The TSU International School of Economics (ISET) educational programs were the first in Georgia and throughout the region to receive official accreditation of FIBAA, an internationally experienced agency for quality assurance. ISET’s programs in the field of economics are the only internationally accredited programs in the region. Rector of TSU, George Sharvashidze, Minister of Education and Science, Mikheil Chkhenkeli, Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili, Chairman of the Parliament’s Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee, Davit Songulashvili, Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Georgia, Koba Gvenetadze, ISET Director Tamar Sulukhia, Chairman of the ISET Governing Board, Jean-Frédéric Paulsen, students and invited guests attended the event.

“Today is an important day not only for TSU, but for the entire region, because ISET programs are the first in the history of our neighborhood to receive international accreditation. And it means that graduates of these programs will be competitive on international labor market,” Rector George Sharvashidze said. He also focused on one more novelty for ISET students: the TSU International School of Economics (ISET) and the University of Bremen have signed an agreement, according to which five students who undergo their fourth-year studies at the University of Bremen will be awarded dual degree diplomas from ISET and the University of Bremen.

FIBAA’s international accreditation means the recognition of ISET quality at an international level that opens up more employment opportunities to graduates on international market. Minister of Education and Science, Mikheil Chkhenkeli said that international recognition confirms that ISET programs are competitive on global market and offer international-level education to the students. “It is yet another important step towards the country’s European integration and returning to European family. It will be good if we have more educational programs with European accreditation, because it is a clear confirmation of high academic quality,” Minister Chkhenkeli noted.

Director of ISET, Tamar Sulukhia said that receiving international accreditation is important not only for ISET and TSU, but for everyone working in the field of economics, because “it means that we have two international-level economic programs at ISET – BA and MA degree programs. It means that our students are receiving international-level education in economics.”  

Chairman of the ISET Governing Board, Jean-Frédéric Paulsen said that the first international accreditation of economic programs in Georgia means that students are receiving best education in the field of economics at ISET.

Students have highly appreciated the programs. Alexandra Shalibashvili, a student of ISET’s MA program, said: “International accreditation is a huge success for Georgia’s education sphere and ISET. It is really a well-deserved success, because it would be impossible without huge efforts taken by the faculty administration and students. Due to this, high educational standards are maintained at ISET.”

FIBAA is a German, internationally oriented agency for quality assurance and quality development in higher education. It is a member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). It has a 20-year experience of working in quality assurance and internationalization of higher education.a