In frames of cooperation with Millennium Challenge Georgia Fund (MCG), the experts from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) held a seminar on a topic “Criteria and Procedures for ABET Accreditation” at the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University on October 18.
TSU Deputy Rector Marine Chitashvili hosted the seminar. Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Tamar Sanikidze, the representatives of the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement and higher educational institutions, TSU academic staff, representatives of the Quality Assurance Service and educational experts attended the event.
TSU Deputy Rector Marine Chitashvili said that “there are two reasons why this meeting is so important for the Tbilisi State University. First, we are getting an opportunity to develop new curricula that will promote the development of innovations and technologies on the basis of a strong foundation of the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences. Second, we will be able to introduce a real quality in Georgia as we will receive the programs accredited by the American professional society. And this is useful for everyone – for both the university and the country.”
“Experts from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology paid a visit to the Tbilisi State University in order to study and assess the programs in natural sciences and engineering. It is very important for Georgia, because it will directly influence the quality of curricula. After studying the existing situation, a detailed strategy will be determined in order to bring the curricula in line with international standards. About 3000 programs worldwide and up to 600 universities in 24 countries have already undergone similar accreditation. It means that if we manage to overcome difficulties, to bring our curricula in line with international standards, our students will be more competitive on international labor market. Ultimately, it will become one of the factors for the country’s economic development,” Education Minister Tamar Sanikidze said.
Albert Joe Turner of ABET spoke about the significance of accreditation standards and said that the key goal of the meeting was to study TSU needs and requirements to facilitate the development of natural sciences and engineering programs as well as to give relevant recommendations and accreditation. “We are grateful to the Ministry of Education for supporting the project; it spares no efforts to increase the level of education in Georgia,” he said.
The visit of ABET representatives to Georgia aims at studying the scientific/infrastructural situation at state-owned higher educational institutions and determining the compliance of natural sciences and engineering programs with international ABET-accreditation standards. The project is implemented by Millennium Challenge Georgia Fund in frames of the higher education component of the Second Compact between the Millennium Challenge Corporation and Georgia. The research results will be used for selecting the natural sciences and engineering programs of U.S. partner universities in Georgia. The research results will also be important for Georgia’s higher educational institutions, for improving their curricula and long-term strategic planning and implementation.
The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) is a non-governmental organization that accredits post-secondary education programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.
