The First International Excellence School held for Research Capacity Strengthening of Universities in Georgia

On January 26-28, 2024, within the framework of the I2Q project and with the support of the World Bank, the International Excellence School was held. The International Excellence Schools aims to promote the internationalization of higher education in Georgia. The objective of the International Excellence School is to train ECRs and academic staff in the best practices in research management and innovation.

The all-around objective of EIS is to build research capacity within Georgian universities, enhancing the quality of their research structures, processes, and outputs, strengthening their research environment, supporting the academic career progression of junior researchers, and promoting impactful collaborations with other economic sectors. Hence, the setting up of the International Excellence Schools fosters the diffusion of international best practices on research and innovation within the Georgian higher education system and institutions.

The first International Excellence School event in Georgia was held with the support of University College London (UCL) (in cooperation with the consulting company Savvy Business sLtd). Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and the British University in Georgia hosted the first event. The first IES topics included the following issues in the direction of education, humanities, and social sciences: development of project proposals for grant competitions, best practices of competitive projects management, and competitive projects’ financial aspects.

PhD students and young researchers from Tbilisi and regional universities, as well as from international higher educational institutions, participated in the first International Excellence School. Deputy Minister of Education, Science, and Youth Nodar Papukashvili got acquainted with the course of the event.

Two more International Excellence Schools will be held in Georgia in the format of the International Excellence School, which will strengthen the capabilities of the academic and scientific community in the direction of development of grant projects, technology transfer and innovation, and protection of intellectual property rights.