Mikheil Chkhenkeli discussed current and future cooperation issues in the field of education with the Ambassador of Germany
Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia Mikheil Chkhenkeli hosted German Ambassador Hubert Knirsch and discussed future cooperation plans with him. The Minister thanked the Ambassador for the numerous significant and fruitful projects implemented in the field of education. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Ambassador Michael Fabri and Daniel Haas, Head of the Economic Development and Cooperation Department of the Embassy.
Mikheil Chkhenkeli provided Hubert Knirsch with information about the world-class mega-project โ Kutaisi International University, which will welcome its first cohort of students starting in September 2020. For its establishment, Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili and his family made a charitable contribution of 1 billion euros.
The Minister noted that from its inception, Kutaisi International University has been cooperating intensively with the Technical University of Munich, one of the world's leading universities, and it was in partnership with them that the academic programs with which Kutaisi International University will commence operations were developed. Mikheil Chkhenkeli also emphasized the fact that the Honorary President of Kutaisi International University is Professor Wolfgang Herrmann, a world-renowned leading scientist and former President of the Technical University of Munich.
Mikheil Chkhenkeli strongly emphasized that alongside Georgian professors, lectures at Kutaisi International University will be delivered by professors from the world's leading universities. As a result of this international approach, the university will establish itself as a regional hub for education and science.
According to the Minister, a Hadron Therapy Center will also be established on the basis of Kutaisi International University, where, alongside the treatment of oncological diseases, modern research in medical and nuclear physics will be conducted. Mikheil Chkhenkeli noted that the university is already cooperating with the German Cancer Research Center in this direction, and together with them, the implementation of joint master's and doctoral programs is planned for the future.
During the meeting, the Minister also highlighted the fruitful cooperation existing between Georgian higher education and scientific institutions and Germany's Jรผlich Research Center, expressing hope that similar projects will take on a more large-scale character in the future.
Mikheil Chkhenkeli also focused on the engagement of the German side in the process of vocational education development. According to him, Georgia actively cooperates with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fรผr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), with whose support the German dual model was introduced into the country's vocational education system and numerous important projects were implemented. The Minister expressed hope that close cooperation in this direction will continue in the future and that the German side will actively engage in the process of developing a vocational college on the basis of Telavi State University through the introduction and implementation of various agrarian programs.
At the meeting, the parties emphasized the necessity of strengthening the teaching of the German language at all levels of education, for pupils and students as well as for educators.
For his part, Hubert Knirsch called cooperation with Georgia exemplary and expressed readiness for the implementation of new projects.
