Vocational college students will be able to continue their studies in higher education institutions

The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), is piloting a project aimed at integrating a general education component into vocational training. As a result of the piloting, systemic changes in vocational education will be developed, which will help overcome the "educational dead end" and enable vocational college students, if they so wish, to continue their studies in higher education institutions.

Today, representatives of the Government of Georgia, Parliament, educational institutions, and international organizations reviewed the interim results of the piloting. The event was opened by Mikheil Chkhenkeli, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, and Niels Scott, Head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Georgia.

The piloting of the new project involves the Kachreti Public College (Kakheti), Shota Meskhia State Teaching University (Samegrelo), and Ilia Tsinamdzgvrishvili Public College (Mtskheta-Mtianeti). Approximately 20 graduates involved in the piloting across these three institutions will receive both a vocational qualification and the opportunity to pursue higher education upon completion of their studies.

Support for piloting general education in vocational institutions will continue until the spring of 2018. In the future, a similar model will be introduced in all colleges across Georgia.