Kutaisi International University (KIU) has hosted the concluding conference of the international project Responsible and Impactful Universities as Sustainable Growth and Enterprise Catalysts in Georgia (RiHEI), supported by the European Union's Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) programme.
The Chancellor of KIU, Dr. Levan Kopaliani, opened the event with a welcome address and then joined the project leaders in a panel discussion with representatives of the project partner universities.
RiHEI aims to strengthen Georgia's higher education ecosystem, foster innovation and entrepreneurship within universities, and share European best practice. A particular focus has been on close cooperation between universities and the private sector, ensuring that academic knowledge responds directly to business needs. The project also aims to develop students' and researchers' entrepreneurial skills and, drawing on European experience, bring universities' internal structures and study programmes closer to European models.
Among the partners in the consortium are Kutaisi International University, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, and Gori State University, as well as the University of Lodz (Poland), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (Germany), and TUM International GmbH (Germany).
Expanding cooperation between European and Georgian universities was one of the project's main objectives. Mentoring and expertise were provided by the European partners in areas such as integrating the Sustainable Development Goals, strengthening entrepreneurial skills, and strategic management. The Georgian universities participated in training sessions and workshops, as well as receiving assistance in drafting strategic development plans. Additionally, the project has provided new opportunities for linking academic knowledge and research potential with practical applications.
The conference concluded with an awards ceremony that recognized the Georgian partner universities in several categories, where KIU received the majority of recognition awards.
