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Democracy, Human Rights, and Religion” is a joint project between Ilia State University Tbilisi (ISU) and the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (WWU) that offers graduates the opportunity to pursue doctoral research in Practical Philosophy within a structured Cotutelle-based framework. In total 10 doctoral students, divided into two cohorts, are conducting their doctoral studies not only at ISU but also spend several extended periods at WWU in Münster/Germany throughout the course of their doctorates. Each participant receives a base grant that allows them to fully concentrate on their doctorate and develop their thesis. The supplementing academic program at ISU and WWU involves disciplinary events, such as seminars and summer schools. Moreover, the joint project provides supervision that is carried out by supervisory teams composed of professors from each university. Upon successful completion of the PhD project doctoral degrees from WWU and ISU can be obtained on the basis of only one single dissertation. Thematically, the structured doctoral program addresses the fundamental social, philosophical and normative questions faced by all current societies that are committed to pluralism and democracy. Hence, “Democracy, Human Rights, and Religion” particularly involves research topics that focus on the interrelatedness of and the tensions between democracy, human rights and religion. The deliberately wide-ranging thematic frame allows for a large number of suitable research topics and thus clearly emphasizes the strong interdisciplinary approach of the program. “Democracy, Human Rights, and Religion” is generously funded by the German Volkswagen Foundation.

The Lehmann-Haupt International Doctoral Program (LHIDP) is named after the scientist and researcher Carl Friedrich Lehmann-Haupt, who studied in Göttingen, received his doctoral degree there in 1883 and later carried out his own research work in the South Caucasus region. The program gives 12 doctoral students the opportunity of a Cotutelle-based doctorate and, thus, allows for obtaining doctoral degrees from both the Georg-August-University of Göttingen (UGOE) and Ilia State University (ISU) on the basis of only one single dissertation. In addition, the program is distinguished, above all, by the outstanding conditions for conducting research, writing the doctoral thesis and receiving further skills training. The participating doctoral students will not only spend a total of 12 months at the UGOE, but will also receive comprehensive support for participation in international conferences and their fieldwork activities. Due to the involvement of various scientific fields the LHIDP pays special attention to multi-disciplinarity and diversity and involves a great variety of institutes, chairs, professors and other teachers at both ISU and UGOE. The science fields represented in the LHIDP were carefully selected based on quality, suitability, compatibility of the participating researchers and potential for future scientific cooperation. These are in particular: Philology, History, Political Science, Religious and Cultural Studies, Development Economics, Ecology, Chemical Biology, Physics and Cosmology. The LHIDP furthermore includes a Young Researcher Grant designed to offer the opportunity of receiving funding for up to 11 months to high-potential, aspiring candidates who recently completed their doctorate and are seeking to pursue a career in academia.

SALiS (Student Active Learning in Science) is an international education project aimed at strengthening science education through the promotion of active, inquiry-based learning in schools. The project was implemented within the framework of the TEMPUS programme of Erasmus+, based on close cooperation between European and partner universities. SALiS brought together universities from Ireland, Germany, and Bulgaria, alongside partner institutions from Georgia, Moldova, and Israel. A key collaboration within the project was established between Ilia State University (Tbilisi, Georgia) and the University of Bremen (Germany), which played a central role in launching and advancing the SALiS initiative. The main objective of SALiS was to make science education in the participating countries more motivating, more effective, and more learner-centered. The project addressed the widespread challenge of teacher-centered classroom practices by promoting student-active and inquiry-based approaches, particularly in experimental and laboratory-based science teaching. Through reforms in science teacher education and training, SALiS supported the integration of inquiry-type laboratory work as a core element of modern science curricula. This approach aimed to enhance students’ motivation, deepen their understanding of scientific concepts, and foster the development of higher-order cognitive skills, as well as a broad range of general and non-cognitive competencies. By encouraging hands-on learning, critical thinking, and active student engagement, SALiS contributed to the modernization of science education and strengthened the capacity of partner institutions to implement innovative pedagogical practices aligned with European educational standards.

In 2019, the German Ministry of Education and Science (BMBF) funded a small-scale pilot project to encourage German-Georgian co-operation in biodiversity research. The project was quite successful and the German government offered our German partners to prepare a large- scale project with us, within the framework of which a new research center would be established at Ilia State University and lay the foundation for Caucasian biodiversity barcoding. Biodiversity is a background of the normal functioning of the Earth Ecosystem. Biodiversity global report, prepared by UN in 2019 stated that biodiversity, specifically species diversity declines rapidly, which undermines the sustainability of the environment. For several years, the German Government supports a project called the German Biodiversity of Life (GBOL). This project showed that real species diversity, especially in some insect groups, may exceed several times the diversity so far described by taxonomists. Within our project (the scheme is quite similar to GBOL with some specifics, however) it is planned to study genetic markers of 50,000 insects, snails, birds, mammals, and other animals and plants and aggregating this information in a single database. Student team of Iliauni will conduct a primary determination of collected specimens, and leading zoologists and botanists from all throughout the World will determine thousands of individual species, some of that most likely will be new for science. Importantly, DNA laboratory of Ilia State University will be substantially updated within this project framework, which will be able in future run next-generation sequencing; this is important for treating a high number of individuals and genes simultaneously. Our students will participate in gaining and analyzing genetic data. Project Coordinator: Ilia State University More information about the project: https://ggbc.eu/

In partnership with Yale University, Ilia State University implements the project "Introducing Biostatistics Teaching into Applied Science Fogarty Training Program (GIFT)" project funded by the US National Institutes of Health, Fogarty International Center. A graduate training program in biostatistics aimed at addressing public health issues in the region. With a focus on HIV and opioid use disorder implementation science methods and analysis, GIFT strives to train the first generation of biostatisticians in the area and establish a cohort of academics to further the field of biostatistics. Through a hybrid program between Yale University and Ilia State University, we plan to train 4 existing public health faculty and 6 doctoral students. Funding will also be provided for the execution of their own implementation methods and biostatistics research projects. In addition, GIFT will conduct a summer short-courses in Biostatistics and Methods Implementation Science Boot Camps. Project Coordinator: Yale University Funding Agency Fogarty International Center/NIH/DHHS

The aim of the national structural reform project ‘Responsible Conduct of Research – Research Integrity and Ethics in Georgian Universities (ETHICS)’ is to launch a systemic improvement intervention to improve the quality of University and Research-Performing Organizations (RPOs) research through launching measures to adhere to the foundations of high-quality research and excellence. Its specific objectives are to introduce the mechanisms of ensuring research ethics, research integrity and good faith for researchers and within advanced level study programs, and in the accreditation standards of doctoral programs to enhance the standards of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) – Ethics and Integrity supported by appropriate national and institutional policies and processes that help avoid cases of scientific work lacking originality. Equally important is to formally introduce and prevail a culture of research integrity, good research practice and better prepare Georgian universities to become more competitive and offer trustworthy research proposals at home and abroad incorporating research integrity and ethics, specifically under the Horizon Europe and ERC calls. The intervention is intended for universities, research centers and institutes, national authorities, Horizon Europe Office, science foundation, research support [INTEGRITY] officers, PhD and young researchers. Project coordinator: Ilia State University More information about the project: https://ethics.iliauni.edu.ge/

Project ELICIA Funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) through EIT RawMaterials, the ELICIA Project aims to strengthen leadership and innovation capacity in the creative industries through AI-based entrepreneurship.  The project aims to transform European Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) into creativity-focused innovation and AI-driven enterprise hubs. In line with the EIT HEI Initiative, it strengthens institutional capacity and cross-disciplinary collaboration, enabling HEIs to develop entrepreneurial skills and harness the potential of artificial intelligence and creative technologies. The project focuses on creating an environment where technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship intersect to drive sustainable and human-centered innovation. Within this framework, ELICIA will develop a joint curriculum that integrates Artificial Intelligence, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship, enabling students, academics, and professionals to acquire interdisciplinary skills for the digital economy. Ilia State University will play a key role in the project as a regional center for innovation and research. The University will establish: a Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory – a specialized space for research, experimentation, and the development and implementation of new technologies; an educational training module focused on entrepreneurship, prototyping, robotics, innovation, and creative industries. Project coordinator: Istanbul Kültür University

At Ilia State University, the EU-funded project Youth Tech Clubs Network was implemented. The project was carried out through the cooperation of Ilia State University Agency for Innovation and Technology (GITA), the Georgian ICT Cluster and the Innovative Education Foundation (IEF). The project was managed by the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia. Its main objective was to develop knowledge and skills aligned with labor market needs and employment opportunities. Over four years, coding and technology entrepreneurship clubs were established in 8 regions of Georgia, across a total of 100 schools and vocational education institutions. Selected beneficiaries were able to study their chosen fields completely free of charge. Within the framework of the Youth Tech Clubs Network, 10 training courses were developed along with relevant learning materials, and trainers were retrained across the entire country. The courses developed and implemented under the project include: Python Programming Computer Graphics Web Development based on WordPress UX/UI Design 3D Modeling Technology Entrepreneurship Data Visualization Data Analysis Application Development Front-End Programming Between 2021 and 2024, a total of 193 courses were fully delivered, with 2,610 graduates completing the programs. Alongside the training courses, a wide range of educational activities were actively implemented over the four-year period, including: 80+ regional events: hackathons, trainings, meetings, and competitions 30+ career development meetings 15 regional employment forums and youth weeks Annual trainers’ conferences and Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions The training courses, learning materials, and the educational platform developed within the project framework will remain accessible to other interested parties. Educational events integrating the above-mentioned fields will also continue to be implemented in the future

Project is a four-year (2024–2028) research and capacity-strengthening programme that supports Georgia’s national efforts to modernise its primary health care (PHC) system and address the growing burden of chronic diseases. Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the UK Department of Health and Social Care, the project aims to generate actionable evidence for policymakers, practitioners, and global health partners. ChangePHC uses a mixed method, participatory approach to assess how PHC reform affects patients, providers, facility managers, and decision-makers across Georgia. Through surveys, interviews, and national data analysis, the project explores issues of access, equity, and financial protection in PHC. Project aim is to (i) understand the performance and consequences of Georgia’s planned PHC reform across different regions and health system levels, and the likelihood of any changes being sustained; and, (ii) significantly strengthen Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) capacity in Georgia and the wider eastern European region. We will focus on three key NCDs targeted by the Project coordinator: Curatio International Foundation

The core objective of the project is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning processes that are based on the principles of academic integrity and supported by policies, mechanisms and tools that help prevent and detect cases of plagiarism in higher education institutions in Georgia. The main goals of the project: Plagiarism Prevention & Detection Electronic Program Introduction: Feedback Studio electronic program introduction and integration into the existing Moodle system. PR Campaign: to design and launch an institutional PR campaign as an important promotional mechanism that targets both students and faculty/teaching staff. Faculty Training: to develop and deliver training to faculty in effective assessment, teaching and learning to enhance skills to provide effective feedback to students that focuses on student performance against the principles of academic integrity. Student Services: to design and develop services to boost student writing skills (academic writing centers/student services centers/volunteer senior student tutors, etc.). Academic Writing Curriculum Overview/Creation: to adopt EU/modern Standards and requirements established for written academic communication to prevent plagiarism. University Policies and Resources: to elaborate a framework of policies and regulations that are conducive to quality teaching and learning processes based on the principles of academic integrity. Project Coordinator: Ilia State University

Project aims to introduce (e.g. in Georgia) and enhance the profession of a Speech and Language Therapist in the participating countries through elaboration of quality courses offered at different levels of higher and professional education. ABC initiative is focusing on four objectives and its corresponding directions. The main objectives are: Elaboration of the Content for SLT preparation program; Piloting of the SLT Curricula; Ensuring application of modern teaching methodology and Dissemination of the contemporary SLT issues. Project Coordinator: Ilia State University