On June 6-8, within the framework of the EU Erasmus + project, - Strengthening the Quality and Relevance of the Third Mission in Georgian Universities - SQUARE”, University of Turku hosted a study tour. Within the project partnership, Matsatso Tepnadze, Head of Research and Data Analysis Office at Caucasus University participated in the study tour together with the representatives from 8 partner universities and appropriate public institutions from Georgia.

During the study visit, the representatives of the University of Turku shared with the participants the information about the 3M goals, organization, and activities. Participants also attended the presentations about measuring 3M activities and effect of 3M on university financing, and accreditations and auditions related to 3M at the University of Turku. Participants also got acquainted with the Innovation Services at the University of Turku and company collaboration as a means of supporting the commercialization of research.

The aim of the SQUARE 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.