From March 10 to March 14, Tatia Kharabadze, Head of the Quality Assurance Service at the Central University of Europe in Kutaisi, Georgia, participated in an Erasmus+ training mobility at Alberta College. This visit took place within the framework of the common project Nr. 2024-1-LV01-KA171-HED-000215958 and provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices between the two institutions.

During the mobility, discussions focused on the accreditation processes in Latvia and Georgia. In Georgia, the cluster accreditation system is in place, where a cluster of higher education programs is grouped based on content for assessment and accreditation purposes. Meanwhile, in Latvia, study field accreditation is currently applied, and institutional accreditation is planned for future implementation. These discussions allowed both institutions to compare their quality assurance approaches.

Another key topic of discussion was student governance, student support processes, and the use of artificial intelligence among students and academic staff at both Alberta College and the Central University of Europe. Both institutions have developed special guidelines for AI usage. At the Central University of Europe, students receive training on how to use AI correctly in accordance with institutional guidelines, while Alberta College is actively educating its staff on AI applications.

The scientific departments of both institutions were also a focus of discussion, particularly regarding strategies to motivate academic staff to engage in research and publish academic papers. Possible collaboration in research work between Alberta College and the Central University of Europe was explored, along with potential participation in academic conferences.

As part of the mobility program, Alberta College’s Erasmus+ coordinator presented “Priorities of the Erasmus+ Programme” and facilitated a discussion on “Digital Transformation,” led by Andris Gabrānovs. Alberta College shared its digitalization strategy and best practices in the field. The two institutions also exchanged insights on internal systems used for analyzing surveys—Alberta College utilizes the NEXUS system, while the Central University of Europe relies on SurveyMonkey. Additionally, both institutions use the Moodle system, although fully remote studies (e-studies) are not legally permitted in Georgia.

This Erasmus+ training mobility was the first incoming mobility under project Nr. 2024-1-LV01-KA171-HED-000215958, and Alberta College was delighted to host a representative from the Central University of Europe. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen cooperation, share knowledge, and lay the groundwork for future collaboration in education, research, and digital innovation.

Veronika Beluza – Gruzija, European University