Masters degree program: Higher Education, Research and Innovation (HERI)

Beneficiary: LEPL Ilia State University

Project Name: Masters Degree Program: Higher Education, Research and Innovation (HERI)

Implementation Dates: 06/2024 – 11/2025

Total Project Cost:  291 405.45 GEL

Grant Amount:  282 265.45 GEL

Description

This project proposes the establishment of an MA program in Higher Education, Research and Innovation at Ilia State University (ISU), Faculty of Business, Technologies and Education. The program will be delivered in English and be implemented through in-person teaching and engagement, but also allowing for online engagement of the international staff. ILIAUNI will collaborate with the Higher Education Group of the University of Tampere to develop the program. Also, the issue of mobility of students from ILIAUNI and Tampere will be discussed. The goals of this project and the objectives of the proposed MA program strongly aligns with the strategic goals and priorities of the higher education system in Georgia regarding promoting innovation in higher education, diversity and inclusion, and internationalization of academic programs and the student body. International accreditation of the program is provided within the project.

Activities

The implementation of the project leads to four main directions. Prior to curriculum development, a labor market and higher education sector study will be undertaken in order to develop program content. The project envisages capacity development training of academic and key administrative staff of ISU leveraged by the Tampere University. Specifically, the capacity development will encompass enhancement of teaching and research capacity of academic staff in contemporary issues in theory, research and practice in higher education. A large part of the implementation of the project is directly related to developing the curriculum, training courses, internships or mobility components.

The final stage of the project envisages the preparation of the program’s accreditation package, taking into account the accreditation standards and procedures, and submitting it for international accreditation.

Sustainability

The international accreditation component is particularly noteworthy, laying a solid foundation for the program’s quality and attractiveness. As the ISU and the Tampere University have already a good record of successful collaboration, the project team plans to apply for the Erasmus Plus program, to create further opportunities for student and staff mobility and joint research opportunities after the accreditation is received.