Mikheil Chkhenkeli: MES is Developing New Financing Model of HE with the WB Support

Mikheil Chkhenkeli, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, held a presentation on the 10-year development of MES. He said that quality higher education is the top priority of the MES. He presented the vision of the Ministry to the public.

„To achieve the goal, we have three main tasks: the first is to harmonize the quality of higher education with European standards and enhance to enable Georgian youth to be competitive. To achieve this, universities with industry must develop higher education programs, implement joint/dual qualification programs in cooperation with leading foreign universities and gain international accreditation. Universities will be evaluated through full compliance of quality assurance mechanisms with European standards.

The second task is ensuring equal access to higher education. Inclusive education will be supported: a learning environment tailored to special educational needs will be developed, universities will be equipped with adapted learning materials, special equipment and resources, as well as greater involvement of students from higher vulnerable groups in higher education, will be ensured.

The third important task is new effective options for higher education financing including performance-based funding and creating HEIs information management database system that will ensure the institutional sustainability of HEIs“, – said Mikheil Chkhenkeli.

The Minister spoke in detail about the new model of higher education financing. He noted that the Ministry is Developing a New Financing Model of HE with the WB Support, which means the basic funding for state universities. According to Mikheil Chkhenkeli, as a result of the introduction of the new model, universities will be able to plan strategic development directions, modernize educational programs and laboratories, fund scientific research and improve the system of professors’ remuneration. The new model will consider the needs of regional universities.

The Minister believes that as a result of the education reform, the country will have an even more improved higher education system, which is extremely important. In order to implement the plan, the budget of higher education will be gradually increased and will reach 270 million GEL by 2030.