With the support of the European Union, work has begun in Georgia on the development of an academic course on Inclusive Social Protection. The initiative aims to strengthen academic knowledge in the field of social protection and develop learning resources tailored to Georgia’s specific context and needs.
Six higher education institutions in Georgia are participating in the initiative: East European University (EEU), Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Gori State University, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, Ilia State University, and the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA).
East European University is represented in the project by Associate Professor Ketevan Aptarashvili, Dean of the Faculty of Education Sciences, and Associate Professor Eka Gigashvili.
As part of the initiative, the first individual working meeting was held at East European University (EEU) with international partners from UNU-MERIT / Maastricht University (the Netherlands), who are involved in the development of the course in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The meeting focused on the course concept, its relevance to the Georgian context, and opportunities for integrating the course into university educational programmes.
At the next stage of the project, a working meeting was organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), bringing together representatives of UNU-MERIT and academic and administrative staff from all six Georgian universities participating in the project. Associate Professor Ketevan Aptarashvili, Dean of the Faculty of Education Sciences, represented East European University at the meeting.
The initiative will result in the development of a one-semester academic course and accompanying teaching and learning materials, based on international standards and adapted to Georgia’s context and needs. The project also includes capacity-building for academic staff and support for the integration of the newly developed course into university educational programmes.
East European University’s participation in the initiative will contribute to the development of contemporary academic knowledge in the field of inclusive social protection, the exchange of international experience, and stronger cooperation between universities and international partners.