"Mikheil Batiashvili: We are working towards having a new higher education model next year"

While speaking at the Parliament, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia Mikheil Batiashvili spoke about the new model of higher education financing, stating that the existing one is inefficient and the Ministry, together with the World Bank, is working on a new model.

"The current financing model is unproductive and we are actively working with World Bank experts on transitioning to a new model and determining how universities should be stimulated. The voucher system remains and will follow the students directly. As for the resource that was flowing into universities toward free faculties, it will be redistributed based on the evaluation indicators that will be established—meaning how universities should be stimulated. We are working toward having a new model next year that will be much more stimulating compared to the previous one," the Minister stated.

According to the Minister, intensive meetings and consultations with the rectors of higher education institutions are ongoing regarding this issue.