2016-08-19
Deputy Minister of Education and Science Gia Shervashidze held a press conference to address activities of unauthorized education institutions. According to Shervashidze, universities, including Odessa International Humanitarian University and Preparatory Centre of Kiev International University are not listed in the registry of the education institutions, since they have not obtained authorization - this is an essential prerequisite for higher education institutions willing to perform educational activities.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Law of Georgia on Higher Education, authorization is mandatory for independent legal entities established on the territory of Georgia as well as for the branches of foreign higher education institutions.
Entities that do not issue qualification document and natural persons engaged in educational activities are exempt from the authorization requirement.
Hence, following the clauses of the Law of Georgia on Higher Education and Law of Georgia on Education Quality Enhancement, neither Odessa International Humanitarian University, nor Preparatory Centre of Kiev International University LTD enjoy the status of higher education institutions and are not entitled to issue state-recognized qualification document.
Furthermore, the title of respective organization shall not include the term university, since pursuant to the provisions of the Law of Georgia on Entrepreneurs, a company name shall not include an addition that may mislead society and/or cause any mistake and/or misunderstanding concerning the form and the scale of the activity of the business entity.
Finally, according to the Criminal Code of Georgia, issuance of education certificates recognized by the state without appropriate authorization, or unauthorized use of the name of a general, vocational or higher education institution is criminally punishable.
Following the kind request of the Ministry of Education and Science, in the process of selecting higher education institutions for the purpose of continuing studies, interested persons shall determine whether diploma issued by the institution in question is recognized by state.
Respective information is provided by the National center for Education Quality Enhancement. Contact telephone: (+995 322) 200 220 (*3599)