Georgian Education Minister says Kutaisi Int’l University to become educational, research hub

Georgian Education Minister Giorgi Amilakhvari on Friday told the graduation ceremony at the recently launched Kutaisi International University in the western Imereti region the University would become educational and research hub throughout the wider region.

Amilakhvari claimed the University would become a “multidisciplinary facility”, which would be “equally accessible to both Georgian and foreign students”.

The Minister noted the KIU had “all conditions” including educational and scientific spaces, auditoriums, laboratories equipped with ultra modern technologies, as well as conference halls, libraries, dormitories both for students and professors, clubs and sports infrastructure for this purpose.

The main priority of our Government is education and science. Accordingly, we are actively working to raise the standard of higher education in Georgia to that of top-tier European universities, as quickly as possible, in terms of infrastructure, academic and content”, he said.

On directions of [Georgian] Prime Minister [Irakli Kobakhidze], an ambitious plan is being developed and will soon be presented to the public, that involves establishment of a completely renewed higher education system within the next four years. The KIU will play a decisive and important role in this process”, the official added.

He also thanked Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the founder of the University, and his family for their “unprecedented charity”.

Amilakhvari also said the University had “all comforts that the world's best universities have” including the “latest infrastructure, highly qualified Georgian and foreign professors and teachers, modern training and research programmes”.

The commencement of the entry of first students at the University was attended by executive, legislative and local Government representatives, both Georgian and foreign university professors and teachers, students and their family members, as well as rectors from a number of higher educational institutions from the country and other high ranking guests.