In connection with the 97th foundation anniversary of the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU), His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II awarded St. George golden order to the university in the Holy Trinity Cathedral on February 8. St. George order, the supreme award of the Georgian Orthodox Church, was handed over to the Tbilisi State University for its huge contribution to the development of intellectual potential among young people and strengthening their national spirit, as well as for promoting their critical thinking and generally for huge contribution to the country’s advancement. Incumbent Rector is authorized to wear the order.
In frames of solemn events, TSU Rector, Academician Vladimer Papava, students and academic staff laid wreaths at the graves of TSU founders in the TSU Pantheon. A solemn meeting was also held where the employees of the TSU faculties, research institutes and administration were awarded with the University and Ivane Javakhishvili medals for their contribution to the university’s development.
TSU Rector Vladimer Papava said: “97 years are not so much for the university. There are a lot of universities throughout the world, which exist for already centuries. However, if we recollect the Georgian nation’s historical aspiration towards acquiring knowledge, it can be said that the university is much older for us. The university is successfully coping with all the tasks set by our great ancestors, TSU founders. The St. George gold order is the result of great services performed by our professors and students, our previous generations for the university. 25 years ago, just on February 8 the university was granted autonomy. TSU should always be independent in solving those issues, which are essential for the development of our university.”
“The Tbilisi University has never been simply the university. The university was founded before the Bolshevik government was established. This enabled our university to be a Georgian educational institution. The language of instruction was Russian at all the universities established in Soviet times. Our university had always managed to maintain national spirit,” TSU Professor Emeritus Mariam Lortkipanidze said.
The first-ever national university in the Caucasus was opened on January 26, 1918, the day of commemoration of King David the Builder (new style February 8), laying the foundation for a European-type higher school in Georgia, based on Georgian educational traditions. Upon the nomination of Ivane Javakhishvili, the Council of Professors elected Petre Melikishvili the first rector of the university. Ivane Javakhishvili took charge of the faculty of philosophy.
The following persons delivered lectures at the newly established university: Ivane Javakhishvili, Iustine Abuladze, Giorgi Akhvlediani, Philipe Gogichaishvili, Ekvtime Takaishvili, Korneli Kekelidze, Shalva Nutsubidze, Elisabed Bagrationi-Orbeliani, Dimitri Uznadze, Vanda Gambashidze, Ilia Kipshidze, Ioseb Kipshidze, Akaki Shanidze, Andria Benashvili, Andria Razmadze, Ivane Beritashvili, and Grigol Tsereteli.
In 1989 the Tbilisi State University was named after its founder, Ivane Javakhishvili.
Today the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University is one of the first scientific-research institutions of Georgia. It implements about 200 local and international scientific grant programs annually. The Tbilisi State University is one of the largest higher educational institutions by its scales. Today over 20 000 students are undergoing studies at seven faculties of TSU.
Along with over 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs, the Tbilisi State University also implements higher vocational education, as well as short-term and long-term certification programs. Based on close cooperation with foreign universities, Georgian students have opportunities to participate in exchange and joint international educational programs and gain double academic degrees.
