Education

In the IV and V centuries Georgia was familiar with the ancient philosophy and rhetoric. Thus, in the fourth century the Eastern Roman Empire, the Georgian prince Bakur was praised for his brilliance, intelligence, education and love of philosophy and poetry. Poetry, philosophy and Greek education was extended to Kartli and Colchis. In the fourth century a school of philosophical rhetoric, Phazis, worked near where prominent speakers such as Eugene and his son Themisto were educated. The data is based on a statement by Themisto, in which he mentions that he was sent to the school near Phazis, where his father had acquired a broad education.
In the medieval era, as in previous centuries, the churches and monasteries were still the center of literature and education. Gelati Academy was founded in the monastery of the same name by the intellectual and scientific Ioannne Petritsi which was its first rector or Modzgvzrt-Modzgvari. However, besides Gelati, there were other centers of cultural enlightenment as the Iqalto Academy, founded in Telavi Iqalto by Arsenic. These monasteries have important similarities with Ivirion Monastery on Mount Athos (Greece) or Petritsoni Monastery in Bulgaria, and others. Young people with remarkable skills and abilities were sent to Byzantium to continue their studies.
Ivane JavakhisviliIn 1918, the great Georgian scientist Ivane Javakhisvili founded the first university in Georgia, the Tbilisi State University. He invited the most famous scientists of the time, which were Georgians working in Russia for the most famous and successful university at that time, the University of St. Petersburg.
Then, during the Soviet period the Technical University of Georgia, Public Medical University of Tbilisi, Tbilisi Public Conservatory and the Academy of Art, among others, were opened.
After the fall of the Soviet Union and the pro-Western approach of Georgia, new schools of higher education were opened. We could highlight the Caucasus University, Free University of Tbilisi-ESM, the University of Georgia and the Black Sea University.
We should mention the case of Caucasus University, for the quality of its programs, the international contacts and job opportunities, which received support from the Public University of Georgia (Atlanta, USA) in their implementation. There are six schools in the Caucasus University: Business, Law, Communication, Government, Information Technology and Humanities. The University offers undergraduate and postgraduate which follow the Western model, doctorate in Philosophy and dual programs with top-level universities in the world.
copyright © Kakha Shengelia

