2017-04-28
U.S. Alumni Leadership Forum at TSU
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) hosted the U.S. Alumni Leadership Forum on April 28. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili; U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, Ian Kelly; Rector of TSU, Giorgi Sharvashidze; former U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, Kenneth Yalowitz, and invited guests attended the event.
“I am glad to be at the Tbilisi State University, my alma mater. I am happy to see how the university is changing constantly and becoming a modern academic center; to see that its academic staff and students are as active as years ago. Today we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of U.S.-Georgia relations,” PM Kvirikashvili said and stressed the contribution made by the United States to the development of Georgia and education of future leaders through its academic programs and fellowships.
U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, Ian Kelly also focused on the U.S.-Georgia relations. He said that the two countries have established deep and broad relations since the day of establishing the diplomatic relations 25 years ago. He said that Georgia “shares democratic values, respects freedom of speech.” Ambassador Kelly noted that the United States invested USD 4 billion in Georgia on its path towards development. “We appreciate the reforms carried out by Georgia,” he added.
In his remarks, TSU Rector Giorgi Sharvashidze touched upon exchange programs implemented during the 25-year diplomatic relations, through which over 5 000 Georgian citizens acquired higher education in the United States. “Our relations did not start 25 years ago. The first foreign professor, who taught at our university since the very first days of its establishment, was Professor Robert Blake of Harvard University. During the 1987-1988 academic year, the first group of TSU students left for the United States. All of them are very successful. Each US dollar spent by the United States in this direction is a successfully spent dollar. I hope that similar assistance will continue in future,” Rector Sharvashidze said.
A discussion was also held as part of the U.S. Alumni Leadership Forum with the participation of President of the National Bank of Georgia, Koba Gvenetadze; representative of the Georgian Parliament’s administration, Nika Samkharadze; President of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS), Eka Metreveli; Director of Policy and Management Consulting Group, Aleksi Aleksishvili.
Georgia and the United States established academic relations in the late 1980s. TSU and leading U.S. universities are still implementing intensive exchange programs, which enable students to acquire western education and gain life experience.
“I am glad to be at the Tbilisi State University, my alma mater. I am happy to see how the university is changing constantly and becoming a modern academic center; to see that its academic staff and students are as active as years ago. Today we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of U.S.-Georgia relations,” PM Kvirikashvili said and stressed the contribution made by the United States to the development of Georgia and education of future leaders through its academic programs and fellowships.
U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, Ian Kelly also focused on the U.S.-Georgia relations. He said that the two countries have established deep and broad relations since the day of establishing the diplomatic relations 25 years ago. He said that Georgia “shares democratic values, respects freedom of speech.” Ambassador Kelly noted that the United States invested USD 4 billion in Georgia on its path towards development. “We appreciate the reforms carried out by Georgia,” he added.
In his remarks, TSU Rector Giorgi Sharvashidze touched upon exchange programs implemented during the 25-year diplomatic relations, through which over 5 000 Georgian citizens acquired higher education in the United States. “Our relations did not start 25 years ago. The first foreign professor, who taught at our university since the very first days of its establishment, was Professor Robert Blake of Harvard University. During the 1987-1988 academic year, the first group of TSU students left for the United States. All of them are very successful. Each US dollar spent by the United States in this direction is a successfully spent dollar. I hope that similar assistance will continue in future,” Rector Sharvashidze said.
A discussion was also held as part of the U.S. Alumni Leadership Forum with the participation of President of the National Bank of Georgia, Koba Gvenetadze; representative of the Georgian Parliament’s administration, Nika Samkharadze; President of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS), Eka Metreveli; Director of Policy and Management Consulting Group, Aleksi Aleksishvili.
Georgia and the United States established academic relations in the late 1980s. TSU and leading U.S. universities are still implementing intensive exchange programs, which enable students to acquire western education and gain life experience.
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