Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) marked Europe Day on May 9 with the participation of the delegation of Vilnius University and foreign diplomats accredited in Georgia. The Double Degree Master’s Program in European Studies and European Law created through partnership between Tbilisi State University and Vilnius University, will be implemented from 2022. Graduates will be awarded diplomas from both universities.

George Sharvashidze, Rector of TSU; Andrius Kalindra, Ambassador of Lithuania to Georgia; Nino Lapiashvili, Director of the Institute for European Studies at TSU; Irma Grdzelidze, Head of the TSU Quality Assurance Service; Tomas Davulis, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Vilnius University; academic personnel engaged in the implementation of the double degree master’s program and students attended the event.

Ambassador Kalindra congratulated the participants on Europe Day, stressing that Georgia and Lithuania are integral parts of Europe and European culture. He said that Georgia and Lithuania belong to Europe, European culture and European academic community. He pledged that students would deepen knowledge at Vilnius University and the country would make an important contribution to this initiative. Ambassador Kalindra suggested that the generation of students who will study on the new program, will assume responsibility for the state in 15-20 years.

“Today is a very important day for Georgia and the world. For the first time, our country has an official status, as we have applied for EU membership. TSU is hosting a presentation of the program created in partnership with Vilnius University. This is a double degree in European Law. It is the result of multiyear work and our MA students will have an opportunity to receive two diplomas from TSU and Vilnius University,” Rector George Sharvashidze said.

The joint, double degree program developed by TSU and Vilnius University awards students two degrees in European Studies and European Law. Nino Lapiashvili, Director of the Institute for European Studies, noted that the new program will enable students to get two degrees in two years, instead of one. “Georgian students will begin studying on an interdisciplinary master’s program in European Studies at the Institute for European Studies at TSU. And those students who have graduated from the Faculty of Law at the undergraduate level will be able to enroll in a double degree program, leave for Lithuania and study at the Faculty of Law at Vilnius University next year; master’s theses will be defended jointly and students will be awarded two diplomas,” she noted.

Lapiashvili also clarified that when Georgia has an officially declared goal of getting closer to the EU and the EU law should be transposed into Georgian legislation, the country needs specialists who are well-aware of the EU law. “This program provides such an opportunity. Students will acquire in-depth knowledge about the EU law. Vilnius University has introduced a special fee for TSU students and their tuition fees have been halved,” Nino Lapiashvili added.

Tomas Davulis, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Vilnius University, said that TSU and Vilnius University will join their forces and enable students to study European unity, European law and have joint goals, such as freedom, justice and peace. “It will be our contribution to Europe and to creating a better future for our youth,” he added.

The agreement on creating a double degree program was signed between TSU and Vilnius University in January 2022. The first cohort of students will be enrolled in the program by 2022-2023.

The event was held as part of the fifth working meeting of the EU Erasmus+ Jean Monnet project.