Work is actively ongoing to promote talented young individuals and provide various support activities for students. The state scholarship program continues, and starting from 2024, the scholarship amount will be doubled to 300 GEL per month for 5,000 successful students, compared to the previous 150 GEL per month for 2,500 students.
The process of debt cancellation for students with suspended status is underway. This unprecedented decision affects approximately 33,000 students from public and private universities in Georgia, resulting in the cancellation of debts totaling up to 35 million GEL," stated Giorgi Amilakhvari, the nominee for the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia, during the joint session of the Committees on Science and Youth Affairs, Culture, Sports, Health Protection, and Social Issues in Parliament.
Discussing higher education, Giorgi Amilakhvari outlined steps for its development. He mentioned that budgetary financing for higher education will gradually increase, and efforts will continue to develop a new financing model aimed at sustaining educational institutions and aligning the educational process with learning outcomes.
According to Minister Amilakhvari, quality assurance mechanisms in higher education in Georgia will fully comply with the standards and guidelines of the European Area of Higher Education (ENQA). Additionally, a unified concept for evaluating scientific research activities and doctoral programs will be developed.
In terms of internationalizing higher education, efforts will be made to facilitate international accreditation of higher education programs and to develop/implement joint and double-quality higher education programs in collaboration with foreign institutions. Furthermore, initiatives will be undertaken to increase access to education abroad, including expanding scholarship programs and preparing Georgia for associate membership in the Erasmus+ program. A "Road Map" for these endeavors will be completed in 2024.
Moreover, Giorgi Amilakhvari emphasized the importance of increasing access to higher education and outlined initiatives to support university development. "Continued financing for individuals enrolled in teacher training programs and the launch of specialized teacher training programs aim to strengthen the country's teaching resources," he stated.
Efforts to increase access to higher education will continue through programs supporting education for residents of occupied territories, villages near the dividing line, ethnic minorities, and student convicts. Additionally, the regulatory framework for distance education will be developed.
Infrastructure development remains a priority, with ongoing funding for higher education institutions to enhance the learning environment.
Furthermore, Giorgi Amilakhvari also provided updates on Kutaisi International University, stating that developments in the university campus, infrastructure, and new academic buildings are underway. The university is expected to graduate its first batch of students in 2024. The construction of the hadron therapy center at the university is progressing, expected to significantly contribute to Georgia's scientific potential.