Mikheil Chkhenkeli: "The Ministry together with the World Bank is developing a new model of financing higher education, which implies basic funding for state universities"
While presenting the ten-year development plan of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli stated that quality higher education is the main priority of the Ministry. To this end, the minister presented the vision of the Ministry to the public in order to achieve this goal:
"There are three main tasks: first, to harmonize the quality of higher education with European standards and to promote the training of competitive staff. To achieve this goal, universities in connection with industry must develop higher education programs, implement joint / dual qualification programs in cooperation with leading foreign universities, and gain international accreditation. Universities will be evaluated through full compliance of quality assurance mechanisms with European standards.
The second task is to ensure equal access to higher education. Inclusive education will be supported: development of a learning environment tailored to special educational needs, equipping universities with adapted teaching materials, special equipment and resources, as well as ensuring greater involvement of students from various vulnerable groups in higher education.
The third important task is to establish a model for effective financing of higher education and a result-oriented management system, which will ensure the development and institutional sustainability of universities"- said Mikheil Chkhenkeli.
The Minister spoke in detail about the new model of higher education funding and noted that the Ministry is working with the World Bank to develop a new model of higher education funding, which includes basic funding for state universities. According to Mikheil Chkhenkeli, as a result of the introduction of the new model, universities will be able to plan strategic development directions, modernize educational programs and training laboratories, fund scientific research and improve the system of professors' remuneration. The new model will take into account the needs of regional universities.
The Minister believes that as a result of the reform, the country will have an even more sophisticated higher education system, which is extremely important. In order to implement the plan, the budget of higher education will be gradually increased, which will reach 270 million GEL by 2030.
