The Rector of Ilia State University, Nino Doborjginidze, responded to today’s statements by the Minister of Education regarding the higher education reform and said that those responsible for the decisions will inevitably have to answer to the academic community.

“The dismantling of higher education, the destruction of the most successful fields according to international rankings, replacing a knowledge-based economy with supplying businesses with low-cost service personnel, and selling off vacated buildings - all of this was carried out without involving education experts in the process. They managed it on their own.

Those who made these decisions will inevitably have to answer to the university community - not only now!

P.S. The councils are currently convening,” Nino Doborjginidze wrote on social media.

For context, the Minister of Education outlined which state universities will announce admissions for which faculties.

Tbilisi State University will admit students in exact and natural sciences; humanities (excluding pedagogy); law; economics and business administration; and social and political sciences.

Georgian Technical University will announce admissions for engineering and technical disciplines.

Tbilisi State Medical University will admit students in medical specialties.

Ilia State University will admit students to pedagogy programs and STEM specialties with ABET accreditation.

Sokhumi State University will admit students to agricultural programs, Georgian-Abkhaz language and literature, and pedagogy programs.

Art universities and the Sports University will admit students to their respective specialties.

Universities in Batumi and Kutaisi will maintain a multifunctional profile.

Universities in Zugdidi, Gori, Akhaltsikhe, and Telavi will focus on agricultural specialties, tourism, and pedagogy.

At this stage, according to the government-approved decree, agricultural programs will temporarily remain under Georgian Technical University, with admissions announced under its name. However, a reorganization process will begin in the coming days, and within a few months, the agricultural direction will be transferred to Sokhumi State University.

Accordingly, in the 2026-2027 academic year, newly admitted students to agricultural faculties will begin their studies at Sokhumi State University, Minister Givi Mikanadze stated at a briefing held at the Government Administration.