Ilia State University implements the  project EMBRACing changE: Overcoming Blockages and advancing democracy in the European Neighbourhood (EMBRACE)” within the framework of Horizon Program. The project is coordinated by Bergof Foundation Operations GMBH (Germany). Another project partners are:  University of Lleida (Spain), Maastricht University (Netherlands), University of Konstanz (Germany), Stockholm University (Sweden), Ghent University (Belgium), University of Manchester (Great Britain), University of Belgrade (Serbia), Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (Greece), Ukrainian Association for European Studies (Ukraine), ARI Center for an Arab Reform Initiative (France), Concentris Research Management GMBH (Germany), PalThink for Strategic Studies (Palestine). The project aims to study and analyze the blockages to democratization in the European neighborhood and identify ways to overcome them. The project has comparative nature and it studies hybrid and authoritarian regimes in the Eastern and Southern parts of EU neighborhood.  Project Coordinator: Bergof Foundation Operations GMBH (Germany) More information about the project:  https://embrace-democracy.eu/

Project aims to promote inclusive education in Israel and Georgia by widening access to higher education for potential and existing students.   Specific objectives are:  build capacities in Israel and Georgia that will enable there HE systems to accommodate effective distance learning programs;  develop curricula offer in Israel and Georgia based on distance learning, that responds to the requirements for equity and accessibility of the partner countries HE systems to improve the educational integration of disadvantaged learners in their educational system;  to coach and train faculty members, professional and administrative staff on the design, development, implementation and quality assessment of e/blended-learning and distance education courses;  raise the public awareness of access to, equity, and democratization of HE, to promote social inclusion;  facilitate transfer of best practices to expand access to, participation in, and successful completion of distance learning programs.  Project coordinator: Polytechnic University of Porto More information about the project: https://www.facebook.com/CBHELoveDistance/

The project aim is Improving the level of competencies in HEI in partner countries by professionalization and development of university science teacher educators regarding diversity in science classes (focus on language and culture). Teacher educators, in turn, will share their knowledge and skills with in- service and pre-service science teachers, and thereby contribute to a more inclusive and higher quality science teaching. The Mail Strategy of the project is to Building a transnational network of university science teacher educators in which evidence for the effectiveness of new approaches to science teaching and learning will be shared and discussed in order to implement only the most effective and efficient measures. Project coordinator: Ludwigsburg University of Education More information about the project: https://esta-project.eu/

The project "Strengthening the Quality and Relevance of the Third Mission in Georgian Universities" is the winner of the 2020 Erasmus + call for  Institutional Cooperation Projects – Capacity Building in the field of Higher Education (CBHE). The aim of this project is to improve the quality and relevance of the third mission of universities. In the frames of the project,  Georgian HEIs will collaborate with international partners to develop methodologies and guidelines for third mission planning, implementation, implementation and evaluation, and develop third mission strategies. The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports and the National Center for Education Quality Enhancement will upgrade the quality assurance system and further integrate evaluation of Third Mission activities into quality assurance standards. The project will help raise awareness about the third mission of the universities, increase the capacity of the university community to properly plan the activities of the third mission and evaluate their results. It is also important that each member university of the project consortium develops a strategic plan for the third mission and pilot each project for the third mission. This ensures the introduction and development of the third mission at the institutional level. Project coordinator: Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University For more information about the project:  https://square.tsu.ge   

The Project CONNECT covers 3 countries from Region2 –Moldova (MD), Armenia (AM), Georgia (GE). This project will contribute to meeting the regional priority for all 3 countries: to intensify cooperation and dialogue between universities and industry. It supports the continuing reform of the higher education sector in MD, AM, GE. It does this by strengthening the capacity of teaching staff, students at all the levels and alumni and maximize the involvement of entrepreneurial education (especially for those who don’t automatically enter in contact with such studies) and practice throughout tailored and joint activities with industry, new digital tools, introduction of relevant improvements in curricula provision, thus directly contributing on the changes needed for the transformation, modernization of the sector. The main objective of the project is to emphasize university-industry relationships based on the smart entrepreneurial approaches in HEIs from Eastern Partnership countries. The aim of the project is to encourage and support creative, supportive and motivating environment of SMART Cafes. Consequently, students will have the opportunity to be mentored, guided and advised by company representatives and university staff. Project Coordinator: Moldova State University More information about the project: https://international.usm.md/?page_id=804&lang=en

Ilia State University got involved in new project “Linking ‘Europe’ at the periphery (LEAP)” within the framework of Erasmus + Jean Monnet Networks. The project aims to explore academically how the EU is taught in these countries and to create a conducive environment to exchanging knowledge and experience on the EU methodological and theoretical challenges of studying ‘Europe’ at the periphery. Apart from these, the project targets to shed light how the EU penetrates into the everyday lives of the people especially the young population and civil society activists. Besides, project aims to assess the reasons of Euroscepticism in the ‘periphery’ and the reasons hampering European Integration. Main objectives: • Exploring EU teaching methodologies: The project focuses on how EU integration is taught and learned in the region, particularly in higher education institutions. • Sharing knowledge and experience: It promotes the exchange of knowledge and best practices on the challenges of teaching and theorizing EU integration. • Understanding the EU’s impact on everyday life: LEAP examines how the European Union is experienced in daily life, especially among young people and civil society activists. Project Coordinator: Centre for European Studies, Middle East Technical University (Turkey) More information about the project: https://www.leapjmnetwork.com/

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 More information about the project: https://integrity.iliauni.edu.ge/en/ 

Georgia is included in one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots which means that there is a high biological diversity and at the same time this diversity is highly threatened. Ilia State University sturgeon research team received a grant from The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund to study and save on of the worlds critically endangered sturgeon species: Ship sturgeon-Acipenser nudiventris (Saving the Last Ship Sturgeon: Identifying the world’s last natural Ship Sturgeon populations and spawning grounds in the Rioni River). Based on research, the Rioni River Ship sturgeon might be the last natural population worldwide. Therefore, saving this population in Georgia would be one of the steps in their conservation globally.   The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund is functioning from 2008 and supports: Individual species conservation initiatives; Identify leaders in the species conservation field; Raise the importance of species in the broader debate on species conservation.   Project Coordinator: Ilia State University  More information about the project : https://www.speciesconservation.org/our-story/

The main goal of the project is the biological and ecological research of the caves of the Racha region and the education of the local population about the importance of the invertebrate animals living in the caves. Goals of the project: Assessment of conservation status of local endemic cave invertebrates according to IUCN categories and criteria; Granting the status of a natural monument to some caves, which are characterized by diverse invertebrate taxa; Organization of seminars and excursions for the local population to educate them about the necessity of cave biodiversity and conservation; Detection of invertebrate communities in poorly explored caves; Description of cave-adapted invertebrate taxa for science. The conservation status of eight one-cave endemic species on the karstic massif of Racha has not yet been assessed. Therefore, the extinction risks of these taxa need to be researched. Cave species are particularly prone to extinction due to human activities, such as disturbing the tranquility of the cave environment. Within the framework of the project, the above-mentioned conservation problems will be solved and the anthropogenic pressure on the caves of the region will be reduced due to the planned educational activities. More information about the project:  https://www.vantienhovenfoundation.com/

Recently was successfully funded the NATO project by name: netwoRk for alErting And managing publiC safeTy and resilience - REACT The project was funded in scope of Science for Peace and Security Programme Multi-Year Research Project and its duration three year. The project will develop an innovative pilot platform (REACT) for the rapid and effective management of scenarios immediately following a terrorist attack with chemical and biological (CB) agents as well as to control the diffusion of contamination over the space and time at short-to-long term. The platform will be operated by the Physico-Chemical Safety and Information Network of th Environment; Its purpose is to identify the threat of environmental pollution in the event of a terrorist attack, Estimated chemical and biological pollutant agents and develop they neutralization protocols. Within the framework of the project, will be held the seminars and relevant literature will be created. Project Coordinator: University of Venice More information about the project https://www.react-project.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

Creative Spark: Higher Education Enterprise Programme is a five-year initiative to support international university and institutional partnerships to develop enterprise skills and creative economy across seven countries in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan), South Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia) and Ukraine through UK support.  The programme has been developed in response to an underdeveloped creative sector and a demand for entrepreneurship training in the programme countries, supporting wealth and job creation.  Creative Spark has three key elements: Development of the funded partnerships between universities and creative institutions in the UK and those in programme countries Delivering enterprise skills training packages to students and creative entrepreneurs, ranging from pitching ideas and starting a business, to protecting intellectual property and securing financial support – this will be further developed through a ‘video pitch’ competition, open to 100,000s of students across the programme countries next summer, with UK based professional development courses as prizes Delivering an English Learning Programme with a range of new digital language learning content. This will include online learning packs on the English Channel platform, online courses and new Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) focused on English for entrepreneurship Creative Spark Partnership Fund is developed for building partnerships between universities and creative institutions in the UK and those in programme countries in order to support enterprise education and establish enterprise centres/hubs.  The grant is designed to enhance existing partnerships or foster new ones between UK Higher Education Institutions, related national bodies in the creative sector and the equivalent institutions in the participating countries.  Partnerships aim to support the following areas: Skills development for students and young creative entrepreneurs Supporting new business activation and incubation Knowledge exchange   Within the programme Ilia State University collaborates with the University Of The West Of England in Bristol (UWE Bristol), which is definitely an innovator delivering entrepreneurial education throughout the UK. Project coordinator : University Of The West Of England in Bristol More information about the project:  https://www.britishcouncil.ge/programmes/education/creative-spark

AHEAD is EU funded project submitted within Erasmus + Cooperation partnerships in vocational education and training (KA220-VET) programme in the field of healthcare education across four countries, namely, Ireland (Lead), Germany, Georgia and Poland. Project aims at: Engaging participants and encourage them to become involved in the transformation towards digital healthcare assessment Fostering digital assessment that is in-line with ongoing Higher and VET education and EU Digital Education agendas Addressing knowledge and skills gaps, hopes and concerns of teachers and learners, and develop their capabilities in the area of digital assessment Developing video-based self-assessment and peer assessment by means of innovative technologies (AI) and software, Rewarding learning by means of open source digital badges / micro-credentialing. Project Results: Involving participants from each partner institution in co-creation workshops and surveys to develop insights into teachers' and learners' digital transformation needs. A competency framework for teachers and learners in health care education in the field of digital assessment to be developed. Micro-learning units will enhance teacher-and learner competencies and assist in the integration of digital assessments in their teaching and learning practice. Developed a digital rubric and peer assessment where students can provide peer feedback on a video-recorded skill. Students will be empowered to become involved in assessment and to impact on the grade awarded to learners for a healthcare related skill. A video-based assessment using Artificial Intelligence and including an open source digital badge as evidence of achievement will be developed and tested within this project. Project Coordinator: Dublin City University (DCU). More information about the project: https://www.dcu.ie/ahead

The general aim of the proposed project is to enhance the quality of higher education by developing and implementing technology-enhanced teaching and learning in Georgian higher education institutions (HEIs).  The main target groups are students, academic staff and pre-/in-service teachers. All the activities within the project are planned in a way to address the needs of these target groups, which lead to the achievement of the overall objective of the project - to enhance the quality of higher education by developing and implementing technology-enhanced teaching and learning in Georgian HEIs. The project aims  to empower academic staff at Georgian HEIs in the innovative educational technology adoption in curriculum reform and course design;  to improve the level of competencies and skills in HEIs by developing new and innovative education programmes and providing trainings for academic staff to enhance their digital competencies and skills;  to diversify the delivery methods, including on-line/blended teaching and learning.   The specific objectives of the project are:  to design and pilot new online/blended courses for GE HEIs BA and MA programs in line with EU best practices;  to design and conduct F2F/online/blended professional development training courses for GE HEI faculty and online instructors;  to develop a common platform for online teaching and learning for GE HEIs;  to disseminate best practices at institutional and national level via online platform, at in-service teacher training and national conferences.   Project coordinator: Tallinn University More information about the project: https://www.ditech-erasmus.eu/

“Development of an International Model for Curricular Reform in Multicultural Education and Cultural Diversity Training” (DOIT) aims to enhance the quality of multicultural education (ME) in participating Israeli and Georgian Higher Educational Institutions through fostering international cooperation that enhances mutual understanding between professionals. The project aims to promote multicultural education and cultural diversity training by designing, piloting and implementing  multi-faceted programs that promote curricular reform for ME and Human Rights in DOIT’s HEIs in Israel, Georgia, and European countries.  Project Coordinator: Gordon College of Education (Israel)

“Access to Society for People with Individual Requirements” (ASPIRE) aims to promote and develop access to inclusive education, to social integration and to non-discrimination treatment of those with special needs in education in accordance with Bologna Process criteria and UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  The project aims at developing comprehensive curriculum for training, which will serve as an instrument for raising public awareness and acceptance of people with special needs in society by providing education on rights and learning methods of the people with individual requirements. Project Coordinator: Ilia State University

“Student Support and Development Services” (SSDS) aims to establish advanced and up-dated student and alumni services in partner universities in Georgia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Israel. It is projected to establish a Student Support and Development Services Office and based on specially designed methodologies and tools according to the best European practices, the project aims to develop human resources and implement new student services, such as Student Life services, Academic Support, orientation, career planning, alumni relations and so forth.   Project Coordinator: University of L'Aquila (Italy).

 „Project Actors Capacity Training in Caucasus (PACT)“ aims to successfully transfer existing knowledge funded by the European Commission for project developers to the Caucasus Region and contribute to capacity building in Caucasus universities. The PACT project collects support tools for project developers (WP 2), train project partners, young researchers, PhD students and young lecturers from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia  in project development (WP 3, 4, 5) and establish a Caucasus Interactive Resource Platform with adapted support tools (WP7). Project Coordinator: David Tvildiani Medical University

“Development of Regional Interdisciplinary Post-Graduate Energy and Environmental Law Studies (REGNLAW)” aims to develop and introduce new Bologna-compliant interdisciplinary master and doctoral curricula for students as well as to provide the mechanism for intensive capacity building measures for Ukrainian and Georgian law tutors. The project aims at improving academic quality of energy law studies in Ukraine and Georgia by establishing two consultancy bureaus on Energy Law to be in Ukraine and Georgia. Project Coordinator: Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg

“Promoting Internationalization and Comparability of Quality Assurance in Higher Education (PICQA)” aims at enhancing the quality of higher education in Armenia and Georgia by promoting internal and external quality assurance systems which are acceptable both regionally and internationally. The outcome of the project is to develop and implement quality assurance system for higher education in Armenia and adapt the existing external quality assurance system in Georgia to meet internationally (Europe-wide) accepted standards. The aim of the program is to train staff and body members of the QA agencies and potential peers. Project Coordinator: ASIIN

New Masters Programme on Library and Information Science (NMPLIS) seeks to address the problem of the infrastructure in the area of library, information and archives which have to be addressed to enable the universities to reform across the board through training and a pilot to improve physical infrastructure in three HE (Armenia, Georgia and Uzbekistan) institutions. Specific objectives of the project are planning, preparing and implementing new Library and Information Studies and Archives Masters and Lifelong Learning courses in line with EU standards; Piloting the training of partner country academic staff and students and developing a Lifelong Learning infrastructure Project Coordinator: Middlesex University

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. Project Coordinator: Ilia State University

The project CIBELES aims at reform of curriculum in environmental studies with a comprehensive approach oriented to three areas - forestry, industrial safety and water and soil environmental science - and three levels: BA-MA and PhD following the Bologna model of education. The project will allow universities with the help of profesional organizations to professionalize their study programs in environmental studies according to the recommendations of Lisbon. Likewise, the project will improve the teaching skills of at least 120 teachers and will prepare the new curricula in function of a competence-based model and analysis of job descriptions required by the industry sector.  Project Coordinator: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

The aim of the Project Development of best practice model Doctoral Schools for structured PhD programme implementation in Ukraine and Georgia (AS2PHD) is to harmonize the system of 3rd cycle (doctoral level) of higher education to the requirements and principles of the EHEA in Georgia and Ukraine. This project proposes to establish 2 model Doctoral Schools (DS) and to undergo structured research training. Coordinator of the project is Maastricht University, Netherlands. Project Coordinator: Maastricht University

“Industrial Cooperation and Creative Engineering Education based on Remote Engineering and Virtual Instrumentation” (iCo-op) aims to create a methodology and resources for development engineering in Georgia, Ukraine, and Armenia. The project will be implemented between 2012-2016. The goal is to (a) create Education program in engineering incorporating alternative technologies, (b) define the methodology for studying the requirements of labor market, and (c) foster cooperation between academia and representatives of industry. Project Coordinator: Ilmenau University of Technology (Germany).

“Development of New Models for International Bachelor and Master Programmes in Sustainable Tourism Management” (SuToMa) aims to develop and implement the new models of bachelor and master degree academic programs in Sustainable Tourism Management in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Project Coordinator: Jade University of Applied Sciences (Germany).

The development of human resources and expert capacity in the field of addictology via graduate university curricula and lifelong education in Georgia (ADDIGE) aims to increase the potential of Georgia to pursue a modern, evidence-based drug policy and thus to tackle the acute problem of drug addiction and its negative consequences by means of developing and implementing MA and BA curricula and a lifelong learning framework in addictology (addiction science). The project will develop human resources, building on the existing higher education capacities in Georgia on an innovative, EU-based transdisciplinary approach. Project Coordinator: Charles University in Prague

“Development and Introduction of Multilingual Teacher Education Programs at Universities of Georgia and Ukraine” (DIMTEGU) aims to facilitate the multilingual educational reform in Georgia and Ukraine. Project goal is to establish multilingual study in Georgian education system within the LLE program for teachers retraining, master and PhD programs work out and through preparing of University level professional experts. Within the framework of the project, a new master degree program and certificate programs for in-service teachers in international and multilingual education will be designed and introduced. Project Coordinator: Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (Georgia).

“Master in Higher Education Management: Developing Leaders for Managing Educational Transformation” (MAHATMA) aims to transform higher education management in Armenia and Georgia through introduction of a new Master’s programme/professional development courses in higher education management and enhancement of the institutional capacity to implement the new Master’s programme and promote change dialogue between the education stakeholders leading to system transformation. Project Coordinator: Armenian State Pedagogical University (Armenia).

“Promoting Educational Organizations through people (PEOPLE)” aims to reinforce top and middle managers of higher education institutions competencies by developing human resource management and staff development strategy focusing the challenges, the economic transition process of the partner countries and globalization that are impacting higher education institutions. Specific objectives of the project are carrying out training seminars on HR most relevant processes, developing a strategic plan for the development of HR in each partner university, creating a specific resource center at each partner university with materials as well as an online platform with shared information on HR. Project Coordinator: T. Ryskulov Kazakh Economic University

Project aims to promote recognition of Eastern Neighboring Area HE systems- Armenian, Georgia, Belarus and Ukraine - through development and integration of internationalization dimensions into structural and cultural components of HEIs management. The specific objectives of the project are integration of international dimension into the teaching, learning and research functions of HEIs, identification and development of new skills, attitudes and knowledge in students, faculty and staff. Project Coordinator: Yerevan State University

Project aims to tackle the unemployment and lack of innovation due to a gap between labor market needs and skills of labor force, to learn new and appropriate skills within a current work field and re-educate into new profession. The project is meant to increase the development of individuals and to influence the economic development by providing continuous training to the labor force. Project Coordinator: Linnaeus University

“Entrepreneur Alumni Network (EANA)” aims to establish Entrepreneur Alumni Networks (EAN) at 11 HEIs in Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia which support the entrepreneurial spirit among students, scientists in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The project aims to create entrepreneurship-related associations at HEIs as well as establish international entrepreneurial networks of universities, experts, external cooperation partners, companies and entrepreneurs, to reduce graduates' unemployment by supporting young founders and create international jobs and internships in start-ups. Project Coordinator: Hogeschool van Amsterdam

Anthrax, caused by the spore forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is a disease of animals which can infect humans either directly through contact with infected animals or indirectly as a consequence of bioterrorism. In regions of the world such as Eastern Europe and Central Asia the pathogen still constitutes a significant threat to human and animal health. A lack of effective veterinary facilities, access to vaccines and the burial of untreated infected animals has resulted in the contamination of large areas due to the ability of the spores to survive in soil for many years. Given that the bacteria is non-contagious its elimination from contaminated soil and surfaces would have a major impact on disease incidence. We are seeking to develop an approach which is specific for B.anthracis and will have minimal impact on the environment. Following preliminary field trials on animal burial sites in Turkey we have developed a technique which triggers the conversion (germination) of B.anthracis spores into bacteriophage (phage) susceptible vegetative bacteria. Phages are natural preditors of bacteria, are species specific and found in close proximity to their prey. We hypothesize that a combination of germinant and B.anthracis specific phages will be an effective and ecologically friendly means of reducing spore numbers. Indeed in laboratory studies we have demonstrated the feasibility of this approach. While there are a number of funded phage based anthrax deacon projects in the region there is as yet no dedicated scientific network to facilitate the sharing of best practices and to link researchers in neighboring countries facing similar problems. It is our intention to link these projects together in a manner which maximizes the current investment and will deliver an environmentally friendly decontamination system.

Chain Reaction: is a three-year project founded by European Commission within FP7 framework program. It aims to develop Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) across twelve partner countries. The project will provide interactive and engaging IBSE professional development to teacher education professionals from each participating country using tried and tested inquiry-based science resources. The project also provides a strong and sustainable IBSE framework both for teacher educators and for teachers, along with resources tailored to each partner's individual cultural and curricular needs. Science teachers are able to build their knowledge and skills, learning independently as well as being part of a wider teacher network. Chain Reaction is rooted in problem solving and inquiry based learning principles, aiming to actively involve students in their science studies, and enable them to experience the excitement and challenges of experimental and investigative science.   Project Coordinator: Sheffield Hallam University 

Project in the Kyrgyz Republic works to foster effective collaboration between a credible, sustainable civil society, the private sector, CGP aims to improve the social compact between the government and the Kyrgyz people by capitalizing on the increased cooperation between the public, private, and civil society sectors in the Kyrgyz Republic. On April 21st, 2015 an Agreement has been signed between Ilia State University and East-West Management Institute, Inc based in Kyrgystan to launch the 2nd NPM Fellowship Program within the frames of Collaborative Governance Program (CGP). Within the frames of the project 5 selected fellows from Kyrgystan have visited and worked with 5 leading non-profit organizations in Tbilisi area; audited NPM courses taught at universities in Tbilisi and conducted individual research and interacted with GIPA and ISU experts to prepare the NPM course(s) that they will teach at their universities in Kyrgyz Republic.

NUCLEUS develops supports and implements inclusive and sustainable approaches to Responsible Research and Innovation within the governance and culture of research organizations in Europe. A major goal of the trans disciplinary project will be to stimulate research and innovation which continuously reflects and responds to societal needs. In order to achieve a multifaceted and cross-cultural New Understanding of Communication, Learning and Engagement in Universities and Scientific Institutions, 26 renowned institutions from 15 countries, among them leading representatives of 14 universities, will collaboratively identify, develop, implement and support inclusive and sustainable approaches to RRI. For a mutual learning and exchange process, the project will reach out beyond the European Research Area by including renowned scientific institutions in China, Russia and South Africa. Within a 4-year timeframe NUCLEUS will systematically uncover and analyze structural and cultural obstacles to RRI in scientific institutions. The partners will collaboratively develop innovative approaches to overcome these barriers. The project is expected to lead to an applicable ‘RRI DNA’, providing practical guidelines for higher education institutions and funding agencies across Europe and beyond. This ‘DNA’ will form the basis for the ‘NUCLEUS Living Network’, an alliance to ensure sustainability of the approach beyond the project timeline. By offering new academic insights and practical recommendations derived from 30 ‘RRI test beds’, NUCLEUS will contribute to the debate on science policies both on a national and European level, including the future design of HORIZON 2020 and the European Research Area (ERA). The project designed within the frames of the European Science Events Association (EUSEA), where ISU Science Picnic is a member organization since 2013.  

The COSMOS2020plus funded by the H2020 programme is a project of the International Network of National Contact Points in Space fields (NCP Space), which aims to exchange and disseminate information on space exploration, share experience, carry out trainings, expand cooperation between European countries, develop joint projects. Space exploration is extremely important for human life today. It is becoming a part of our daily lives. It is important to involve more countries in these activities. The participating countries are: Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, France, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Turkey, Great Britain. The consortium was established 10 years ago. Georgia has been involved in it for the first time.

The molecular mechanisms underlying memory formation in vertebrates are not well understood, despite their paramount importance to neuroscience. CHARM-Vis aims at investigating changes in the chromatin landscape and transcriptional activity in a prototypical model system for memory formation: visual imprinting in domestic chicks. During visual imprinting, visually naïve chicks come to recognize an object by being exposed to it. This phenomenon can be reproduced in tightly controlled conditions, thus offering an ideal model for the study of memory formation. Particularly, the project will focus on identifying changes in chromatin landscape and gene transcription within the chick brain following visual imprinting. Samples from the intermediate and medial mesopallium, a chick forebrain region previously recognized as of crucial importance for visual imprinting, will be analyzed using Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin and single nuclei RNA sequencing. The use of these two technologies will ensure the identification of memory-related molecular events at an unprecedented level of resolution. Our findings will allow to characterize the molecular mechanisms involved in memory formation, with potential impact on the treatment of mental illness, especially amnesias. Project Coordinator: Ilia State University

From the Georgian perspective, orientation to the West goes hand in hand with an increased openness towards the Black Sea region along with questions about interpretational sovereignty over the Caucasus. The project examines symbolic and affective reinterpretations of this geographical space. Special emphasis is put on the dialogue between Russian (imperial), Georgian (national) and Abkhazian (minority) perspectives. Georgia’s geographical position as a border space between Asia and Europe, or Orient and Occident, contributes to the fact that the study of its cultural semantics holds strong ties with the cultural awareness of Europe as a whole.

Ilia State University has become one of the beneficiaries of the Volkswagen foundation within the frames of the project EU Democracy Promotion in the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia. The aim of the project is to guide the beneficiaries towards a better understanding of the decision-making processes of EU democracy promotion, as well as a better understanding of the EU’s contribution to democratic development in the countries of the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia and the appropriateness of the instruments used. 

The project aims to enhance entrepreneurship training and strengthening the process of extending university research into the development and commercialization phases. The project will also develop a system that encourages university professors, researchers, and students to participate in sponsored research, publish in Georgian, European, and North American academic journals, patent and commercialize their inventions, and collaborate with industry to develop a sustainable entrepreneurial skills program and to foster a regional ecology of innovation and entrepreneurship. ISU has already established a Technology Commercialization Center, a Future Fabrication Laboratory, a Pre-accelerator-Innovation and Entrepreneurship Space, and a Visualization Lab – helping to foster entrepreneurship among both students and professors. ISU would like to strengthen its development capacity by incorporating entrepreneurship teaching and support into its system. ISU will further develop this infrastructure by hosting seminars, trainings, and gatherings of representatives of other universities, nonprofit organizations, governments, and businesses. The project intends to create a reciprocal collaboration where both universities will benefit and learn from one another. Much of this collaboration will be conducted online between visits and in-person meetings. Such collaboration will include curricula and pedagogy exchange, sharing experience between interested faculties, researchers and administrators, and establishing student collaboration.

This project contributes to the enhancement of teaching as well as training activities in Peace Studies at graduate level for students in Tbilisi and regional universities in conflict-affected areas. Academic courses taught at 4 HEIs and training cycles conducted at for students from Gori and Zugdidi will be aimed at increasing the level of knowledge and understanding concerning Peace processes not only in Georgia, but worldwide.  Specific objectives of the project are: provide targeted Georgian faculties with capacity development measures to enable them to meet European standards aligned with Bologna process; implement Peace Studies modules integrated in relevant academic programs at Georgian partner universities; equip Georgian universities with modern learning resources; establish the Institute for Peace Studies on the premises of Caucasus University and build a networks among the universities; further raise awareness and understanding of peace processes in conflict-affected regions of Georgia by conducting trainings for regional university students Project Coordinator: Dublin City University

DARE project foresees to improve the access to and quality of inclusive higher education for minority ethnic groups,  women in disadvantaged situations and in peripheral areas and disabled students in IL and GE by supporting institutional capacities through the reinforcement and provision of student support services at GE and IL partner HEIs in 4 main areas (child care, clinical and occupational psychological, learning and physical disabilities, academic support) and delivering a regulatory policy framework. The project also aims to enhance the access to education within and outside the classroom throughout a digital environment. Herein, courses already developed within the context of reinforcing the academic skills of target groups will be more accessible. The project reflects the importance to raise awareness on accessibility issues within IL and GE as well as the necessity to ensure the long-term effect impact of the project for the benefit of women in vulnerable situation, minority ethnic groups and disabled student population. Project Coordinator: University of Haifa

The project HERITAG aims to develop an interdisciplinary reform in higher education programmes at master level and continuing education integrating Geo-information Technologies (GIT) applied to cultural heritage documentation, tourism management and entrepreneurship. The project promotes the synergy of three main groups of stakeholders: Universities, industry and Administration. The curricular reform integrates the development of capacities in 3 main national and regional priorities in Georgia and Armenia: Geo-information technologies, cultural heritage preservation and documentation, and fostering tourism business and entrepreneurship. Specific goals of the project are: To create interdisciplinary master specialties in GIT for cultural heritage and tourism, integrating marketing and entrepreneurship skills oriented to consolidate local industry, following the guidelines of the Bologna process. To establish Geo information and Tourism Technology centers (GTTC) in partner countries - To create three new GIS laboratories in Tourism Economics Departments and to update existing equipment in partner country universities. To foster the continuous education in Higher Education institutions of current professionals by creating interdisciplinary training modules. To re-train academic staff in GIT, tourism management and entrepreneurship. Project Coordinator: Universitat Politècnica de València

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

Action Research to Innovate Science Teaching & Career Orientation (ARTIST) - wants to improve science education and career orientation for the young generation. This shall be done by investing in the skills of science teachers concerning the evidence-based innovation of science teaching and promotion of career orientation. ARTIST intends to improve science education by promoting teacher skills in doing action research and small-scale innovation studies in science education in programme and partner countries across Europe and Asia. Jointly, the ARTIST consortium will develop teacher education courses and training materials to enable teachers to innovate their teaching based on self-generated evidence. Case studies for innovations in science teaching will be conducted and exchanged across the ARTIST consortium and beyond. ARTIST centers will be founded to act as centers of competence to support teachers and schools in their ongoing process of educational reform and innovation. ARTIST networks will be developed comprising universities, schools and business partners to support the process of curriculum innovation. Platforms will be established to support teachers and schools in these processes via the ARTIST website and the newly founded journal Action Research and Innovation in Science Education (ARISE). Project Coordinator: University of Bremen

This project is a concrete response to attempts of HE system reform that aims to adapt the education system to the new economic environment and increase the efficient use of material and human resources of universities. HEIs should review their own training process of graduates so that they can provide well-formed and competent graduates who will contribute actively to the development of their national economies. Project specific objectives are: Dissemination of European best practices and preparation of documents necessary for enhancing I&E in HEIs through interaction between University-Enterprises in GE and KG. To set up, equip and network creative centres (CreaLABs) which support students and researchers to generate, develop, market and commercialize their own innovative ideas through entrepreneurship and open innovation in GE and KG.  Improve skills and competencies of staff working at CreaLABs to support entrepreneurship. Design an intensive training program on teaching entrepreneurship for professors and students seeking to integrate effective and new methods of teaching entrepreneurship in the respective courses Create a network of professors and practitioners to encourage entrepreneurship and social innovation in beneficiary countries. Project Coordinator: Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg  

The main objective of the eDrone project is to provide higher education institutions in the Partner Countries with effective and efficient instruments to setup Offices for Education for Drones (OED), for the transferring of all the above mentioned knowledge to professionals of each Partner Country. Moreover, the project aims at realizing an innovative ICT-based infrastructure employing enhanced technologies and methodologies allowing all the Partner Countries to create a network for sharing educational contents and databases to professionals. Such infrastructure will be used to support OED in the technological and scientific transfer to professionals. The Programme Countries will transfer their know-how and expertise for the achievement of the eDrone objectives by training the future teachers of the OED and by supporting them in the first edition of the OED. Project Coordinator: Universita Degli Studi Del Sannio (Italy)

The main goals of the project are: Enhancing student learning experience in Armenia, Georgia and Belarus by promoting development and innovation in teaching and learning (T&L), supporting integration of technology and research, as well as disseminating good practice.  Modernising higher education in Armenia, Georgia and Belarus in line with the Bologna agenda and establishing cooperation in education and training between partner and EU countries by promoting virtual mobility of teachers and students, and enhancing lifelong learning capabilities. Project objectives: The abovementioned goals will be achieved through fulfilment of the following specific objectives: To strengthen Teaching Staff Development Centres (TSDC) in the PC universities by enhancing capacities of staff and trainers, modernizing infrastructure and introducing innovative teacher training and academic leadership programmes.  To build up capacities of the partner universities’ teaching staff by developing their innovative and technology-enhanced teaching and learning (T&L) skills and abilities of competency- and research-based teaching. To establish a Virtual Academy of Teaching and Learning (VATL) as an international community of teachers, staff and students interested in using and sharing Open Educational Resources (OER) for the improvement of technology-enhanced T&L. To promote greater awareness on the types and methods of innovative and technology-enhanced T&L and to disseminate best practices within and between universities in the partner and EU countries. Expected results The following outcomes and outputs are expected by the end of the project:  30 staff and 100 trainers trained on innovative T&L methods and technology-enhanced instruction. 28 technology-enhanced teacher training classrooms, 9 multimedia OER content building studios and 5 new teacher training courses. Over 500 trained university teachers who are no more just “lecturers” but “designers of the learning methods and environments”. Virtual Academy of Teaching & Learning (VATL) - an interactive professional development, mutual learning and virtual mobility platform of teachers to promote innovative T&L practices. 6 virtual communities of teaching practice, an annual Virtual Forum and institutional award programmes promoting awareness on innovative pedagogy and excellence in T&L. Disseminated electronic newsletters, booklets, VATL Manual, Good Practice Teacher Handbook and training kits on innovative T&L.

Project aims to respond to major objectives of Georgian R&D strategy defined by the government’s four-point development plan including education reform and creation of knowledge-based society; to strategic development plan of the Ministry of Education and Science [MES] on quality enhancement of education, research, raising innovation potential, capacity building on tech-transfer via strengthening university-industry relations, and internationalization; and to new standards of National Center for Education Quality Enhancement demanding the evidence-based policy for R&D and strategic development plans for research at HEIs.   Project Coordinator - Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU)