EU Erasmus + project, “Strengthening the Quality and Relevance of the Third Mission in Georgian Universities - SQUARE”, Meetings in Lisbon, Portugal 

On November 14-19, within the framework of the Erasmus + project, - Strengthening the Quality and Relevance of the Third Mission in Georgian Universities - SQUARE”, the NOVA University of Lisbon hosted Georgian partners.

On November 14, rector of the NOVA university - João Sàágua opened the session and hosted the Georgian representatives. From Caucasus University, the President of the Caucasus University, Kakha Shengelia, the Vice-President for Internationalization, Irena Melua, and the Vice-President for Research and Strategic Development, Boris Lezhava, participated in the meetings.

Representatives of the National Center for Education Quality Enhancement, the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, Project Coordinator Tbilisi State University and other Georgian universities involved in the project also attended the meetings.

Vice-Rectors of Nova University, Isabel Rocha and João Amaro de Matos, shared detailed information with the Georgian partners about NOVA University's third mission and internationalization goals and activities, as well as the activities of NOVA University's Innovation Research and Impact Strategy Office (IRIS) and the Haddad Entrepreneurship Institute.

Within the framework of the visit, the Georgian partners also got acquainted with the innovative services operating at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FCT NOVA) of Nova University. Participants visited the laboratories of the university and NOVA Institute of Art and Technology (NOVA IAT).

At the meetings, parties discussed the innovation ecosystem at Nova University, current achievements, challenges, and future visions of Portuguese partners in this regard. Such meetings and the sharing of experience of European partners will contribute to the development of entrepreneurial education, innovative ecosystem and innovative potential of Caucasus University.

The aim of the project is to improve the quality and relevance of the third mission of universities. 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. 

The 3M project consortium is a group made up of 8 Georgian and 2 European universities together with Georgian Ministry of Education and Science and the National Center of Education Quality Enhancement.