Georgia is in danger of losing its position in the European educational space: what does this mean

The registration of the National Center for the Development of the Quality of Education of Georgia in the European Register of Independent Agencies for the Development of the Quality of Higher Education (EQAR) has been terminated. This is a very serious signal that can affect the international recognition of Georgian educational standards and diplomas, experts say. Information about the suspension of registration appeared on the EQAR website, reports UNN with reference to “News of Georgia”.

According to the explanations, the suspension is valid until the final decision on the appeal is made or the deadline for its submission expires. After that, the center will either be removed from the register, or its registration will be restored.

The information that EQAR intends to suspend its registration appeared in early December. This was preceded by the publication of the report of the expert group of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). She visited Georgia in the fall of 2023.

Local experts cited the violation of European quality assurance standards as the reason. They claim that the problems were a consequence of the instrumentalization of the education system. According to them, the conclusion contains conclusions that the center is not free from political influence, and the quality assurance system is used as a mechanism of pressure on universities.

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Georgian experts immediately warned about the most serious consequences of the termination of registration: loss of trust in the accreditation system, problems with the recognition of diplomas, an image blow to the educational system, risks for European integration.

But the administration of the National Center for the Development of the Quality of Education did not agree with them. They emphasized that, although the conclusions contained remarks, in general the center fully complies with the standards and recommendations for quality assurance of the European Higher Education Area (ESG 2015).

The center also stated that they eliminated the identified shortcomings, and “made appropriate changes in advance” to the legislation. The agency promised to file an appeal.

The Center assures that ENQA membership and EQAR registration are not related to the recognition of diplomas issued in Georgia.

“Prior to the acquisition of membership in the mentioned organizations and until 2019, the recognition of diplomas issued in Georgia took place without any delays both in the member states of the European Union and in any other country,” they said.

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