Promotional Event - Georgia and European Union: Opportunities for Cooperation

On October 27, 2022, within the framework of the project (Jean Monnet Module) "Corporate Social Responsibility in the European Union: Experience for Georgia" supported by the EU ERASMUS+ program, a promotional event "Georgia and European Union: Opportunities for Cooperation" was held at Sokhumi State University (SSU).The meeting was attended by students and academic staff of SSU, as well as by the representatives of the Georgian Technical University, Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, and various public institutions and private companies. Prof. Zurab Khonelidze, the Rector of SSU, the President of the Academy of Educational Sciences, welcomed the participants of the meeting and then presented the report "European Perspective of Georgia: New Mission of the University".In his report, the Rector emphasized the need to identify the potential opportunities that are due to the integration with the European Union and noted that one of the tools for achieving this goal is the Jean Monnet module.

Professor Lia Akhaladze, the Head of the Department of Scientific Research, spoke to the participants of the meeting about the importance of the Jean Monnet Module in developing students and young researchers into highly qualified specialists. Indira Dzagania, Associate Professor, the Head of International Relations and Intercultural Communications Department introduced the ERASMUS+ program and current projects at the University to the audience. Professors Eka Kardava and Guranda Chelidze (Caucasus University, Georgia), coordinators of several Jean Monnet Modules and participants in other Jean Monnet Activities, congratulated Sokhumi State University on obtaining the Jean Monnet Module, wished its successful implementation, and spoke about the importance, goals and objectives of the mentioned project.Trocikowski Tadeusz, Dr h., Doctor of Economic Science, Doctor of Management Sciences, Rector's plenipotentiary at the Cuiavian University in Włocławek (Poland), project participants - Didenko Nina, Jean Monnet Chair, Professor of Department of Health Management and Public Administration at Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine (Kiev, Ukraine), and Simanavičienė Žaneta, Professor Habil., Dr., The Head of Lab. Sustainable Innovations at Mikolas Romeris University (Vilnius, Lithuania) also greeted the audience by joining the event virtually.

Coordinator of the Jean Monnet Module, Professor Larisa Takalandze introduced to the students, academic staff and invited guests the purpose of the three-year project, its target groups, tasks, main activities and expected outcomes, as well as the theme of the summer school and the professors and experts participating in it.The audience had the opportunity to get comprehensive answers to important and interesting questions in the event's final segment.At the end of the promotional event, the Head of SSU Administration, project participant, Associate Professor Nino Tophuridze gave a closing speech.

Sokhumi State University is the winner in Jean Monnet Module. For the first time at Sokhumi State University, Jean Monnet Module (Jean Monnet Activities - Erasmus+ Program (ERASMUS) ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCH-RSCH – Project number 101083295 - CSREU) was selected for co-financing by the European Commission. The coordinator of the three-year Jean Monnet Module "Corporate Social Responsibility in the European Union: Experience for Georgia" is Professor Larisa Takalandze (Faculty of Business and Social Sciences). The Module includes a new study course "Corporate Social Responsibility in the European Union" for undergraduate students and a summer school "Corporate Social Responsibility in the context of Relations between the EU and Georgia" for both undergraduate and postgraduate students; the Module includes research studies and a number of events in CSR.

The Jean Monnet Module aims to expand knowledge about European integration processes through teaching, research and debate on topics related to the history, politics, economics and law of the European Union, as well as the EU's relations with other regions of the world. The main task of the program is the involvement of the European dimension in the higher education system; It was opened in 1989 and got its name in honor of the famous French statesman Jean Monnet, one of the "architects" of the European Union.

Currently, the activities of the program extend to 78 countries, and the educational network includes more than 800 universities. Since 2013, the Jean Monnet program has been integrated into the Erasmus+ program.