In March 2001, a Tempus TACIS Project entitled "The Establishment of Academic Quality Assurance Centre in Grigol Robakidze University and Batumi State University" began its implementation at Grigol Robakidze University, which was accomplished in June 2003. Within the scope of this project, the partners of Grigol Robakidze University were Nottingham Trent University (Great Britain), Lund University (Sweden) and Batumi State University (Georgia). The Director of this project was Mr. Colin Love (Nottingham Trent University), the Experts were Dr. Trevor Cartledge, Ms. Jackie Stephens (Nottingham Trent University), and Mr. Jan Hellberg (Lund University).

   

Implementation of this project has been of significant importance not only for Grigol Robakidze University, but also for the entire educational system of Georgia. Through this project new approaches, new learning and teaching techniques, new grading systems and a new system for teachers' professional development were implemented at Grigol Robakidze University. Grigol Robakidze University has contributed a great deal to informing the public about this project and its importance through Mass Media. This has generated a great deal of interest within other higher educational institutions and they have received relevant consultations in the Academic Quality Assurance Centre of the University. The State Institute of Culture of Georgia, the University of Foreign Languages and Culture, Tbilisi State University were among many higher educational institutions, which got such consultations. Together with the Ministry of Education of Georgia, the Centre organized workshops, for example, Dr. Trevor Cartledge Professor of Nottingham Trent University and Honorary Professor of Grigol Robakidze University conducted workshops for the staff of the Ministry of Education and other educational institutions.

 

The European partners conducted six one and two week workshops for the staff of Grigol Robakidze University. Moreover, individual experts frequently visited the University and conducted consultations for individual teachers. This project also enabled business trips of Grigol Robakidze University teachers to Nottingham Trent University and Lund University. The visits of the Rector of Grigol Robakidze University Professor Mamuka Tavkhelidze, the Dean of the School of Humanities Deputy Professor Liana Deisadze, the Head of the Department of English Language and Literature Professor Manana Rusieshvili, the teacher of the School of Dentistry Sophie Samkharadze, the teachers of the School of Humanities Nana Kachabava and Maia Khachiashvili were very productive from the point of view of acquiring new knowledge and sharing the experience.

 

In addition, it should be noted that this collaboration was so successful that it went beyond the framework of this project and more was achieved at Grigol Robakidze University than this project envisioned. New programmes were designed which met European standards, a programme computer database for the recording of assessment which made the assessment process more flexible has been developed. IT Technologies have occupied a leading position in the learning and teaching process. Interactive teaching mode, workshops, presentations, directed learning and most significantly different model systems have been implemented along with the traditional forms of teaching that have significantly improved the effectiveness of our teaching. A student becomes the focus of the entire university activities; a student becomes the subject of the total delivered educational process. The credit system implemented in the University as a result of the recommendations given by Tempus TACIS Project turned out to be the mechanism that on the one hand "urges" a student to utilize his / her intellectual resources of maximum and on the other hand it is the objective indicator of the acquired skills.

 

It should be noted that this project was monitored twice and Grigol Robakidze University was given a high evaluation. The fact that numerous interesting activities were conducted beyond the framework of this project speaks well about this project.

 

Teachers and students of Nottingham Trent University have donated books to the library of Grigol Robakidze University. The initiator of this donation was the partner of Grigol Robakidze University, an expert of the project from Nottingham Trent University Ms. Jackie Stephens. Dr Trevor Cartledge, an expert on the project who is a Professor of Nottingham Trent University and the Honorary Professor of Grigol Robakidze University has contributed a great deal to this donation. He donated books in English Language and Literature, Science and Law. The SOROS Foundation contributed money for the transport of these books to Georgia. Lecturers and students of Grigol Robakidze University will always be grateful to them for this.

 

The most significant though an indirect result of this project is the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between Nottingham Trent University and Grigol Robakidze University in June 2002. It includes all aspects of the university life including student exchange programmes.