Mikheil Chkhenkeli discussed issues of cooperation in education, science, culture and sport with the Ambassador of Hungary
The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli, hosted the Ambassador of Hungary to Georgia, Viktória Horváth, and outlined plans for close cooperation with her in the fields of higher education, science, culture, and sport. The parties agreed that various memoranda will be signed between the countries in the near future, within the framework of which joint projects and new exchange programs will be implemented, and cooperation at the institutional level will be further deepened.
During the meeting, the discussion touched upon successful educational projects existing between Georgia and Hungary, including "Stipendium Hungaricum," which is an exchange scholarship program. This project enables Georgian youth to receive education in higher education institutions of Hungary in various fields, including natural sciences—specifically mathematics and biology—as well as engineering and technologies. The Ambassador of Hungary expressed hope that this successful project will be expanded even further in the future.
During the meeting, Mikheil Chkhenkeli provided the Ambassador of Hungary with information about the world-class mega-project – Kutaisi International University, for the establishment of which former Prime Minister Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili and his family made an investment worth 1 billion euros.
According to the Minister, Kutaisi International University, which will start operating from the 2020-21 academic year, is currently actively cooperating with universities and research centers in Europe, the USA, and Japan. With the aim of implementing joint educational programs at all levels of study, the Minister proposed to the Ambassador cooperation with leading universities of Hungary and the implementation of joint scientific research. For her part, Viktória Horváth expressed readiness for cooperation with Georgia in this direction.
The meeting also touched upon the Hadron Therapy Center, which will be established on the basis of Kutaisi International University, where, along with the treatment of oncological diseases, modern research in medical and nuclear physics will be carried out. The Minister emphasized that the Hadron Therapy Center will become an international hub on a regional scale in terms of the diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases.
Another main issue discussed between Mikheil Chkhenkeli and Viktória Horváth was cooperation in the field of vocational education. The Minister noted that this direction represents a priority for the Ministry, as the development of vocational education and its internationalization are directly connected to employment. The discussion also touched upon the development of school and university sports, the involvement of the Hungarian side in this process, and the sharing of their experience.
