Within the framework of the ERASMUS + Institutional Development Project, the Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Nunu Mitskevichi held a meeting with the rectors of regional universities. The event was held at Akaki Tsereteli State University in Kutaisi, where a permanent conference of regional universities was established, and a memorandum was signed.

The memorandum was signed by the rectors of 11 regional universities, including: Akaki Tsereteli State University, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, Batumi Teaching University, Batumi State Maritime Academy, Gori State Teaching University, Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University, Caucasus University. Rectors of Samtskhe-Javakheti State University, Kutaisi University, Kutaisi International University, Shota Meskhia Zugdidi State Teaching University.

As part of the ERASMUS + Institutional Development Project - The Role of Universities in Regional Development, the rectors of the regional universities discussed the details of the memorandum of cooperation, as well as the challenges of specific regions, and outlined future plans for even closer cooperation.

It should be noted that the ERASMUS + Institutional Development Project aims to increase the role of Georgia's regional higher education institutions in the development of the regions, to modernize their mission and strategic development plan, as well as to strengthen cooperation between universities and local authorities, taking into account the specificities of each region.

The project involves Georgian regional universities and 4 European partners from Spain, Austria, the Czech Republic and Lithuania. The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia and the National Center for Education Quality Development are also involved in the project.