On April 22 the Ilia State University hosted a presentation of results of the completion of the first phase of the OSGF-support project ‘ProGeorgia: donor database, trainings and consultations in the field of higher education and science‘. The representatives of various public and private universities, students, and civil society representatives attended the event. The project, implemented by UNI.GE aims at improving access to financial resources for the development of higher education and scholarly research in Georgia and strengthens competencies for fundraising.
Affordable quality education is a necessary precondition for promoting democratic governance and open society. Today the development of the higher education system is one of the main challenges facing Georgia on its path to democratic development. Considering the scarcity of financial resources available for development of research and higher education, attracting additional funds is of critical importance.
Meanwhile, the desire to receive quality education abroad is growing among Georgian students. Locally available scholarships do not fully satisfy the existing demand. The progeorgia.ge website will also assist the seekers of scholarships for continued education abroad. Already at the initial stage of implementation, the website includes information about more than 200 programs and donor organizations providing financial assistance for research and educational purposes. The next stage will involve the development of guidelines and trainings tailored to the needs of students, academic community, university administrations, nongovernmental organizations, and other interested parties both in Tbilisi and the regions.
While creating a database is an important initiative, ensuring its sustainability is a challenge. The project management approached the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia with a request for assistance after the expiration of OSGF funding. The Ministry stepped in and offered support for maintaining and updating the database as well as its further development after the completion of the project this summer.
