2019-12-19
Internationally Accredited Programs at TSU
Starting from 2020-21 academic year, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) will be enrolling students on ABET-accredited programs in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, as well as ACS-certified biochemistry/chemistry program. TSU and San Diego State University (SDSU) jointly presented the programs on December 11.
George Sharvashidze, Rector of TSU, Magda Magradze, CEO of Millennium Challenge Account – Georgia (MCA), Halil Güven, SDSU Georgia Dean, as well as representatives of Ilia State University and Georgian Technical University, senior management of San Diego State University from California, professors, students and invited guests attended the event.
“These programs are pioneers. Two of them have already received accreditation that will be formalized in August. Starting from the next academic year, we will be announcing the enrollment on ABET-accredited programs and it means that our diplomas will have international recognition,” Rector George Sharvashidze said. He also noted that under the agreement with San Diego State University, graduates of accredited programs will receive the diplomas of both TSU and San Diego State University. Moreover, the issue of certification of chemistry program is almost solved with the American Chemical Society (ACS). “It is an unprecedented success in the region. I congratulate you all. We managed to pass a long five-year process within three years,” Rector Sharvashidze said.
Prof. Halil Güven, SDSU Georgia Dean, said that San Diego State University has already fulfilled a number of important missions in Georgia. “San Diego State University has been operating in Georgia since 2015. Our first mission was to have the first cohort of students and graduates in Georgia. This mission has been fulfilled. The second goal was to transfer our experience to partner universities and assist them. We have repaired labs, classrooms. Tbilisi State University received international accreditation earlier than expected. In the future, it is planned to grant international accreditation to the programs of two other universities,” he said.
Magda Magradze, CEO of Millennium Challenge Account – Georgia (MCA), noted that specialists with ABET and ACS accreditation will be competitive on labor market. “It is a very important novelty for the education system, because it is the first time international accreditation, such as ABET and ACS, is granted in the post-Soviet space. Any investor, entering the country to invest money in the fields of natural sciences and engineering, requires graduates with this certification and accreditation. TSU is the first university having obtained international accreditation,” Magradze said.
“This diploma will enable us to receive education of the same quality in Georgia as abroad. I no longer need to travel abroad, as I can receive education of the same quality in Georgia,” Giorgi Bokhochadze, second-year student of the Computer Engineering program, said.
The higher education component of the Second Compact between the Millennium Challenge Corporation and Georgia involves a USD 34 million project on higher education. The compact seeks
to increase the earning potential of Georgians through improvements in the quality of education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
Since 2014, San Diego State University has been implementing the U.S.-accredited programs in Georgia and has been issuing its diplomas. Simultaneously, SDSU assists three partner universities (TSU, Ilia State University and Georgian Technical University) in getting international accreditation to ensure that these universities implement the same programs on their own. The both project components are financed by Millennium Challenge Account – Georgia through its Millennium Challenge Compact.
George Sharvashidze, Rector of TSU, Magda Magradze, CEO of Millennium Challenge Account – Georgia (MCA), Halil Güven, SDSU Georgia Dean, as well as representatives of Ilia State University and Georgian Technical University, senior management of San Diego State University from California, professors, students and invited guests attended the event.
“These programs are pioneers. Two of them have already received accreditation that will be formalized in August. Starting from the next academic year, we will be announcing the enrollment on ABET-accredited programs and it means that our diplomas will have international recognition,” Rector George Sharvashidze said. He also noted that under the agreement with San Diego State University, graduates of accredited programs will receive the diplomas of both TSU and San Diego State University. Moreover, the issue of certification of chemistry program is almost solved with the American Chemical Society (ACS). “It is an unprecedented success in the region. I congratulate you all. We managed to pass a long five-year process within three years,” Rector Sharvashidze said.
Prof. Halil Güven, SDSU Georgia Dean, said that San Diego State University has already fulfilled a number of important missions in Georgia. “San Diego State University has been operating in Georgia since 2015. Our first mission was to have the first cohort of students and graduates in Georgia. This mission has been fulfilled. The second goal was to transfer our experience to partner universities and assist them. We have repaired labs, classrooms. Tbilisi State University received international accreditation earlier than expected. In the future, it is planned to grant international accreditation to the programs of two other universities,” he said.
Magda Magradze, CEO of Millennium Challenge Account – Georgia (MCA), noted that specialists with ABET and ACS accreditation will be competitive on labor market. “It is a very important novelty for the education system, because it is the first time international accreditation, such as ABET and ACS, is granted in the post-Soviet space. Any investor, entering the country to invest money in the fields of natural sciences and engineering, requires graduates with this certification and accreditation. TSU is the first university having obtained international accreditation,” Magradze said.
“This diploma will enable us to receive education of the same quality in Georgia as abroad. I no longer need to travel abroad, as I can receive education of the same quality in Georgia,” Giorgi Bokhochadze, second-year student of the Computer Engineering program, said.
The higher education component of the Second Compact between the Millennium Challenge Corporation and Georgia involves a USD 34 million project on higher education. The compact seeks
to increase the earning potential of Georgians through improvements in the quality of education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
Since 2014, San Diego State University has been implementing the U.S.-accredited programs in Georgia and has been issuing its diplomas. Simultaneously, SDSU assists three partner universities (TSU, Ilia State University and Georgian Technical University) in getting international accreditation to ensure that these universities implement the same programs on their own. The both project components are financed by Millennium Challenge Account – Georgia through its Millennium Challenge Compact.
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