Researchers

KETEVAN APTARASHVILI  – ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, Doctor of Educational Sciences; Dean of Education Sciences Faculty at the East European University, the Head of the Master’s program in Educational Research and Administration, Head of Bachelor Degree program in Preschool Education, the Authorization and Accreditation Expert of Higher Education Programs at LEPL National Center For Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE). Member of the Sectoral Council of Higher Education. Since 2015, she has been invited to the National Assessment and Examinations Center (NAEC) to correct elementary teacher certification exam tests. In various years she was a Head at the Educational Process Management Service at East European University, Head of Education Department, member of the Representative Council, Chair of Teaching and Learning Committee, Chair of distance learning and support committee. She has experience of working in a general education school. She has been engaged in pedagogical and professional activities for years. Since 2013, She has been actively involved in pedagogical activities at the East European University and Iv. at Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, where he teaches educational courses at all levels of education, Georgian and English language programs;

Dr. Ketevan Aptarashvili is actively engaged in scientific-research activities and in research projects. She is the author of scientific publications on education and teaching. Under the ERASMUS + grant program, she completed a pedagogical internship at the University of Education Upper Austria (Linz). She is a participant of numerous international and local conferences, seminars, workshops and a member of the organizing committee, a member of the editorial board of the scientific journal “Collection of Scientific Papers” of the East European University. She has been actively involved in local and international professional development programs, is the organizer of various educational projects and professional development programs.

Davit Sikharulidze is an accomplished academic with a doctoral degree in economics, holding the position of associate professor at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. He serves as an expert on accreditation and authorization for the National Center for Education Quality Development. Additionally, he holds the osition of Head of the Department of Scientific Research and Development at East European University. Throughout his career, Dr. Sikharulidze has held significant roles in both private and public organizations. His diverse experience

includes serving as an invited expert for the Parliament of Georgia, as well as an economic advisor and expert for the international organization International Alert. Notably, he was responsible for overseeing business undergraduate educational programs at Grigol Robakidze University. To enhance his expertise, Dr. Sikharulidze has actively participated in exchange programs at renowned institutions such as Kansas State University and Metropolitan State University in the USA, Tartu University in Estonia, and the Macroeconomic Research Academy of the National Development and Reform Commission in China. Since 2005, he has been a dedicated

lecturer at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, delivering courses in both Georgian and English languages. The subjects covered in his lectures include international business, research methods, and international entrepreneurship. Dr. Sikharulidze’s scholarly contributions extend to the publication of approximately 50 scientific works addressing pertinent issues in business and the economy. He has been actively involved in numerous scientific-research grant projects, assuming various roles such as project co-author, leader, coordinator, leading researcher, and invited expert. Under his direct leadership, two targeted scientific grant research projects

funded by Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University have been successfully completed in the last two years, with a third Project currently in progress.

 Dr Vasil Kikutadze

Doctor in Economics, Professor

Dean of Faculty of Business and Engineering at East European University, Tbilisi, Georgia

Accreditation Expert of Higher Educational Programs National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement

Directions: Economics, Sectoral Management, Education

 

Prof. Vasil Kikutadze – Since 2003 he has been actively involved in the higher education processes in the country as a lecturer, researcher, author of various research articles, monographs, textbooks (co-author), and an accreditation expert of higher education programs. He is an Professor at East European University (Dean of Faculty of Business and Engineering) and Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. Under his direct supervision, higher educational academic programs of different levels (bachelor, master, doctorate) are developed and implemented. He participated in various training courses, including practical application of research methods and technological support for research. He also participated in many international scientific conferences and his papers are published in international peer-reviewed journals. Vasil Kikutadze is a participant of more than 20 research grant projects (as co-author, supervisor, coordinator, principal investigator, invited expert, etc.). As an expert, Prof. Kikutadze regularly cooperates with various research foundations and takes part in the evaluation process of research projects.

Elene Zurabishvili is a Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Healthcare Sciences and an Assistant Professor at East European University. Also, she is a doctor Endocrinologist at Medison Holding (Georgia) and a PhD student in education sciences (English) at East European University.

She received her Medical Doctor’s degree at Tbilisi State Medical University (Georgia) in 2011 and her MSc degree in Clinical Endocrinology at Queen Mary University of London (United Kingdom) in 2016.

Elene Zurabishvili had successfully completed an Essential Skills in Medical Education (2022) and Medical Education Assessment (2023) courses organized by The international Association for Health Professions Education and many advanced international postgraduate courses in clinical endocrinology organized by European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE), the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, etc.

 

Her ongoing doctoral project – „An investigation into the progression of undergraduate medical students to their professional status; facilitators and inhibitors in Georgian medical education” is a winner of Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation doctoral programmes grant competition call 2022. She as a young researcher is also currently taking a part in the project “Internationalization of scientific research in Georgia (1991-2021) and its influence on professors’ academic activity”. Elene Zurabishvili also took a part in a scientific project “Assessing the risks of intoxication and oncological disease of the population due to heavy metal pollution of the ecosystem” as a doctor researcher funded by East European University in 2021.

Doctor of Business Administration;

Specialty: Management;

Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Business and Engineering, EEU.

Dr. Tamta Lekishvili serves as the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Business and Engineering at the East European University. With extensive professional experience, she previously contributed to the Quality Assurance Service at the International Black Sea University and held the role of Senior Manager at the Faculty of Business and Engineering at the East European University. As an ERASMUS MUNDUS Scholar under the Doctoral Scientific Exchange Program, Dr. Lekishvili actively participated in programs such as “Doing Business in Europe” at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and “Consensus Invest 2018” in New York, USA, among various local and international projects.

Engaged in scientific-research activities, Dr. Lekishvili boasts authorship of over 10 English-language scientific publications. Her active participation in scientific conferences, seminars, and workshops underscores her commitment to academic discourse. Furthermore, she has actively sought professional development through local and international programs and seasonal schools. Since 2020, Dr. Lekishvili has served as a researcher at the Varlam Cherkezishvili Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies at the East European University. Simultaneously, she holds a significant role as a member of the Dissertation Council at the Eastern European University, Faculty of Business and Engineering.

Dr. Lekishvili also serves as an Expert at LEPL National Center for Education Quality Enhancement of Georgia, contributing her expertise to the accreditation of higher educational programs

Rusudan Cherkezishvili is a Master of Science in Education (2023). Since 2019, he has been employed at the Department of Education of East European University. Rusudan has published several articles in local scientific journals -,,Student-centered Teaching (Case of East European University);“Role of the student in internal quality assurance”. She is a member of the organizing committee of several scientific conferences of East European University.

Nana Kachkachishvili is an Educational Programs Coordinator and invited lecturer at the Faculty of Healthcare Sciences at East European University. In the spring semester of 2022, she was an invited lecturer at TSMU’s Center of Clinical Skills and Multidisciplinary Simulation. Currently, she also works as a junior doctor at Caucasus Medical Center.

In 2015-2021, she studied Medicine at Tbilisi State Medical University. In 2021, she was awarded with the academic degree of a Medical Doctor.  From 2022, she continues her studies in the residency program of Cardiology at Tbilisi State Medical University.

She is an alumna of Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX), in 2014-2015 she studied in the United States of America, with the full funding by the US State Department. During her fifth year of the studies at TSMU, she was chosen for Erasmus+ Program and studied at University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

From fall semester of 2022, she has been actively engaged in various projects and contributes in planning and implementing extracurricular and educational projects at East European University.

Tamar Tkhelidze is a Master of Education Sciences (2023). She is currently employed in the Office of the Rector of the East European University. She is  a member of the organizing committee of several scientific conferences.

Tamar Tkhelidze  is actively involved in research activities, she became winner of  university research grant “Turning the idea into a reality”. He has published several articles in local scientific journals – Student-centered Teaching(Case of East European University); “The influence of the scientific supervisor on the quality of the phd dissertation”.

In 2012, Natia Gegelashvili graduated from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of Johannes Gutenberg State University in Mainz, Germany. Her main course of study was communication research, with an additional focus on sociology. In 2016, she obtained a master’s degree in communication research from the same university.

During her time as a student, Natia Gegelashvili actively collaborated with the Business Development and Promotion Center in the city of Frankfurt. She was involved in researching the company’s service quality and played a role in updating the company’s quality management system.

From 2014 to 2022, Natia Gegelashvili held the position of research project manager at the Institute for Social and Market Research (IFAK Institut für Markt- und Sozialforschung) in the city of Wiesbaden, Germany. During these years, she conducted both German and international medical and consumer market research.

Currently, Natia Gegelashvili is actively engaged in German and international medical market research projects. Simultaneously, she holds the position of a senior specialist in the Department of Scientific Research and Development at the East European University. Additionally, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Sciences in the joint program offered by the East European University and Middlesex University in London.

In addition, Natia Gegelashvili is a fellow of the International Migration and Development Center (CIM/GIZ) Global Program “Migration and Diaspora” and the winner of the Shota Rustaveli Scientific Foundation’s 2023 doctoral competition. She also holds the certificate of honor from the Georgian community in Germany for the high academic achievements.

At the East European University, Natia Gegelashvili actively participates and serves as a member of the organizing committee for numerous international and local conferences, seminars, and workshops. Additionally, she is a researcher at the Varlam Cherkezishvili Center for Interdisciplinary Studies and the Physical, Mental, and Social Well-being Scientific Research Center.

Giorgi Tatanashvili has several years of experience in higher education administration, specifically in managing the educational process. He currently works as the coordinator of educational programs at the Faculty of Healthcare Sciences at East European University. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Education Sciences. Giorgi has participated in the international educational exchange program “Erasmus +”, where he studied at the University of Education in Upper Austria (Linz, Austria). Additionally, he is an invited lecturer at the Faculty of Healthcare Sciences (EEU), teaching a course titled “Skills for Academic Study” in the English-language medicine program. Giorgi is actively involved in research activities and contributes to planning and implementing extracurricular and educational projects.