Meeting in Telavi 10-11.6.2025.
The DUGEOR Consortium met on June 10–11, 2025, at Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University (TeSaU) in a hybrid format. The Rector of TeSaU and Head of the International Relations Office welcomed participants, underlining the importance of shaping Georgia’s dual education framework. Online attendees, including representatives from GTU, actively contributed. Maia Shukhoshvili from the Ministry of Education presented draft Amendments to the Law on Higher Education, introducing legal definitions for dual higher education programs and requirements for combining theoretical and practical learning. Partners supported the initiative, emphasizing its significance for institutional clarity. Ketevan Kobakhidze from NCEQE clarified that while accreditation standards remain unchanged, field-specific handbooks, on-site evaluations, and benchmarks will be developed within six months. Institutions adding dual components to existing programs must notify NCEQE with a self-evaluation report. Participating companies agreed to external evaluations. BSMA, leading dissemination, noted delays in partner websites displaying the project link, promising swift corrections. Maia Dragon highlighted quality assurance challenges and announced upcoming questionnaires to gather partner feedback, which will inform dual program assessments. Project Coordinator Mirko Savić outlined two key 2025 deliverables: the legal framework and a toolkit for dual education. TeSaU will lead toolkit organization through separate partner meetings. Helge Hagen Hochrinner presented strategies for effective process documentation. Partners (GIPA, GTU, BNTU, BSMA, TeSaU) shared 15-minute presentations on their views for toolkit templates. On June 11, discussions refined responsibilities, benchmarks, and dissemination plans, ensuring alignment on project timelines. Online participants remained engaged, especially in toolkit and benchmark discussions. The meeting concluded with a cultural visit and lunch at Shumi Winery, fostering informal networking among consortium members.
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