Through International Education Case Study - Georgia

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1 Center for International Education (CIE) Tbilisi, Georgia DR. NINO CHINCHALADZE ACA ANNUAL CONFERENCE, Successful Carriers 9-11 JUNE, HAGUE Through International Education Case Study - Georgia

2 History Highlights Until 90s of the last century, Georgian students had very few opportunities of studying outside the Soviet Union. International arena for individual initiatives was closed. Study abroad programs started in early nineties in Georgia, with prior few individual efforts of going for studies mostly occurred to USA, Germany and UK. Among the first organized exchange programs in Georgia were Muskie Scholarships, launched by the US Government in 1993 and other scholarships offered by the Central European University in Czech Republic and Hungary. Later new programs were introduced including USG-sponsored FLEX (Future Leaders Exchanges for high schools students) and Undergraduate exchange programs, and other long and short term international study opportunities. In mid nineties scholarships for international studies were started by DAAD, British Council and OSI.

Among the first organized exchange programs in Georgia were Muskie Scholarships, launched by the US Government in 1993 and other scholarships offered by the Central European University in Czech

3 Why alumni did not go to the public sector? CIE-conducted focus groups with various program alumni identified the major obstacles preventing alumni to work in the public sector at the earlier stages. Among them: Vacancy announcements were not transparent Announced jobs were mostly inadequate to alumni Jobs lacked creativity Public sector offered low salaries Jobs were offered with no decision-making capacity Younger alumni were treated like kids No independence or flexibility was given Lower opportunity to become change agents within the institutions.

4 Why Alumni would not return to universities? Universities were not flexible No decision-making capacity Lower interest on the part of the university administration to change the situation Inappropriate, low salaries Old fashioned teaching style and outdated curriculums No research capacity No capacity for professional development

part of the university administration to change the situation Inappropriate, low

5 Enhanced Opportunities after 2004 After the Rose revolution the situation has changed rapidly. Orientation towards international student mobility in the higher education system of Georgia has become important instrument for enhancing the level of education quality, recognition and sustainable development. Georgia joined the Bologna Process in European system of credit accruement, recognition and transfer, practice of issuing bilingual academic degrees, national qualification framework were introduced in Georgia, adding to the increase of international mobility. However, these mechanisms were not sufficient. While universities in Georgia have developed certain partnerships on international level, yet to date the programs that would contribute to enhancement of mobility rates are quite few. Such programs are mainly implemented in the private higher education institutions, while the majority of students in Georgia (72%) are educated in the state universities (Geostat 2010). Economic situation in the country is another factor affecting opportunities of Georgian citizens to travel abroad to study. Despite the fact that tuition fee in Europe is relatively low, living costs and other related expenses is high for a person with average income to fully benefit from the existing opportunities.

development. Georgia joined the Bologna Process in 2005.

6 Western-Educated as Governmental Trend Mikheil Saakashvili was only 36 when he was elected as Georgia's president in 2004, making him the youngest president in Europe. The new government oriented Georgia's foreign policy toward the West, to impose free market principles on the economy, and to root out corruption in the nation's security and police forces. To achieve these goals, Government turned to the younger class that supported the movement. The Rose Revolution marked higher demand for Western-educated professionals. The welcoming of the alumni to serve in the new government resulted in higher motivation of alumni, increased salary schemes and entailed broad ranging reforms across the sectors nationwide. Up-to-date Georgia boasts high return rate of its alumni. The return of highly qualified professionals and their involvement in the public sector become an integral part of the government strategy. This trend is successfully maintained!

To achieve these goals, Government turned to the younger class that supported the movement. The Rose Revolution marked higher demand for Western-educated professionals.

7 High Profile Alumni, before October 2013 Have a look at the list of previous government, US/EU program alumni in public sector: The president of the country Muskie alumnus of Columbia University The prime minister- alumnus of Philadelphia Temple University Two state Ministers- Muskie alumni -Emory University MA in Law State Minister Georgetown University Research Fellowship Minister of IDPs, Refugees and Accommodation-OSI Alumna of Columbia Unviersity Minister of Culture University of Georgia Minister of Health and Social well fare NYU Former \Prime minister Emory University Goizueta Business School alumnus Chairperson of the Constitutional Court Muskie Duke University alumnus

$of Health and Social well fare NYU Former \Prime minister Emory University Goizueta Business School alumnus Chairperson of the Constitutional Court Muskie Duke University$

8 High Profile Alumni, after October 2013 Chairman of the parliament Muskie alumnus Minister of Infrastructure DAAD alumnus Minister of Education and Sciences OSI alumnus Minister of Economics Muskie alumnus Minister of Internal affairs Sorbonne University, Individual Minister of Justice National School of Administration in France Minister of Environment CEU and Muskie alumni Minister of Foreign affairs Jena University Chairperson of Supremes court Saarbruken University alumni Chairperson of Constitutional Court CEU, Muskie alumni Minister of European Integration graduated from NATO Defense College And many others who are in mid-carrier and upper positions and in NGO s, business sector and International Organizations

and Muskie alumni Minister of Foreign affairs Jena University Chairperson of Supremes court Saarbruken University alumni Chairperson of Constitutional Court CEU, Muskie alumni

9 CIE-Administered Programs in Partnership with the Government Education Policy and Management program Health Policy and Management Program Environmental Policy and Management Program

10 What Attracted Alumni back to Public Sector? Public Sector Announcements transparent Western-education is preferred Market-oriented skills in high demand Decision-making capacity is encouraged Alumni seen as agents of change Higher salary schemes offered

preferred Market-oriented skills in high demand Decision-making

11 New Reality in Academic Sector- Back on Track! Alumni started returning to the academia Why so? More faculty development opportunities More institutional development programs Higher salaries AFP - Academic Fellowship Programs and many other. One example, Tempus projects.

More faculty development opportunities More institutional

12 Enhanced Institutional Capabilities, HEiS Tempus projects in Georgia, implemented since 1995, have created a solid basis for the successful implementation of the Bologna principles, while supporting curriculum development, the introduction of quality assurance mechanisms and lifelong learning. In Georgia, more than 70 % of Tempus projects have been implemented in the field of curriculum development and modernisation. In the framework of Tempus, new programmes have been developed for Bachelor, Master and doctoral levels of higher education, using ECTS. Implementation of modern teaching,learning and assessment methods have led to the development of curricula compatible with European standards.

In Georgia, more than 70 % of Tempus projects have been implemented in the field of curriculum development and modernisation.

13 What makes alumni different and in high-demand for employability? Knowledge of western values and commitment to democratic development and Georgia s western integration Capacity to develop global and comprehensive visions in terms of theoretical approaches, as well practical effects Capacity for critical thinking Ability to integrate knowledge and handle innovative approaches, promoting new reform ideas, developments and solutions. Capacity to make informed and reasoned complex decisions and take action upon them. Ability to deal with ethical and moral dilemmas and take responsibility for decisions on them. Sensitivity to culture, gender and diversity

of theoretical approaches, as well practical effects Capacity for critical thinking Ability to integrate knowledge and handle innovative approaches, promoting new

14 Challenges with data No comprehensive statistical data is available about study abroad students, the information is fragmented. We know e.g. that in USA there are about 430 students according to Open Doors Stats and in the last five years the number of Georgian student mobility increased by 36 %. No consolidated data is reported for other countries.

15 Discussion topics Brain drain vs brain gain No countrywide survey/data for the students educated abroad, fragmented knowledge No country specific research on education abroad and employability No career advising centers

abroad, fragmented knowledge No country specific

16 Center for International Education Profile CIE is well-known for its competency in supporting international education mobility, nationwide program coverage and professional credibility with the network of partner universities and educational institutions in Georgia, Europe and USA. CIE is oriented in meeting higher demand for the new generation of western-educated professionals in Georgia s developing socio-political context and modernization efforts. Specialized in consultations, trainings, recruitment and testing, CIE achieved solid increase in Georgia s student enrollments on undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels and faculty training programs, with a landmark of 100 students/professionals annually admitted to colleges and universities in East and West European countries and USA. Through educational fairs and workshops, CIE succeeded in reaching over 10,000 prospective applicants annually. CIE leads to building wider networks and outreach, innovative alumni projects and stronger student/alumni tracking models to reach its objectives: 1. Broadening the pool of western-educated young generation in Georgia, especially in the areas of public policy and administration, education, environment and healthcare; 2.Further internationalization of Georgia s higher education system through greater diversification, quality and relevance; and increasing access to higher education opportunities by underserved student population of Georgia contributing to equity in education.

CIE is oriented in meeting higher demand for the new generation of western-educated professionals in Georgia s developing socio-political context and modernization efforts.

17 Contact information Thank you for your attention

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