Role of Universities in the Regional Development

Georgia is on its way to constructing a new country with civic society respecting democratic values. Within the deepening of global competition, it is apparent that to assure economic development, it becomes essential to use the comparative advantage and create the regional strategy oriented on knowledge. In the achievement of this goal, regional universities will play important role as centers of generation and diffusion of knowledge, creation of qualified working force and the base of the development of regions of the country. In Social-economic Development Strategy “Georgia 2020” and Unified Strategy for Education and Science for 2017-2021, which reflect the priorities and problems that need to be resolved in order to achieve long-term, sustainable growth, regional development plays a significant role in the development of the country and is viewed as an important factor for achieving success on a national level. The aim of the project is to make Georgian regional HEIs more relevant to the communities and regions they are located and to serve as a basis for regional development. Mission and Strategy of Regional Universities will be developed in compliance with regional needs. The project will support the network of Regional Universities in planning and development of relevant strategy and mission. Involvement of the Universities in the development of Regional Strategy will increase. Close collaboration with local authorities and other social partners will take place. Cooperation with EU universities and sharing their experience will introduce the best practices that will improve and modernize management structures in universities and will make their administrative structures compatible with those of the European universities. Changes in management at institutional level will raise productivity of the university administration management that will in its turn have an impact on creation of new regional policy.