The Minister of Education and Science, Dimitri Shashkini, paid an official visit to the United States.  In the frame of this visit, the Minister held meetings with the representatives of 31 leading higher educational institutions, including Georgia State University, Cornell University, Emory University, the University of Pittsburg, Florida International University, the University of District of Columbia, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Alabama.

The possibility of opening a Georgian branch of the US University was discussed at these meetings. The representatives of the US universities expressed their readiness and eagerness to actively participate in establishing Batumi Technological University. Technology, Information Technology, and Engineering will be the core fields of study at Batumi Technological University. The university will be provided with up to date American technical facilities, and its infrastructure will be furnished according to modern standards. The university will grant students with both B.A and M.A academic degrees as well as PH.Ds in priority fields.