation of the GTU Hydraulic Engineering and Hydraulics Research Laboratory was held, which is currently under construction in Digomi. 

Rector of the Technical University Davit Gurgenidze addressed the audience and thanked the guests for coming.

The first jubilee event of the Georgian Technical University was attended by representatives of the executive and legislative branches of government, the diplomatic corps, and the Georgian scientific community.