MAES Project

Brief Summary of Project Description

A national higher education consortium of IES with its hub at TSU;
Enhanced facilities at TSU and regional institutions to develop, implement and support courses in ES and knowledge about Europe;
Learning programs enabling individuals to function more effectively in public and private sector employment;
Staff adequately trained in student-centered approaches to teaching and learning, transparent recruitment, and assessment in line with European quality insurance methodologies;
Greater awareness by the university and potential employers of graduates of the benefits to be gained from student-centered/demand-led courses.

Project activities

1.1 Design and implement CES concept and organization within TSU
1.2 Design and implement a financial plan for sustainability and marketing strategy
1.3 Training programs for financial, managerial and administrative staff
1.4 Design and implement a consortium of CES in Georgia with TSU as its hub
1.5 Set-up a network with European Universities
1.6 Set-up coordination mechanism with other projects and a TEMPUS exit strategy
1.7 Make awareness about the CES as a model for HE reform
2.1 Setting-up the human basis of the CES
2.2 Design the 2 year Master’s course based on ECTS modules suitable for lifelong learning
2.3 Produce learning and training materials
2.4 Create and deliver training program for teaching staff at TSU
2.5 Create and deliver training program for teaching staff at regional universities
2.6 Admission and assessment of students
2.7 Giving and piloting courses and test-courses in TSU
2.8 Giving and piloting courses and test-courses in regional Universities
2.9 Quality assessment of CES activities and install in CES at TSU QA capacities
2.10 Disseminating the changes within universities
3.1 Design of LRC
3.2 Needs assessment for equipment and networking
3.3 Procurement, purchase and installation of the technical basis
3.4 Create and deliver training program at LRC for using the new ICT tools
3.5 Setting-up and use of LRC in TSU
3.6 Setting-up and use of LRC in regional universities

Project starting date: April 28, 2006
Project duration: 30 months  

These four Faculties had created an Institute for European Studies (IES), as a crossed-Faculty Institute.

National Consortium (NC) of Georgian Universities

Tbilisi State University, Batumi State University and Telavi State University had created a National Consortium in order to deliver TSU courses in European Studies, through distance teaching (National Consortium Statutes). Reservation was that later on other Georgian High Education Institutions could join this NC.

Steering Committee (SC)

A Steering Committee (SC) had overseen the project implementation. It was composed of Georgian Stakeholders: TSU- Beneficiary Ministries, Representatives of Batumi and Telavi State Universities, EU Project Team, and representatives of other projects and institutions.

Institute for European Studies (IES)

The Institute for European Studies has been strongly linked to the four TSU involved faculties:
 Faculty of Economics and Management
 Faculty of Humanities
 Faculty of Law
 Faculty of Political and Social Sciences

IES teaching and research activities on European issues:

1. Teaching activities: Responsibility of a MAES degree, delivered by the 4 Faculties; elective courses, and Minor in European Studies (ES) in disciplinary Masters; distance teaching with the State Universities of Batumi and Telavi; lifelong learning for civil servants and managers (firms, NGOs);
2. Research activities: Responsibility for promoting research on European Issues and networking with EU Universities and Institutions. Teachers of TSU and other universities and institutions, dedicated for research in European issues, were members or associate members of the IES. They had contributed to activities, such as workshops, conferences, scientific papers, doctoral research.

It composed of a Learning and Resource Centre (LRC), with a specialized library (European issues), and an up to date equipment in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), used for teaching and research activities. This LRC was situated in the second building of TSU. At Batumi and Telavi Universities, Learning Resource Centres (Library and ICTs equipment) was also created.

The following were attributed to IES during project implementation period:

A light administrative Staff (Director and Program Director), taken if possible within the 4 faculties Staff ;
A pedagogical staff recruited transparently as contract lecturers, mostly from the involved faculties, but also from other institutions;
A separate TSU sub-budget, necessary for establishing a business plan and defining sustainability issues.

IES Advisory Board

This Advisory Board was composed of Representatives of IES, TSU and other Institutions, had the responsibility to advice the Director of the IES on all the activities of the IES, to evaluate its strategy and discuss its budget.