Parliament has advanced a new set of higher-education reforms, approving fast-tracked amendments to the Law on Higher Education at the first reading. The package, presented by Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth Zviad Gabisonia, passed with 77 votes in favor and 3 against.
The initiative introduces changes to state financing rules and restructures degree programs at public universities. Under the amendments, studies at higher educational institutions established by the Government of Georgia will become fully state-funded. The reform also shifts universities to a 3+1+1 model, allocating three years for a bachelor’s degree and one year each for master’s and postgraduate studies.
Alongside these structural changes, the legislation extends the deadline for developing the concept, model and standards of the planned online university. The government will now have until January 1, 2028 to finalize the framework.
Further discussion of the amendments will continue as Parliament moves toward the second and third readings.
