Higher Education System in Georgia: Reforms and Modern Challenges

Georgia is wealthy with higher educated population. Society is best served if higher education system enjoys academic freedom and requisite institutional autonomy. A strong education system designed to ensure genuine opportunity for all to reach their full potential and continue to improve their knowledge and capacities throughout their lives will raise such society. In 2004 the Law on Higher Education was adopted, which regulates conduct of educational and scientific research activities of higher educational institutions in Georgia, the principles and procedures of management and funding of higher education, establishes the rules and procedures of foundation, performance, reorganization and liquidation of a higher education institution, as well as the principles of authorization and accreditation. In 1999 Ministry of Education of Georgia started implementing Georgian Education System Realignment and Strengthening Program, funded by the World Bank. Within the framework of the program, the Ministry set up an assessment component. The staff of the component was sent to CITO, an assessment center in Netherlands, where they did professional training and participated in preparation of the program. In 2002 the National Examinations were carried out in Georgia for the first time. In 2005, based on the decision of the Georgian government, the Soviet system for university admissions was replaced by the modern system what is considered as one of the most successful reforms conducted in Georgia. Georgia is the country of universities. There were 198 higher education institutions in 2004 with 172.5 thousands students. During Soviet Union, in 1990s, there were about 600 higher education institutions. The vast majority of the students, about 75%, are engaged in public universities, the rest 25% - in private ones. In 2014, there were 72 higher education institutions.Strong correlation exists between students? schooling background and their participation in higher education. Financial support is available for the students with highest attainments what can also encourage older workers to retrain or upgrade qualifications. The most important criteria in the decision of choosing university is probably the quality of education and prestige. Other important criteria are the global recognition of programmes on offer, modernity of teaching methods.Overall, students are predominantly looking for a specific and high-quality offer in their area of programmes, at an up-to-date and well-managed institution of high standards which they can afford.