On May 19, at the initiative of Mariam Jinchvelishvili, visiting lecturer at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, fourth-year students of the Sociology Bachelor’s program welcomed Elene Jibladze as a guest speaker.
Elene Jibladze holds a PhD in Political Science from Central European University (Hungary) and is a specialist in education policy. With over 10 years of professional and research experience, she focuses on higher education system reforms in post-Soviet transitional countries. Her research interests include quality assurance mechanisms, systems of quality development in higher education, university autonomy, and the concept of “engaged” universities.
The topic of the lecture was: “Modern Trends in the Higher Education System and Higher Education Reform in Georgia: System Transformation and Results.”
The meeting was distinguished by its interactive and contextual discussion. Elene Jibladze presented the main reforms implemented in the Georgian higher education system over the past two decades and their structural, political-economic and academic results. Special emphasis was put on the education policy of the post-Rose Revolution period, the goals of the reforms and their effectiveness.
The following topics were discussed with the students:
- The aspiration to align with international standards in higher education;
- Quality assurance mechanisms and their practical implementation in Georgia;
- The autonomy and involvement of universities in the local and global social context;
- The importance of academic freedom and institutional pluralism.
The meeting was interesting and students were given the opportunity to ask questions and share their opinions. This exchange significantly contributed to the development of their critical thinking and enhanced their understanding of educational systems both in Georgia and globally.
