The Georgian government is reversing its decision to merge Tbilisi State University and Georgian Technical University.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze made the relevant statement at a briefing held at the government administration.

According to the Prime Minister, during a meeting with the rector and professors of GTU, it was agreed that the Georgian Technical University will no longer merge with Tbilisi State University, and that GTU will be transformed into a "purely technical" university in accordance with the one city - one faculty principle.

"We have agreed that the Georgian Technical University and Tbilisi State University will no longer merge. In addition, within the framework of the one city, one faculty principle, the Georgian Technical University will be transformed into a purely technical university. Accordingly, only those disciplines that were taught at the Technical University before the 1990s will be taught at the Technical University in the future. Also, admissions to disciplines that were not included in the GTU curriculum before the 1990s will no longer be announced at the GTU for the next academic year. Accordingly, non-technical profile study programs will remain in the GTU in the interim regime for the next 2 years," Kobakhidze said.

Before the briefing, Kobakhidze met with the GTU rector and professors.

For information, the government's decision to merge Tbilisi State University and Georgian Technical University became known on January 29. The decision was accompanied by criticism from representatives of the scientific community and academic sector of both universities. The statement was issued by the TSU Senate, which stated that the initiative to merge with the Technical University was not substantiated or appropriate. Also, the TSU representative body believed that the process of merging the two universities in this form should be stopped and active communication with the parties should be continued. In turn, the GTU academic council issued a statement. They explained that they did not agree with any form of restriction of the university's autonomy, including through a possible merger with TSU. The council also asked the government to suspend the process until the discussion and the university had agreed.