Georgian higher education from the perspective of the international literature from 2003 to 2019

Abstract

PurposeHigher education in the Republic of Georgia has experienced a massive isomorphic transformation since the Rose Revolution of 2003 and continues to transform with aspirations toward Euro-Atlantic integration, compliance with the Bologna Process and as a reflection of the Europeanization of its higher education sector.Design/methodology/approachThis literature review documents and analyzes literature published between 1991 and 2019 on the development of higher education in the Republic of Georgia from 2003 to 2019.FindingsThe findings reflect the evolving political landscape and aspiration for Euro-Atlantic integration against the backdrop of one of the most impoverished education systems in the world, as measured by percentage of gross domestic product spending. More explicitly, what findings have been reported in the international literature on Georgian higher education from 2003 to 2019?Research limitations/implicationsThe choice to review only English publications was deliberate and done after consultation with a leading Georgian scholar, who noted that the Georgian language publishing market is small and of varied quality; leading Georgian scholars most often seek to publish in English journals and books, and all technical and policy reports produced by the Minister of Education, NGOs and large international organizations (e.g. World Bank) are available in English.Originality/valueThis literature review documents and analyzes literature on the development of higher education in the Republic of Georgia from 2003 to 2019 as a reflection of the evolving political landscape and aspiration for Euro-Atlantic integration against the backdrop of one of the most impoverished education systems in the world, as measured by percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) spending. This unique political and economic history makes higher education in Georgia worthy of review.

Higher Education Funding Policy and Research Productivity of Universities in Georgia

“…The collapse of the Soviet Union changed the characteristics of higher education of Georgia and imposed important problems and challenges. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgian higher education institutions attempted to take more social responsibility toward the newly independent Georgia and to promote the Georgian language, history, culture, and ethnic identity (Gvaramadze, 2010, Lanahan, 2020. The main challenge for higher educational institutions in the post-Soviet era was "the need to overcome the highly centralized nature of the Soviet educational system and shift from a teacher-centered to a student-centered pedagogy" (p. 189, Lanahan, 2020).…”

“…After the Rose Revolution of 2003 and political changes in Georgia, the wave of educational reforms started (Lanahan, 2020). The new higher education accreditation system was introduced (Chakhaia & Bregvadze, 2018).…”