Jaba Samushia, an academician and the rector of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, and Margus Ojaots, the director of the Valgamaa Vocational Education Center in Estonia, signed a memorandum of cooperation between the two educational institutions.

The memorandum envisages cooperation in vocational education, the implementation of joint international educational projects, conferences and seminars; the organization of joint cultural, sports and educational projects; the mobility of administrative staff, teachers and vocational students, and exchange projects.

According to TSU Rector Jaba Samushia, Tbilisi State University actively cooperates with European educational centers, and the memorandum of cooperation signed with the Estonian side will open a completely new direction. “This opens a new direction, a new perspective for our students. With the memorandum signed with the Estonian Education Center, students of the TSU Vocational Education Center will have the opportunity to continue their studies in Estonia. The two institutions will also have the opportunity to share information and experience in the field of vocational education,” said Rector Samushia.

Margus Ojaots, the director of the Valgamaa Vocational Education Center, emphasized the importance of cooperation between Tbilisi State University and his center for developing the European vocational education system. He added that Estonia and Georgia have a long history of cooperation in the field of education, and this memorandum marks a new stage in deepening cooperation in vocational education, creating new opportunities for students.

Levan Tsikaridze, the head of the TSU Vocational Center, said that the memorandum is another successful step in the internationalization of vocational programs. Both the implementers of vocational programs and students will actively participate in this process. “This is the second memorandum that we have signed with the Estonian side. The agreement allows our students to enroll in a bilingual vocational program and complete an internship in Estonia,” Tsikaridze added.

The signing ceremony was held as part of the Estonian delegation’s visit taking place on May 22-25. The Estonian delegation includes Margus Ojaots, the director of the Valgamaa Vocational Education Center, and Andrus Murumaa, the director of Valga Gymnasium, among others.

The delegation will visit the TSU Vocational Education Center in Tbilisi and Kutaisi, meet with Levan Tsikaridze, the head of the center, as well as the heads of vocational education programs, and teachers. Plans for future cooperation will be discussed during the visit.