New criteria for assessing academic job applicants at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) will enter into force on January 1, 2018.
The new criteria involve both scientific and academic assessment of candidates. The principle of external peer review will be used in the process of scientific assessment; as for academic assessment, a candidate will be assessed as a potential lecturer. A special formula will be developed, which will reflect all measurable components. Speaking about the key novelty, Deputy Rector of TSU, Mikheil Chkhenkeli said that candidates will have to give a trial lecture in the presence of the commission members, interested experts and students. Moreover, a special questionnaire will be developed for students to assess the candidates. The competition commission will summarize the results through taking into account all above mentioned components and will make a final decision with respect to each candidate.
“From September 1, we are moving to a very interesting stage, when discussions on the new criteria will move to an open, public space. During a month, all interested persons will have an opportunity to participate in public discussions. Ultimately, we will get a final document, which will then be approved by the Academic and Representative Councils and it will enter into force on January 1, 2018,” Deputy Rector Chkhenkeli said.
As another novelty, TSU plans to change the thesis assessment system that will significantly increase the quality of theses and rule out plagiarism. “It is known that academic quality devaluation is observed in many countries like Georgia. It is a general tendency and adequate measures need to be taken. First of all, we suppose that relevant field specialists should get involved in the process of granting academic degrees and with our new decision, we just enter on this path. Previously, even non-specialists were assessing theses that is an incorrect practice,” Chkhenkeli said.
TSU also plans to set up a Dissertation Council, which, along with local representatives, will involve other field experts, under the principle of external peer review. The Council’s decision will be studied by the University’s Dissertation Commission. This new structure will perform a function of filtering. Along with the representatives from the faculties and research institutes, the commission will involve a technical group that will assist the commission in unveiling plagiarism and other important details. “We are sure that due to these changes the university’s academic and scientific activities will move to a qualitatively new level,” the Deputy Rector added.
