“We will defend this 20-year achievement by all means, including legal action and protest,” said Nino Doborjginidze, Rector of Ilia State University, following a meeting of the Academic Council. She made this statement in response to the Education Minister’s remarks regarding the reform of the higher education system.

According to Nino Doborjginidze, this is not merely a problem of one university - it is an attack on the future of the country.

“The public has been told that, without any justification, 97-98% of Ilia University has effectively been dismantled and destroyed. This is not just a problem of one university; this is an attempt to destroy the future of this country while no one takes responsibility. We absolutely cannot allow this.

We fundamentally disagree with the dismantling of higher education in Georgia and will defend this 20-year achievement by all means, including legal action and protest,” Nino Doborjginidze stated.

For reference, the Education Minister outlined which state university will accept students in which faculties:

Tbilisi State University: students will be admitted in fields such as exact and natural sciences; humanities (excluding pedagogy); law; economics and business administration; and social and political sciences.

Georgian Technical University: admissions will be open for engineering and technical disciplines.

Tbilisi State Medical University: admissions will be for medical specialties.

Ilia State University: admissions will focus on pedagogy programs and ABET-accredited STEM specialties.

Sokhumi State University: admissions will focus on agricultural specialties, Georgian-Abkhaz language and literature, and pedagogy.

Universities of Arts and Sports: students will be admitted to relevant programs.

Batumi and Kutaisi Universities: will maintain a multi-functional structure.

Universities in Zugdidi, Gori, Akhaltsikhe, and Telavi: emphasis will be on agricultural specialties, tourism, and pedagogy.

At this stage, according to the government-approved resolution, the agricultural programs temporarily remain under Georgian Technical University, meaning admissions will be conducted under its name. However, in the coming days, a reorganization process will begin, after which, within several months, the agricultural programs will move under the supervision of Sokhumi State University.

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