On June 5, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) signed a Memorandums of Cooperation with the Tbilisi City Hall and the Tbilisi City Council. The Memorandum was signed by Rector of TSU, Giorgi Sharvashidze, Tbilisi Mayor Davit Narmania and Chairman of the Tbilisi City Council Giorgi Alibegashvili.
The Memorandum was signed in frames of launching a new academic program at TSU. Dean of the TSU Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Tamar Dolbaia said: “A new academic program – Development Studies and Local Self-Governance – has been developed at the faculty. Development and introduction of this program had been dictated by existing challenges, among them correct use of sustainable development, ecological, migration and other problems facing the world. Their solution starts from the local level. Therefore, we coupled sustainable development and local government studies to enable students to use theoretical knowledge in practice.”
Rector of TSU, Giorgi Sharvashidze said that “the signed memorandum will promote the establishment of development-oriented specialists. Students should fully get involved in implementation of the program planned by the capital city. In its turn, the university will offer its scientific and student potential in order to settle the problems. Besides student practice and internships at the Tbilisi City Hall and the Tbilisi City Council, we will launch another new project jointly with the capital concerning settlement of ecological problems and development of relevant policy. We will implement this project together with our German partners.”
“The issues envisaged by the memorandum are welcomed and needed for the development of our city. Students will work in various commissions and services at the Tbilisi City Council that means more involvement of our future generation in governing the city. This project will enable young people to undergo internship and develop all necessary skills,” Chairman of the Tbilisi City Council, Giorgi Alibegashvili said.
According to the Memorandum, the Tbilisi City Hall and the Tbilisi City Council will closely cooperate with the university over the issues of student practice and internships. In its turn, the university, if needed, will provide the Tbilisi City Hall and the Tbilisi City Council with necessary methodological materials, training modules and other intellectual resources related to local self-governance; in addition, the parties will implement joint projects.
