While addressing the deputies, Mikheil Chkhenkeli, the candidate running for the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, spoke about the important steps taken towards the internationalization of higher education and the innovations that are planned in terms of financing this significant field.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli: "We are currently working on a new model to finance higher education, which involves determining the amount of basic funding for state higher education institutions using a formula based on the ‘enumerable criteria’.

In order to support the regional universities, an indicator of targeted specialization will be provided, which means financing the priority fields identified in the region. At the same time, special approaches will be taken into account when financing higher education institutions geared towards art."

Mikheil Chkhenkeli also spoke about the results achieved in the field of internationalization of higher education and noted that the Georgian-French University had been established and the first students had already been admitted. Moreover, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, the South Caucasus Branch of the European Public Law Organization was established at TSU to facilitate educational and research projects. Academic Mobility Support Programs: ERASMUS +, Fulbright, DAAD were also extended.

Notably, for the first time in the region, TSU educational programs have been accredited by the American Engineering and Technology Accreditation Board (ABET).