Within the scope of Batumi International Conference - Georgia's
European Way, the Acting Minister of Education and Science of Georgia - Mikheil
Chkhenkeli held a meeting with the Director for International Cooperation,
Directorate–General for Research and Innovation of European Commission– Cristina
Russo, the Director-General for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement
Negotiations Christian Danielsson, the Director for Neighborhood East of
European Commission – Lawrence Meredith, and the Ambassador of the European
Union to Georgia – Jarosch Hermann.
During the meeting the discussion focused on the development of
pre-school education, as well as the development of general, higher and
vocational education. The sides emphasized the importance of
internationalization and creating various exchange programs at all levels of
education.
The Minister spoke about the planned and existing developments
in the field of vocational education. Mikheil Chkhenkeli, mentioned the plan of
establishing vocational colleges on the premises of higher education institutions,
as well as designing multiple exchange programs with the vocational educations
around the world, in conjunction with developing Agrarian college on the
premises of Telavi State University and enforcing the new draft law in the
Georgian constitution.
At the meeting, the sides also discussed the regional
initiatives of the European Commission, one of which is the opening of the
European School in Georgia. Together with the Georgian teenagers, students from
the Eastern Partnership countries will be able to receive education at the
European School. At this stage, the project is underway, with the school starting
to function from September 2018.
The European Commission emphasized that the education sector is
a priority for the European Commission agenda and consequently their
cooperation will continue with the Ministry of Education and Science of
Georgia.