Georgia’s government is preparing to introduce a new higher education admissions model based on the principle of ‘one city – one faculty,’ Education, Science and Youth Minister Givi Mikanadze said.
The reform concept aligns with student intake quotas at state universities with each institution’s traditional academic profile and the country’s labor market needs.
Labor market concerns behind reform
Mikanadze stated that a labor market study conducted by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and representatives of the private sector revealed significant imbalances.
“The results of the labor market survey are more concerning than they may appear at first glance,” Mikanadze said. “Student enrollment in recent years has not matched labor market demand, leaving many graduates unable to fully utilize the profession and diploma they obtained.”
The government says the new model aims to better match university programs with economic priorities and employment trends.
Planned Distribution by University
Under the proposed framework, academic specializations would be distributed as follows:
- Tbilisi State University (TSU): Exact and natural sciences; humanities (excluding pedagogy); law; economics and business administration; social and political sciences.
- Georgian Technical University (GTU): Engineering and technical disciplines.
- Tbilisi State Medical University: Medical specialties.
- Ilia State University:Pedagogy programs and STEM fields with ABET accreditation.
- Sukhumi State University: Agricultural specialties; Georgian-Abkhazian language and literature; pedagogy.
- Arts and Sports Universities: Programs aligned with their respective artistic and athletic profiles.
- Batumi and Kutaisi Universities: Multifunctional academic programs.
- Zugdidi, Gori, Akhaltsikhe, and Telavi Universities: Agricultural fields, tourism, and pedagogy.
The ministry says the reform is intended to strengthen specialization, reduce duplication of programs and improve graduate employability across regions.
Further details on implementation timelines and potential transitional arrangements have not yet been announced.
