Nunu Mitskevichi, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, participated in an online discussion organized by the analytical organization GeoCase on the  following topic: "Opportunities and Challenges of Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Online Education".

In her speech, Nunu Mitskevichi summarized the results of the spring semester distance learning and spoke about the challenges that have become an opportunity.

Nunu Mitskevichi: "As you know, to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the learning process has been completely switched to a remote mode. The global pandemic was a new challenge in almost every field, especially in education. Nevertheless, the education system and higher education institutions managed to adapt to the current situation, adopted the distance learning regime in a timely and effective manner,  and used all the resources offered by the Ministry.”

Moreover, the Deputy Minister noted that since all universities faced one common challenge, the process was conducted through mutual assistance and sharing of experience between all universities. In addition, universities were recommended to follow the e-learning and quality assurance guidelines developed by the Association of European Higher Education Quality Assurance Agencies (ENQA). An e-learning support document has also been specially created.

Nunu Mitskevichi also noted that the training courses, which include a practical component and a laboratory work, will be conducted in an intensive mode once students return to universities. Some universities started this process in the spring, as soon as the pandemic situation stabilized, taking into account the relevant recommendations of the Ministry of Health.

The Deputy Minister noted that the goal of the Ministry is to offer high quality education in the field of higher education to both Georgian and foreign citizens.  According to her, the experience gained during the pandemic will significantly enhance the distance component in training.

In her summary, the Deputy minister thanked the rectors, administrators, professors, and students at the universities for their great efforts, who were able to instantly rearrange and adapt to distance learning.

Rector of Tbilisi State University, Giorgi Sharvashidze, Rector of Sokhumi State University, Zurab Khonelidze, Rector of the University of Business and Technology, Nino Enukidze, Rector of Caucasus University, Kakha Shengelia also took part in the online discussion organized by the analytical organization GeoCase.