Universities and university education in general, play an important role in the political and socio-economic development of every country. The Batumi State University after Shota Rustaveli (BSU) is one of the principal universities in the Adjara region that has been playing a special role in the revival and the development of region’s education and culture.
On 3 October 2010, the BSU celebrated 75 years’ anniversary. This year, this important date coincided with significant reforms and transformations taking place in the university. These reforms should help the university to overcome challenges before it.
Structural and organizational modifications, changes in human resources, the process of bringing study programs and scoring systems in line with modern European standards and criteria, a search for international partners, deepening contacts and introducing joint educational programs, rethinking the function and the mission of the university in order to be at the forefront of democratic reforms taking place in the region and to support civil society development region-wide – this is a short list of challenges standing before the BSU these days. Success and future of the university, as well as political and socio-economic developments in the Adjara region depend greatly on how the BSU is able to overcome existing problems and answer challenges.
The goal of the public debate organized in Batumi by the Heinrich Boell Foundation in cooperation with the local non-governmental organization the Center for Regional Development and Initiatives was to examine and rethink the past of the BSU, its current challenges and debate on its future function and mission.
The debate took place on 28 September 2010. The main speakers were: Bichiko Diasamidze – PhD in History, Professor, BSU; Gia Masalkin – Philosopher, Associated Professor, BSU, and Tamaz Darchidze – the Head of the Students Scientific Council, BSU.
Professor Diasamidze underlined an important role played by the Batumi State University in the region’s political life and its special position nationwide. He reminded concrete example from the past demonstrating civic positions of the BSU professors and its students: Protection of the Georgian language in 1978, declaration of independence after the breakdown of the Soviet Union, the regime change in Adjara in 2004, when Aslan Abashidze was peacefully replaced.
Gia Masalkin, the Associated Professor, BSU, focused its attention on the necessity to enhance the university’s autonomy and to increase students’ role in the process of the management. These are the minimum requirements to make the university competitive and to increase the effectiveness of the management, concluded the speaker.
Tamaz Darchidze – the Head of the Students’ Scientific Council, BSU, described in details challenges and problems facing the university. He underlined the need for strengthening international partnerships and contacts, especially with European universities. He also focused on the need to transform the university into the competitive educational institution in Georgia.
At the end of the discussion, all experts called on professors, students and civil society representatives to get actively involved in the development of the future concept for the Batumi State University. Participants of the debate evaluated the public debate organized by the Heinrich Boell Foundation in Batumi as one of the steps towards this direction.
Article in newspaper "Batumelebi" 28.10.10 #7 in Georgian (download pdf)