Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University hosted an event commemorating the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Master’s Program in Law LL.M. zu Köln between TSU and the University of Cologne. During the event, Academician Jaba Samushia, Rector of Tbilisi State University, awarded an honorary doctorate to Professor Christian von Köln, one of the leaders of the program.

According to the decree of the Academic Council of TSU, Professor Christian von Köln was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of Tbilisi State University for ten years of active and fruitful cooperation with TSU, constant support of the Master’s program LL.M zu Köln, as well as for his contribution to the scientific and research activities of students, academic and scientific personnel, and to the internationalization of the University.

The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Nodar Papukashvili, the Dean of the Faculty of Law of TSU, Tamar Zarandia, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Georgia, Ernst Peter Fischer, professors of the Tbilisi State University and the University of Cologne, judges, representatives of the regional and central offices of the DAAD, students.  

Rector Jaba Samushia spoke about the fifteen-year experience of the Master’s program. He also focused on the merits of the Georgian and German professors who taught the Master’s program - LL.M. zu Köln. “The program, which started with the admission of 5 students, now admits 15 students a year. Its graduates are successful lawyers, their employment rate is equal to 99%,” Rector Samushia noted. According to him, an important base has been created, which promotes scientific and practical activities within the German-Georgian legal family. For 15 years, the Master’s program has had about 120 graduates.

The Master’s program - LL.M. zu Köln was launched in 2007 on the initiative of the then Rector of TSU, Professor Giorgi Khubua, and Professor Angelika Nussberger of the University of Cologne to improve the knowledge of German and European law among Georgian students. Upon completion of the Master’s program, graduates will receive a diploma from the University of Cologne.

The Master's program is implemented with the support of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), based on the cooperation between Tbilisi State University and the University of Cologne. The program is led by Professor Irakli Burduli of Tbilisi State University, and by the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Dr Bernhard Kempen and Professor Christian von Köln of the University of Cologne.

Students study the first semester at Tbilisi State University and the second semester at the University of Cologne. MA students have access to the unique library of the University of Cologne, which gives them the opportunity to write their thesis according to European standards.