On May 2-5, 2023 a Kick off and Study Visit was co-organized by Ilia State University and hosted by Charles University Prague within the frames of the European Commission Erasmus + CBHE Programme Structural Reform project Responsible Conduct of Research – Research Integrity and Ethics in Georgian Universities (ETHICS).

Participants of the event included representatives of 4 EU partner institutions, representatives of 10 Georgian universities and also 3 non-university partners (Ministry of Education and Science, National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement and Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation).

The aim of the meeting was review of ETHICS project timeline, goals and roles of the partners as well as introduction of EU Guidelines for Project Administration and New Requirements of the agency for financial management. The four-day working programme consisted of project meetings, lectures and study visit. Best practices and recommendations in academic integrity and research ethics were presented by researchers and academics from Charles University, Masaryk University, VUMC and ENAI within the study visit programme.

On March 1st, 2023 Ilia State University organized and hosted first national partners meeting within the frames of the European Commission Erasmus + CBHE Programme Structural Reform project Responsible Conduct of Research – Research Integrity and Ethics in Georgian Universities (ETHICS). The meeting was attended by the representatives of 10 Georgian Higher Education representatives involved in the project as well as the representatives of non-university partners (Ministry of Education and Science, National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement and Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation.

Prof. Nino Doborjginidze – Rector of Ilia State Universite opened the first national meeting with a welcome speech followed by Ms. Tamar Makharashvili – First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Maia Shukhoshvili -  Higher Education Department/Head of Higher Education Office at the Ministry of Education and Science, Erekle Astakhishvili - Director General of Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia and Lasha Margishvili  - Deputy Director at National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement.

The aim of the first national meeting was review of ETHICS project timeline, goals and roles of the partners as well as introduction of EU Guidelines for Project Administration and New Requirements of the agency for financial management.

The source: Project website.