On October 16, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze presented a new higher education reform concept, later discussing it on the pro-government channel Imedi. The reform, dubbed “One City – One Faculty,” aims to address seven key challenges in Georgia’s university system: excessive geographic concentration of institutions, uneven teaching quality, inefficient resource use, weak links between research and instruction, misalignment with labor market needs, flawed funding, and inadequate infrastructure.
Under the plan, faculties in the same city will no longer be duplicated across multiple state universities. For example, in Tbilisi, each faculty will be housed in only one university, taking into account each institution’s historical profile and traditional strengths. Students already enrolled will be able to complete their programs during a transitional period.
The reform also introduces a 3+1 higher education cycle—three years for a bachelor’s degree and one for a master’s—replacing the existing structure. In addition, Kobakhidze proposed selling certain university buildings in central Tbilisi to fund modern educational infrastructure, while preserving historically and culturally significant campuses.
Another key focus is on faculty employment: the government plans to reduce part-time teaching positions, emphasizing full-time professors to improve teaching and research quality.
The school system will also shift from 12 to 11 years of general education, although students wishing to complete the 12th grade abroad may do so.
Funding will be reorganized based on a state-assigned model linked to labor market needs, rather than the current grant-based system. The reform also envisions creating modern university campuses in Tbilisi and Kutaisi, including educational, research, cultural, sports, and dormitory facilities, while updating infrastructure in regional universities.
Kobakhidze emphasized that the reform seeks to optimize resources, improve education quality, and strengthen the connection between higher education and the workforce, while discouraging unnecessary student migration abroad.
Image: Publika
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