The International Center for Education summarized its 2023 activities in an event inaugurated by Georgia's Education and Science Minister, Giorgi Amilakhvari. 

Opening the event, Minister Amilakhvari welcomed the participants, celebrating Georgia's achievement of candidate status and highlighting the pivotal role of the International Education Center in supporting students since its inception in 2014 by Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. 

In his address, the minister underscored the value of providing students with opportunities for international study and expressed gratitude to the embassies partnered with the International Center for Education for their longstanding, fruitful collaboration. 

During the ceremony, Giorgi Amilakhvari awarded special commendations to the French, American, Italian, Chinese, and Hungarian embassies in Georgia for their collaborative efforts throughout 2023. These partnerships have enabled the International Education Center to offer a variety of successful academic programs. 

Nunu Mitskevichi, the center's executive director, also spoke, sharing significant updates. Nunu  Mitskevichi announced that in the initial phase of the foreign study scholarship competition, Mitskevichi points would be granted to applicants from socially vulnerable backgrounds, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, those from communities adjacent to the occupied territories, and residents of highland settlements. 

A new scholarship initiative was unveiled, promising additional financial support to Georgian "Stipendium Hungaricum" scholars. Specifically, the Ministry of Education and Science will provide a yearly state grant of 2,500 euros to complement the Hungarian government's funding. In return, recipients are expected to work in Georgia for three years post-graduation, in roles relevant to their overseas qualifications. 

Moreover, the event also marked the first presentation of the Barbara Kipiani prize to the top-performing 2023 graduate, Anna Brzezovskaya. This newly established honor will be an annual award recognizing the scholarship recipient with the most distinguished academic record. 

For the first time, the International Center of Education has partnered with various state and private employment agencies to bolster the career development and job placement of graduates. 

Deputy Ministers of Education and Science, Gela Geladze and Nodar Papukashvili, diplomats, scholars, and the 2023 graduate cohort were among the attendees. 

Founded in 2014 by Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili's directive, the International Education Center facilitates state-funded scholarships for Georgian citizens to pursue studies at top global universities. These scholarships support master's and doctoral candidates, as well as public servants seeking to enhance their expertise overseas. 

From 2014 to 2023, student funding exceeded 42 million GEL. In 2023 alone, over 200 Georgians were financially supported for education and specialization abroad. 

The upcoming academic year will see the Center support Georgian students at prestigious institutions including Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, Oxford, Cambridge, the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, San Diego State University, the New York Academy of Arts, the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, Duke, Georgetown, the Munich University of Technology, Sian Pau, Sorbonne, ESCP Business School, the Polytechnic Institute of Milan, Sichuan University, Corvinus University of Budapest, the University of Debrecen, and more.