According to Lasha Margishvili, Acting Director of the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, the cancellation of the Center's registration in the European Registry of Quality Assurance in Higher Education (EQAR) is not related to the recognition of qualifications for diplomas issued in Georgia, the cancellation of exchange programs, or the suspension of international grants.

Margishvili explained that the suspension of registration is related to ENQA's finding of non-compliance with the standard regarding the Center's independence.

"I would like to reassure the public, students, and academic professionals that this decision has nothing to do with the recognition of qualifications for diplomas issued in Georgia. The Center has been a member organization of the European Registry of Quality Assurance in Higher Education (EQAR) since 2019. Also, in 2019, the Center became a member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). In 2023, the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement underwent another evaluation by our international partners. With regard to 11 standards, the Center was evaluated as fully compliant with the requirements. With regard to two standards—concerning the Center's independence and the activities of the authorization and accreditation boards—international partners evaluated us as partially compliant. After this, the ENQA evaluation committee and EQAR decided that, regarding one of the standards, specifically the independence part, the Center was evaluated as 'not in compliance with the requirements.' This decision has no impact on the recognition of diplomas and qualifications."

Margishvili further clarified that, just as diplomas issued in Georgia were recognized internationally before 2019, they will continue to be recognized in the same manner. Recently, there were reports suggesting that EQAR's decision was somehow linked to the cancellation of international exchange programs, the suspension of Georgia's membership in the Bologna Process, the closure of private universities, or the suspension of international grants. Margishvili confirmed that none of these claims were accurate. He emphasized that the suspension of the Center's EQAR registration is not connected to any of these issues.

For reference, the registration of the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement of Georgia in the European Registry of Quality Assurance in Higher Education (EQAR) has officially been suspended. This suspension is reflected on EQAR's official website. According to EQAR, the National Center's activities within the European Higher Education Area's standards and principles (ESG) included accrediting educational programs, accrediting joint programs, authorizing higher education institutions (or re-authorizing them), and ensuring a European approach to quality assurance for joint programs.