Tbilisi Teaching University Gorgasali

History

The Tbilisi Teaching University Gorgasali was founded in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 1995. It is a private company owned by Mzia Katamadze and Jovan Didier. From its very first beginning, Gorgasali University consequentially developed a high-profile through superior academic standards. Its renowned Law School, one of the country’s best Business Schools, but also its medical studies have resulted in high reputation in Georgia and beyond.

The University resides in one of the most prestigious parts of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi. The campus offers modern classrooms, an extensive library, sports and leisure facilities, but also a state of the art Dental Clinic and an affiliated University Hospital.

In 2015, preparations started for significant changes. Their result is a new structure in which, the owner and Rector of Gorgasali University, Prof Dr Mzia Katamadze, was appointed President in early 2016. Prof Katamadze is member of the Club of Rectors of Europe. Club of Rectors of Europe Members meet several times a year, leading to close relationships with other Universities. These offered prestigious business agreements and student exchange programmes with first tier Universities around the globe. There has been some questions asked about the "Club of Rectors of Europe" for instance Florian Bieber's blog of 16 May 2012 which tongue-in-cheek poked fun at the academic pretensions of this grandiose sounding body. On 29 August 2013 the Center for Investigative Reporting ran a report on the European Business Assembly (EBA) of which the Club of Rectors is a part, claiming that there is little behind these organisations but a "lucrative business" . The "Club of Rectors of Europe" has such institutions such as Harare Institute of Technology and the Russian International Olympic University as members.

Prof Dr h.c. Jovan Didier, who also remains Dean of the University’s autonomous University Institute for International and European Studies (UNIES/Statmind) in Kerkrade in the Netherlands received the call as the University’s new Rector. Jovan Didier is also the President of the European New University which shares exactly the same address in Kerkrade, The Netherlands, with UNIES/Statmind. The European New University was mentioned in an article of 15 December 2011 in the German newspaper Zeit Online, as being a partner of the IPF Multiversity which also was located in Kerkrade, the Netherlands. According to the Zeit Online article "Dabei ist die IPF gar keine staatlich anerkannte Uni, weder in den Niederlanden noch in Deutschland. Genauso wenig sind es ihre Kooperationspartner, die European New University und die Université Nouvelle Européenne".

UNIES/Statmind (USF) is private foundation incorporated in the Netherlands. Its chairman is Robert Goedegebuure who is indicated to hold a "professorship" from UNIES. Other members are Jovan Didier and Klaus Georg Oestreicher. Klaus Georg Oestreicher is also the Provost of UNIES. In addition to this Klaus Georg Oestreicher is also Provost of the Euregio University College, as well as Chairman of the Advisory Board of International University of Georgia in Asia. Klaus Georg Oestreicher is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) . According to the Times Higher Education the Higher Education Academy will lose its grant funding from 2017, following an independent review

Robert Goedegebuure is also a member of this Advisory Board of International University of Georgia in Asia . Robert Goedegebuure is also Director of the Statmind Institute for Development and Management and an Associate of the HPO Center , a private company based in the Netherlands associated with André de Waal. Robert Goedegebuure is furthermore responsible for the HPO Center of Africa and through UNIES/Statmind offers a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree from the Tbilisi Teaching University Gorgasali.

Under its partnerships, UNIES and Tbilisi Teaching University Gorgasali lists the European New University as a prominent partner institution.

With reference to its permanently increasing global position the Tbilisi Teaching University Gorgasali is in the process of changing its name to International (Teaching) University of Georgia. The old name of Gorgasali University will gradually be replaced until 2017.

Degree Awarding Powers

In accordance with the requirements resulted from the reforms in the educational system, the University successfully has passed all stages of official authorisation and accreditation processes in 2002, 2007, and 2012.

Gorgasali University has received cognate Degree Awarding Powers from the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia.

International Degree Recognition

Georgia is aligned with the European Process of Harmonisation of Higher Education in Europe, also known as Bologna Process, making Degrees of the Gorgasali University cognate across Europe.

In particular, NARIC UK has confirmed Gorgasali University Degrees’ equivalence with degrees of British universities. Similar, the German Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister (KMK) has officially recognised the University’s degrees and placed Gorgasali University on its Anabin list of recognised foreign universities. Further individual examples are that Nuffic, the Netherlands, and the Austrian Government acknowledge Degrees as well.

Since 2015 official degree recognition also has been granted by various Governments outside Europe.

Accreditations and Memberships

University Gorgasali is accredited by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, NCEQE(ENQA), which conducts recognition of educational institutions based on Georgian legislation authorised by the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia.

In addition, Gorgasali University was accepted by the United Nations as Signatory and Member of the PRME Framework. The University also is part on the UN's Global Comapct and actively engaged here.

The University also is Member of the European Union’s Erasmus Tempus programme. Erasmus has specifically selected the University’s Master in Hospitality Management and awarded the prize of Best Programme.

Gorgasali University has introduced MBA programmes to the Georgian Higher Education system. Before the Ministry of Education and Science accredited the Gorgasali MBA as the first of its kind, the MBA did not exist as academic Degree in Georgia.

Programmes of Studies

Gorgasali University offers studies on

· Bachelor Level

· Master’s Level

· Doctoral Studies

All studies are focused on delivering Employability Impact. For both academic/scientific or professional careers curricula are carefully designed to equip students with a relevant and applicable set of skills and capabilities. Beyond concentrated subject orientation all programmes of studies are subject to added value through significant components of leadership qualities, corporate and/or social responsibility. This is part of the University’s contribution to the Six Principles of the UN’s PRME Framework as well.The research orientation of the University assures that latest knowledge is delivered to students through research-based content and short-term periods between actualisation of content for each programme of studies.

Single Programmes of Studies

Gorgasali University delivers its programmes of studies in a wide variety of subject areas. The University therefore is structured into Schools, Institutes, Departments, and Faculties:

Specific status has Gorgasali University’s University Institute for International and European Studies.

In addition, Gorgasali University’s collaboration with global Partner Universities from Europe, the Caucasus-Region, and the Far-East also enabled to extend its studies into fields of international and inter-cultural management. One such example is the collaboration with the Europa Hochschule EurAka, Switzerland, awarding the Degree of PhD to Gorgasali University students, which is recognised under the Higher Education regulations of Switzerland.

Double Degree Programmes of Studies

Together with the International Trade and Law Institute Gorgasali University delivers a variety of cross-disciplinary Double Degree programmes:

The International Trade and Law Institute is an offspring of Pusan National University. Its Director is Prof Dr Eun-Sup Lee, who still is Professor and Chief Director, Maritime Logistics/Trade Specialists of Pusan National University and author of internationally acknowledged specialist literature.

The University's collaboration with the Europahochschule EurAka, Lugano, Switzerland, delivers the Double Degree of the

Further Double Degree Programmes with public and private Universities from various countries are in preparation.

Studies with Gorgasali University offer students opportunities for internships and work-experience.

Short-term Studies

As part of the Georgian Higher Education System, which is further supported by EU Higher Education Gorgasali University delivers

Professional Qualifications

Beyond Gorgasali University's range of academic studies, the University offers Professional Qualification Programmes as well. These are structured into short-term courses. Subject areas are mainly related to Business and Management. Examples are the

In this delivery of professional qualifications, Gorgasali University was appointed and authorised to deliver its courses within the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) of the Malaysian Ministry of Human Resource.

Further professional qualification courses in medicine and healthcare are in preparation.

The University Institute for International and European Studies

In 2015, Gorgasali University constituted the University Institute for International and European Studies,short UNIES, which added a second campus to that in Tbilisi. UNIES is located in Kerkrade, the Netherlands. Within the University’s structure UNIES was granted full autonomy. UNIES is governed by the Higher Education regulations of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, since Graduates are awarded with a Georgian Degree, but has its own statutes, processes, and quality assurance mechanisms.

Dean of UNIES is Prof Dr h.c. Jovan Didier, its Provost Prof Dr Dr h.c. Klaus Oestreicher. The Chairman of UNIES is Robert Goedegebuure, who is also the Director of the Statmind Institute of Management and Development.

Since early 2015, UNIES has an office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which also oversees teaching and learning in Indonesia. This centre, responsible for South East Asia, is directed by the UNIES Professor Operations Management and Academic Director South East Asia Prof Dr P. Ravindran Pathmanathan.

In India, UNIES resides in New Delhi. The office, which was opened in early 2016, is responsible for the Indian subcontinent, namely, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is directed by UNIES's Administrative Director, Ms Pooja Mehra.

The third representation of UNIES is in Moshi, Tanzania. Directed by the UNIES Professor of Finance, Lucky Yona, who also lectures with ESAMI, the office further provides campus facilities for African and foreign students. Furthermore, the centre in Moshi is also shared by the StatMind Institute of Management and Development regarding various research projects with UNIES in the Roundtable Africa Project and the University's Research Centre on National Competitiveness and International Trade. The StatMind Institute of Management and Development is owned by Robert Goedegebuure and offers a Doctor of Business Administration degree together with UNIES and ESAMI. On 26 March 2014 Paul Mwangi, a former legal advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, wrote about ESAMI in the Pambazuka News , claiming that ESAMI 'has become the place where some Permanent Secretaries sent their sycophants at the ministry and their girlfriends to while away their time and earn allowances'.

Due to the diverse and extensive operations on various continents, it was essential for the Gorgasali University endowing its Institute UNIES with an autonomous structure for its main task of globally developing and extending the delivery of the University’s Higher Education.

Gorgasali University’s International Presence

A wide range of programmes of studies is delivered in various European, Asian, and African countries for which the University’s Institute UNIES is responsible. That means that Students can study in their country of origin. They are directly enrolled with and students of the Gorgasali University, while the delivery of the programmes of studies takes place in their country of origin. Graduates are awarded with a European academic Degree of the Tbilisi Teaching University Gorgasali while remaining in their country of origin.

UNIES and Gorgasali University understands this as contribution to globalised Higher Education and also as one contribution within the University’s commitment to the Six Principles of the UN’s PRME Framework.

For strengthening its presence, but especially as rigid mechanisms of quality control UNIES has own offices in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, New Delhi, India, and Moshi, Tanzania, which also offers additional campus facilities.

International Delivery of Programmes of Studies

Gorgasali University delivers its programmes around the globe through carefully selected national partners having the status of Accredited Partner Institute. Rigid assessment protocols and processes before such accreditation assure directly comparable quality. During studies UNIES academic staff permanently monitors teaching and learning standards and student achievements and welfare.

The international programmes are taught in English language, but may also be studied in a variety of other languages.

Some examples of Accredited Partner Institutes comprise the

Research

Gorgasali University has its own Research Centre on National Competitiveness and International Trade. In this Research Centre Gorgasali University’s own faculty and those from affiliated other Universities in and outside Europe undertake relevant research with particular emphasis on issues of globalisation and their impact on national economies.

Furthermore, the University organises international research conferences. Examples are

In 2016, the University has joined the Roundtable Africa Project together with its partner the StatMind Institute for Management and Development. StatMind's Director Prof Dr Robert Goedegebuure, who was Professor with Maastricht Management School before, is UNIES's Professor International Business at the same.

Publications and Conference Proceedings of Klaus Oestreicher demonstrate the University's research output further.