Integrating Innovative Agricultural Technologies into Educational Programs

Beneficiaries: Consortium consisting of LEPL Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University, “ALTE” University, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Farmers Association.

Project Name: Integrating Innovative Agricultural Technologies into Educational Programs

Implementation Dates: 06/2024 – 12/2025

Total Project Cost:  535 584 GEL

Grant Amount:  518 684 GEL

Description

The project aims to modernize TESAU Bachelor’s program in Agronomy and Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Viticulture and Winemaking, as well as the Computer Science Bachelor’s program of Alte University. In particular, in cooperation with Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, an agrotechnological module will be added to the Master’s program of TESAU in “Viticulture and Winemaking”, also mini-laboratories will be established. Telavi University’s technological experience is quite weak. In this regard, the consortium will be assisted by Alte University – School of Information Technologies. It should be noted that Shukhmani Winery is also a project partner, which will dedicate its space to the practical examination of the courses integrated in the master’s program of Telavi State University.

Activities

Within the framework of the project, it is envisaged to get acquainted with the agro-technological programs, laboratories and researches of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and to share their experience in this direction. One visit of professors of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences to Georgia has already taken place. However, visits by Georgian and Swedish staff will continue throughout the project.

The significant activities of the project are related to the development of agrotechnological courses and their integration into the academic programs of Telavi and Alte University. At the same time, based on Sweden’s experience, laboratories such as “Smart Greenhouse”, drone mini-laboratories and smart devices laboratories will be organized at TESAU and ALTE universities.

Dissemination project results include the activities such as holding of an international agro-technological conference, conducting an agro-technological camp for students, creating certificate courses and conducting trainings for the academic staff of Telavi and Alte University, sharing the agro-technological knowledge within the framework of various projects at Telavi and Alte University, involving professors participating in the project as mentors and lecturers in technological weeks at Kakheti techno parks and hackathons related to agrarian topics.

Sustainability

The equipment purchased under the project will be continuously used and updated after the project is completed. It is important that in recent years funding of international organizations in the agro-technological direction has significantly increased, which raises the possibilities of obtaining other sources of funding too.