17/06/2026
On June 11, the SDSU Provost and Senior Vice President Bill Tong and Dean of the Global Campus Ian Gibson, accompanied by a representative of the U.S. Embassy in Georgia and SDSU Georgia Advisory Board member Harvey Sernovitz, visited Batumi S***a Rustaveli State University.
The delegation met with Rector Tite Aroshidze, Vice Rectors Tamar Siradze and Giorgi Katamadze, Dean of the Faculty of Technology Gizo Partskhaladze and other representatives of the University leadership to learn more about the university's strategic priorities and ongoing development initiatives.
During the meeting, university leadership provided an overview of the higher education landscape in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, regional labor market needs, and Higher Education ongoing reform. The delegation also had the opportunity to learn more about the Autonomous Republic of Adjara through an informative presentation featuring striking images of the region's landmarks, cultural heritage, natural beauty, and economic development. The presentation provided guests with valuable insight into the history, culture, and distinctive character of the region.
The visit included a tour of the university's laboratories and educational infrastructure, showcasing investments in teaching, research, and innovation. A particularly memorable part of the program was the presentation of innovative student projects developed through the university's Fab Lab. The delegation was impressed by the creativity and practical impact of the project presented by the winners of the Fab Lab's internal innovation competition.
The discussions also highlighted the university's commitment to quality enhancement and the advancement of international standards in engineering education. At the time of the visit, the Civil Engineering program was preparing for an external assessment visit by representatives of the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (EQE), scheduled for the following day. Upon successful completion of the national accreditation process, the team led by Dean Gizo Partskhaladze plans to continue its efforts toward achieving ABET accreditation. SDSU has been providing advisory support to the university as it advances its efforts toward achieving ABET accreditation. Securing ABET accreditation would represent a significant milestone for Batumi S***a Rustaveli State University and further strengthen the international recognition of its engineering programs.
SDSU Georgia extends its sincere appreciation to the leadership of Batumi S***a Rustaveli State University for the warm welcome and informative discussions and looks forward to continued collaboration and exchange.