Education Minister and US Ambassador sign an agreement to strengthen cooperation in science and technology

By Khatia Bzhalava

Thursday, February 4

The main aim of the agreement is to strengthen the scientific and technological capabilities of the parties and to promote the deepening of relations between the academic circles of both countries.

Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is an independent U.S. foreign assistance agency, established by the United States Congress in 2004.

Within the framework of the Georgia-US strategic partnership, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports Mikheil Chkhenkeli and the US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan, signed an agreement to enhance cooperation in the fields technology and science. The information has been released by the Ministry of Education.

The agreement envisages the extension of cooperation in science and technology for 10 more years. The main aim is to strengthen the scientific and technological capabilities of the sides and to promote the deepening of relations between the academic circles of both countries.

According to Chkhenkeli, the agreement provides an opportunity to exchange ideas, information, technologies and implement joint projects, which will facilitate the development of these fields in Georgia and will become the basis for public prosperity and economic growth in long-run. The minister stressed that the United States has a crucial role in the development of Georgia’s educational system. Chkhenkeli thanked the government of the United States and the Ambassador for the immense contribution to the development of education and science in Georgia.

According to the ministry’s statement, Ambassador Degnan pointed out that the US and Georgia have a long history of successful cooperation in science and education, as evidenced by exchange programs for students and scientists.

According to the statement, Georgia and the US have been cooperating in the education field for many years. At this stage, USAID's $7 million worth project Achieving Student-Centered Education for a New Tomorrow (ASCENT) is being carried out, which helps students develop reading, math, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

The statement reads that a $140 million investment by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) established by the United States has had a significant impact on Georgian citizens, especially young people. Through this assistance, 91 public schools were fully rehabilitated in 2014-2019 and equipped with science laboratories, the learning environment has been improved for up to 40,000 students, more than 20,000 people have undergone an extensive vocational development course, and 51 new vocational education programs have been developed. With the funding from the MCC, the Georgian branch of San Diego State University has been implementing high-quality technology and engineering American bachelor programs since 2015. As a result of cooperation between the government of Georgia and MSS, for the first time in the region, two of the Tbilisi State University bachelor programs were accredited by the American Engineering and Technology Accreditation Board (ABET).