Meetings in Azerbaijan on the problems of sericulture

     GAAS Academician E. Shapakidze visited city of Sheck, Azerbaijan, together with a group of investors regarding the subject of sericulture. He was accompanied by Giorgi Ghenti, Director of Georgian Fund of Regional Development and Cultural Heritage, and member of Association Menteshashvili.

The Association, an active supporter of restoration of sericulture in Georgia is directed by Ioane Batonishvili who received the blessing from Georgian Patriarch Ilia II for their activities.  

In Azerbaijan, the members of Georgian delegation met with the researchers and specialists of Scientific- Research Center of Sericulture and shared the experience of the colleagues. Also they visited a silk warm selection laboratory and sericulture technological complex and its product.

  The investors were given a good opportunity to learn in details modern technologies of silk thread production and updated methods of processing silk fabrics. Shapakidze, as a representative of BACSA in Georgia, studied the existed situation, so that Georgia should meet the VIII BACSA International Congress well-prepared which will be held in April in Sheck.

   A memorandum on partnership between Georgian Academy of Agriculture and Azerbaijan Scientific- research Center will be signed to support the restoration, rehabilitation and development of sericulture in Georgia.    

Information  

Presentation of the book written by an prominent Georgian scholar

                On July 8, 2016, in the conference hall of the GAAS, a presentation of the book “Wine Making” written by a well-known Georgian scholar Vasil Petriashvili was held.

       The book was written and published in 1895, and re-edited in 2016 by a publishing house “ Merediani”.  A new edition can be used as a text-book for students, as well as for practitioners, particularly by family-type wine-makers.

The presentation was attended by GAAS members, the Rector of Georgian Technical University

Acad. D. Prangishvili, the Dean, Prof. G. Kvartskhava, renowned Georgian scholars, wine-makers, representatives of Georgian Patriarchy, invited guests.                       

 The presentation was opened by the acad. G. Aleksidze, the GAAS President.

 Acad. Nodar Chkhartishvili spoke about the life and creative and scholarly work of a researcher and about the significance of the book.

Prof. Bondo Kaladze, an editor, M. Beriashvili, the author of idea regarding a new edition, and G. Samanishvili and others spoke about the value of the book by V. Petriashvili and its significance.

After the presentation, a book “Wine-making in Georgia” was offered for sale to the participants. 

Information

A Seminar organized by the Academy in production Plant

On July 1, 2016, GAAS Department of cattle breeding, veterinary and food production (Head, Acad. J. Gugushvili),  organized meetings with Marneuli “Lasharela”, Ltd, ( Director Zaza Lashkhi),  “Lomtagora” ( Head, kakha Lashkhi), and Kumisi poultry plant ( Director G. Maisuradze).

The topic of the seminar was “The implementation of modern technologies in poultry plants, and production of food from annual cultures”. One of the aims of the seminar was an exchange of knowledge and experience between the scholars and the producers. The scientists shared valuable consultations and gave recommendations to the practitioners.

The participants agreed that they will continue cooperation which will help the producers to implement in practice scientific achievements.

On the 10th of June, at Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences a Round Table was organized which was dedicated to the problem of preparing qualified specialists in agrarian sciences to discussion of future perspectives.
           Besides the members of the Academy, the invited guests, such as, Prof. G. Kvartskhava, the Dean of Bio-system Engineering Faculty, and TSU professors I. Kruashvili and G. Gagoshidze , D. Gubaladze. Z. Lobjhanidze, the deans of Agrarian University – Makaridze and Chkuaseli, and others also were present at the Round Table discussion.
             From the side of the GAAS, the members who are involved in pedagogical activities in higher education institutions participated in the work of the Round Table; academicians: G margvelashvili, R. Makharoblidze, J. Katsitaze, A. Didebulidze, J. Gugushvili, A. Giorgadze.
     The Round Table was opened by G. Japaridze, the Vice President speech focused on significance if the subject of discussion. E. Shapakidze presented the information regarding current situation in the field of agrarian education and mentioned that there are professional, governmental and non-governmental /private colleges functioning in the country; the total number of the colleges is 71 out of which 40% are focused on agrarian education. Also, there are 96 higher educational institutions and 6 of them are state agrarian universities and one is a private agrarian university. Besides, 8 private universities have agrarian programs. It should be mentioned that there is a big gap in the direction of bio-engineering education; there are very few doctorate students and no master degree students in this direction.
            According to information of regional consulting centers, there is a lack of specialists in the field of agro-engineering. Considering the fact that the regions are now provided with the agro techniques, and machines from 13 different countries, the problem raised by the regions look very serious.
Regarding the abovementioned problem different opinions were expressed by the Round Table participants who finally came to the following conclusion:
1. The Academy should regularly discuss agrarian educational programs of technical University and other higher educational institutions; prepare documents with relevant remarks and proposals and sent to the Accreditation Center.
2. The Academy should be involved in the monitoring process of agrarian professional development programs with permission of the Ministry of Sciences and Education;
3. The members of the Academy should be involved in preparation of the text books of agrarian direction;
4. The higher institutions which have signed the memorandum on partnership with the Academy first have to check the validity of their education programs at the Academy.
5. It is advisable to present the information about the pedagogical activities of the members of the Academy at the meetings;
6. The exited programs in: agro-engineering, agronomy, technology should be revised and in some cases fully changed.
7. On the basis of the GAAS, the Commission which will study the existed situation in the higher education institutions and prepare the remarks and conclusions to be presented to the Government regarding the study programs in agrarian field was set up.
8. The Round Table participants gave a negative assessment to the existed project regarding education field classification project and adopted a resution to address the Ministry of Education to revise the classification considering the opinion of the academy members.