Rector of the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU), Academician Vladimer Papava commented on the appeal made by the rectors of eight Georgian state universities to Parliamentary Chairman Davit Usupashvili and lawmakers.
“The Tbilisi State University was one of the first higher educational institutions, which reacted sharply on the amendments planned to the budgetary code of Georgia. We sent an official letter to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Education and Science as a result of which a meeting with the rectors and chancellors of state universities was held at the Finance Ministry. We provided strong arguments and proposals during the meeting. The Georgian Finance Minister said that all the remarks and proposals voiced by the representatives of Georgian universities would be taken into consideration. We were promised that the university autonomy would not be restricted as a result of transferring university revenues and expenditures to the uniform account of the state treasury. During the meeting several representatives of higher educational institutions even welcomed the draft amendments. Therefore, following the Finance Ministry’s pledge, the appeal to the Parliament caused some surprise. The TSU Rector would have signed the appeal proceeding from the principle of solidarity if we had been offered to do it,” Rector Papava noted.
He also said that in order to strengthen the university autonomy, it is essential for Georgian higher educational institutions to change their status of legal entities of public law and return to their previous status of non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entities.
The rectors of eight state universities made an appeal to the Parliamentary Chairman and lawmakers concerning draft amendments to the budgetary code. The appeal reads that the planned amendments pose a threat to the university autonomy.
