2021-07-31
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"I know how important it is for a student to be concentrated solely on his or her education, without thinking of raising additional funding for tuition. I have experienced it myself and was thus motivated to establish the International Education Centre to carry out such project initiatives" stated Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia at a meeting with successful applicants and beneficiaries of the International Education Centre for the academic year 2021-2022.
According to the Head of Government of Georgia, 1150 best-performing students were selected over 6 years by the International Education Centre to support their further studies at leading universities of the world.
"First of all, I wish to congratulate some with the successful completion of studies and others with the start, as the audience gathered here includes those, who are to leave the country soon to pursue their studies. Very briefly, I wish to say a few words about this project to our population and youth who are listening to us now. We jointly launched it in 2014 and witnessed its great success soon after. I speak on the grounds of factual outcome and output of the initiative. About 1150 best-performing students were selected over 6 years to support their further studies at leading universities of the world. Of course, the most important value of this project for me is that we maximized the investment in the greatest asset of the country - the youth. I have said it before and will repeat again that education is the greatest value for us, as is the young generation of Georgia, because the future belongs to you. I know that a lot of outstanding and talented people lack the possibility to gain knowledge overseas until we reach the relevant standards of education domestically. I know how important overseas studies are for them. I experienced it myself some 20 years ago, when I gained my knowledge in France. I know how important it is for the student to be concentrated solely on his or her education, without thinking of raising additional funding on tuition and other needs. I have been through it myself and this feeling inspired and motivated me to give opportunities to you. We thus established this agency and have been implementing this project ever since. Over 6 years we selected 1150 best-performing students for overseas studies, who have already returned to Georgia" stated Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia.
As noted by the Head of Government of Georgia, a lot of young people left the country after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It is a great loss for our country, as their potential and resources are not used to further empower Georgia.
"We travel everywhere - some go overseas to stay and gain experience. However, we should all return to our homeland as this country belongs to you - our future generation. It is very sad and tragic for me as the past 30 years have brought a lot of calamities, plenty of mistakes were made when the Soviet Union got dismantled and Georgia regained its independence. Since then a lot of high-performing youth and talented scientists and professionals have left the country. It is a great loss and tragedy for us, as their potential and resources are not used to further empower our country. That is why your return to Georgia is a remarkable event and very joyful for me" added the Prime Minister of Georgia.
According to the Head of Government of Georgia, authorities of the country will do everything to support the students in finding the best use of their knowledge.
"On the other hand, the Government of Georgia should do its best to support you in materializing your knowledge. We should wide-open doors to our talented youth. I promise to pay special attention to the adequate acknowledgement and recognition of your talent and knowledge. Almost 43 million GEL has been spent over these years. It is not sufficient, but we can double this amount in the coming years. We are actively working towards this end with the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia. These 1150 students should grow into 10 000. Our goal will be to send more students overseas, until the level and quality of education in Georgia reaches the European benchmark through the efforts of the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia" concluded the Prime Minister of Georgia.
Over 150 students were selected by the International Centre of Education this year.
The Prime Minister of Georgia met the beneficiaries and successful applicants together with Mikheil Chkhenkeli, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, along with Nino Chelidze, Director of the International Centre of Education. Meeting was interactive and held in an informal setting. Beneficiaries of the program - Ana Kipiani and Giorgi Mikadze - performed pieces of music at the meeting.
The International Centre of Education was established in 2014 with an initiative of Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia. It offers scholarships for overseas degree education to citizens of Georgia with funding allocated from the State Budget and youth thus has opportunities to gain education at various leading universities of the world. Funding is allocated for graduate and post-graduate programs, overseas training of civil servants at overseas research institutions or vocational education centers.
Funding allocated from the State Budget in 2014-2021 for the scholarships approved by the International Education Centre exceeded 41 million GEL, while over 1100 successful applicants have benefited from the program.
Hundreds of successful young individuals have returned to the country and got jobs in various directions. They benefit their homeland with the acquired knowledge currently used in various areas.
Press Service of the Government Administration