East-West University is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Arizona State University (ASU)—ranked the most innovative university in the United States for ten consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report (2016-2025). Through this collaboration, East-West University joins the ASU-Cintana Alliance, a global network of forward-looking universities committed to delivering high-quality, globally relevant education that meets the demands of a rapidly evolving world.
East-West University, currently centered around its flagship Medical Doctor Educational Program, is now entering a bold new chapter. Through its partnership with Arizona State University and status as a Powered by ASU® institution, East-West University is set to accelerate its growth, redefine its academic vision, and relaunch its brand with a compelling global value proposition. East-West University students will benefit from academic experiences aligned with ASU’s global standards, including access to ASU-designed curricula, world-class faculty development, global masterclasses, international research collaboration, and student exchange opportunities.
”East-West University is undertaking a strategic initiative to become a regional leader in international education, supported by its partnership with Arizona State University and the extensive global expertise of the Cintana Alliance,” said Giorgi Khurodze, President of East-West University.
In addition, East-West University’s expanded programs will be developed as dual degree pathways with ASU, giving students the opportunity—pending future regulatory approval—to earn both a Georgian degree from East-West University and an American degree from Arizona State University. These flexible, phased pathways will empower students to customize their academic journey, enhancing their employability and impact in both local and global markets.
“ASU is engaging with the intention of being part of a movement around the world to expand access to higher education and to expand high quality outcomes,” said Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University. “Our work with Cintana is focused on taking educational attainment and helping it to become more ubiquitously available. Wisdom is considered rare, something to be granted to other people and scarcity is considered to be good. That will not get us where we need to be as a species and as a global society. Our goal is to do something about that, at scale, and that’s exactly what we are doing.”
“East-West University is embarking on one of the most ambitious transformations we’ve seen in the region,” said Douglas L. Becker, Founder and Chairman of Cintana Education. “By joining the ASU-Cintana Alliance, East-West University is not just expanding its academic offerings—it’s reimagining what a modern, globally connected university can be. We’re proud to support this bold vision to build a new kind of institution that delivers international-quality education and prepares students in Georgia to lead on the world stage.”
East-West University also plans to strategically expand and diversify its portfolio of programs, aiming to become a truly international, innovative, and interdisciplinary institution. With this transformation, East-West University aspires to establish itself as a leading academic destination in the region—attracting both local and international students—and achieve an enrollment of over 7,000 students by 2034.
This ambitious growth will be driven by both the enhancement of its medical program and the launch of 22 new academic programs over the next five years. These new programs will span health sciences, business, digital technologies, and social sciences—fields where demand for high-quality education is growing both in Georgia and across the broader region. The initiative comes at a pivotal moment for Georgian higher education, where international student enrollment is increasing at a rate of 24% annually, and private universities now account for nearly 70% of total market growth.
