Alberta College in Georgia!
We are pleased to announce that Alberta College Erasmus+ project 2024-1-LV01-KA171-HED-000215958 was approved, which provides cooperation with two Georgian higher education institutions - European University (Tbilisi) and Kutaisi University (Kutaisi). Within the framework of this project, 15 outgoing and 15 incoming Erasmus+ mobilities will be implemented for teachers and employees of universities, providing the opportunity to participate in training and teaching mobilities.
The project will last 2 years, until 31.07.2026.
Alberta College and the two Georgian universities have similar study programs, which will allow a deeper academic and scientific interaction.
We invite Alberta College lecturers and staff to apply for participation in teaching and training mobilities, as well as to submit their proposals for scientific cooperation. Please send your application to erasmus@alberta-koledza.lv.
More information about universities can be found here:
European University (Tbilisi) - https://eu.edu.ge/en
Kutaisi University (Kutaisi) - https://www.unik.edu.ge/
This is a great opportunity to expand international experience and promote knowledge exchange with colleagues from Georgia. Let′s work together to build an even stronger academic environment!
News
From April 8 to 12, Alberta College was visited by Mariam Orjonikidze, Head of the International Relations Office, and Nino Taliashvili, Rector of the European University.
The purpose of the mobility was to discuss the future cooperation strategy between Alberta College and Georgian higher education institutions, both within the framework of a specific project (No. 2024-1-LV01-KA171-HED-000215958) and for continued collaboration after the project ends.
Our guests met with all the program directors of Alberta College. During the meetings, the program directors presented their programs and discussed potential guest lectures and topics for academic publications that are planned to be written jointly with their Georgian colleagues.
Also a meeting was held with Alberta College’s Erasmus+ coordinator and the Deputy Director for Study Quality. The discussion focused on strategic areas of mutual interest: developing joint research projects, organizing online and onsite guest lectures, facilitating student and staff exchanges, exploring co-teaching opportunities and establishing long-term academic cooperation.
Mariam Orjonikidze and Nino Taliashvili stated: “Alberta College demonstrates a clear commitment to academic excellence, e-learning, and international engagement. The staff we interacted with were both professional and genuinely welcoming. We greatly appreciated their collaborative spirit and openness to future joint initiatives.”
These were very productive meetings that brought significant professional benefits, including: building strategic relationships with Alberta College staff and leadership, identifying concrete areas for bilateral cooperation, exchanging best practices in teaching, research, and administration, advancing discussions on the organization of an International Academic Staff Week.
Mariam Robakidze, Head of the Student and Alumni Service Center at Central University of Europe in Kutaisi, Georgia, visited Alberta College as part of the Erasmus mobility for training.
During her visit, she met with a representative of the Career Center at Alberta College to learn more about the career consultation process and the ways the college maintains communication with recent graduates. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for mutual exchange of experience and best practices, as Mariam also shared how alumni services and consultations are organized at her institution.
Additionally, Mariam met with Elizabete Vasiļevska, former president of the Alberta College Student Council. For two years, Elizabete actively organized various events and was an engaged member of college life. Their discussion focused on effective ways to engage students, the most efficient communication channels, and resources to use. This conversation was particularly valuable for Mariam, as she closely collaborates with the student council at her university in Kutaisi.
Mariam also met with the Head of the Study Department and representatives from the Student Services team. This meeting was primarily focused on key aspects such as process optimization and effective communication strategies within the academic and administrative environment.
The participants discussed how to streamline internal workflows, improve the student experience, and ensure smooth coordination between departments. The exchange of ideas and practices once again highlighted the value of international collaboration and the mutual benefits of sharing institutional experiences. The visit fostered meaningful exchange and opened new perspectives for future cooperation and development of student services. This visit took place within the framework of the joint project No. 2024-1-LV01-KA171-HED-000215958.
From March 25 to March 29, three teachers from the Central University of Europe in Kutaisi, Georgia, participated in Erasmus+ teaching and training mobilities at Alberta College.
Alberta College students had the opportunity to attend four guest lectures, both in-person and remotely:
- The lecture “International Legal Frameworks for Gender Equality in the Workplace”, conducted by Ana Medzmariashvili (Head of the Legal Department, Head of the Bachelor′s Degree Program in Law).
- The lecture “Financial Markets and Institutions”, conducted by Teona Grigloashvili (Associate Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Business and Law).
- And two lectures by Diana Uglava (Associate Professor): “Artificial Intelligence in Accounting: Top Benefits” and “Labour Market′s Challenge Nowadays and Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education.”
In addition to the lectures, our Georgian partners participated in individual meetings with the program directors at Alberta College to discuss further cooperation in organizing guest lectures as well as scientific collaboration.
As part of the mobility program, Alberta College’s Erasmus+ coordinator presented the “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.
This visit took place within the framework of the joint project No. 2024-1-LV01-KA171-HED-000215958 and provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices between teachers, as well as a unique opportunity for Alberta College students to attend international guest lectures and gain new international experience.
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.
Project results
