Presentation of a new vision for grant competitions of the Shota Rustaveli Georgian National Science Foundation
On April 7, 2019, a presentation was held at the Paragraph Hotel, which was opened by Givi Mikanadze, Minister of Education, Science and Youth. He addressed the audience with a welcoming speech and introduced the initiatives planned for the development of science within the framework of the reform of the higher education system. The Minister emphasized the strengthening of the field of science and the promotion of the quality of research, and drew attention to the role of the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation in this regard.
The presentation of the new vision of grant competitions was presented by Zviad Gabisonia, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth. The Deputy Minister focused on the national significance, goals, priorities, competition conditions and project evaluation mechanisms of state grant competitions.
The discussion touched upon the bilateral and multilateral international programs of the Rustaveli Foundation, the prospects for deepening international cooperation in scientific research and activating relations with international organizations, other priority projects, achieved results and future plans of the organization.
Within the framework of the new vision of grant competitions, in 2026, the following will be announced for the first time:
• State Scientific Grant Competition;
• State scientific grant competition to promote the research and popularization of Georgian cultural heritage in the Vatican;
• Scientific grant competition to support and develop Kartvelological centers abroad;
• Targeted scientific research grant competition to support and develop regional state universities;
• Targeted grant competition for undergraduate students.
It was noted that the current year's state scientific grant competition for Kartvelological research has already been announced.
Meeting of the Commission on Agricultural Innovations
On April 1 of this year, a meeting of the Agrarian Innovations Commission under the Presidium of the Academy was held, at which the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Agrarian and Natural Sciences of Samtskhe-Javakheti State University, President of the International Association of Veterinary Education of the South Caucasus Countries, Doctor of Veterinary Sciences, Professor Levan Makaradze delivered a report on the topic: “Veterinary Medicine at Samtskhe-Javakheti State University - Achievements and Future Prospects”.
The speaker noted that veterinary education at Samtskhe-Javakheti State University does not have a very long history. In 2019, based on the decision No. 241 of the Accreditation Council of Educational Programs of the National Center for the Development of Educational Quality of Education, the Integrated Master's Degree Program in Veterinary Medicine was granted accreditation. This was a historic decision that created a legal basis for the first time in the history of our country, an integrated master's and doctoral educational programs in veterinary medicine was implemented at a state university on the basis of Samtskhe-Javakheti State University.