Peer Review of Educational Programs

A peer review system has been introduced at the university, which involves the formative assessment of educational programs, and is a kind of simulation of the accreditation process. This type of initiative is new for the university, as well as for the entire Georgian educational system. It has been evaluated by experts as the best practice introduced by the University Quality Assurance Service (see the report of the authorization experts on the application to increase the number of students in 2020: 3). This practice was developed through the shared experience of European partners (Karl Ruprecht University of Heidelberg, Germany).

A new approach to peer review helps to enhance inter-faculty collaboration and share best practices.

The peer review aims to:

• Improve the culture of quality in the university;
• Increase student engagement in the program evaluation and development processes;
• Enhance the role of internal quality assessment and raise a culture of quality.[p1] 

The processes are transparent, collegial and supported by the faculties. Recommendations and advice received during the assessment process will be reflected in the educational programs. The peer-review process is divided into several phases.

In 2019, 32 educational programs were evaluated through peer review. See the list of educational programs to be evaluated and the dates of the visit at the following link. See Reports and Recommendations at the link (for internal use only).

About 500 people took part in the meetings. During the site-visits, meetings were held with representatives of various faculties of the Faculty Administration, program leaders, academic and invited staff, students and alumni, employers and internship/practice implementers. During the visits, the experts examined the material-technical equipment, libraries, auditoriums, computer and research laboratories.

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