Development of the Concept of the Public Administration Law Master’s Program

Beneficiaries: Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University

Project Name: Development of the Concept of the Public Administration Law Master’s Program

Implementation Dates: 08/2023 – 08/2024

Total Project Cost: 313,950.00 GEL

Grant Amount: 301,950.00 GEL

Description

The goal of the project is to develop the concept of a public administration law study program at the master’s level of higher education of Georgia (hereinafter, the concept of the program), which will be focused on the development of theoretical and practical skills of people employed in the public sector of Georgia with certain work experience, without being separated from their working activities.

The development of the concept of the program is based on the study of practical educational needs in the public service of Georgia and, generally, in the public sector, and sharing the experience of higher educational institutions of different countries in this direction. The idea of the program is also adapted as much as possible to the concept of the reform of the Georgian public service system and the priorities of the state policy in this field, for which active cooperation with the representatives of the institutions implementing the reform was carried out.

The concept of the master’s program is based on a combination of theoretical and practical courses. In addition, the program will have interdisciplinary content, which together with national public law includes such disciplines as international public procurement law, public policy, leadership, project management, etc. Practical courses includes both a simulated part and the possibility of integrating practical activities carried out in the workplace into the teaching process.

The concept of the master’s program is based on the tasks of introducing a new teaching methodology, which involves the inclusion of the master’s student’s practical activities in the teaching process by introducing the “mentoring” tool, which ensures the immediate transfer of theoretical knowledge and experience into practice. In addition, the use of electronic learning methods is actively discussed within the concept of the program to ensure the student’s involvement in the learning process without being separated from their job, including the possibility of providing specific study courses in fully or partially electronic form.

Activities

An exhaustive list of target groups was defined from whom accurate da adequate information can be obtained for the purposes of this project. On this basis, specific public service structures and representatives of the academic field was involved in the process, who can potentially participate in the implementation process of the Public Administrative Law Master’s program. Considering the objectives and tasks of the survey, the amount of necessary information was determined in detail. The target groups and the foreign expert were interviewed through specially designed questionnaires.

The study of the peculiarities of the legal profession in the public system took place. The research was carried out in order to identify the features of the main professional fields (families of professions) of public administration within the framework of structural units implementing public administration in the legislative and judicial system. The target groups were systematized on the basis of the existing ranking system of official positions.

Content research of Public Law Master’s Programs in Georgia was carried out. The object of the research was the content of the programs and learning methodology. The possibilities and mechanisms of internationalization of the program offered in Georgia reality was studied. In addition, interviews were conducted with potential academic staff of the Public Administration Law Master’s Program, Heads of Public Law and Public Administration Master’s Programs, students and graduates.

The legal grounds necessary for the creation of the master’s program was analyzed. Also, an analysis of the professional development system in public service was prepared.

In order to explore the foreign experience of the Public Administration Law Master’s Program, cooperating with foreign experts foreign experience analysis document was developed.

Considering the above activities, the concept draft of the public administration law master’s program was created. It formulates the main findings, which, among other things, is intended for public discussion. A “round table” was held, with the involvement of the interested society where the mentioned document was discussed. A concept document for the public administration law master’s program was created considering the agreed and shared opinions in the “round table” format.

Sustainability

The sustainability of the program is ensured by university funding and the income of the master’s program in the form of tuition fees provided by the legislation of Georgia, which is based on a flexible payment scheme developed within the framework of the concept.

Maintaining the sustainability of the project is ensured by the continuous development of the project in cooperation with the public service system and foreign partners by the project team, which is the academic staff of the universities.

The results of the project will be available to other higher educational institutions as well, which ensures its implementation not only in the capital but also in the regions, both within public and private universities. The outstanding graduates of the program will become agents of the public administration law master’s program, which will contribute to its popularization.

Within the framework of the project, an agreement was established with the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Georgia and the Personal Data Protection Service on the launching a pilot project for the implementation of dual education model, which will enhance the project’s sustainability.