GUIDE OF GEORGIA Cycles of Higher Education Higher Education system of Georgia consists of three cycles: First Cycle-Bachelor’s Degree (240 credits); Second Cycle-Master’s Degree (120 credits); Third Cycle-Doctor’s Degree (180 credits) Higher Education Institutions Georgia is a popular destination for students from around the world, wishing to gain a top-quality education. Each year more and more students take courses in Georgia and fill the contingent of international students to already significant contingent in the whole country. The following are the higher education institutions in Georgia: College – higher education institution implementing professional higher educational programs or/and only the first cycle programs –Bachelor programs; Educational University-higher education institution implementing higher educational program/programs (except for doctoral programs). It is required to provide the second Cycle-Master educational program/programs; University –higher education institution implementing educational programs of all the three cycles of the highest academic education. Quality Assurance External quality assurance in Georgia lies through accreditation process. Accreditation is conducted by National Education Accreditation Centre www.nea.ge The state recognizes the qualification documents issued only by an accredited educational institution or equalized to it. FACTS ABOUT GEORGIA Local name: "Sakartvelo" / Georgia Capital city: Tbilisi Area: 69,700 sq. km Location: It lies between the Black and Caspian Seas, on the south of the Caucasus, bordered by Russia in the north; Armenia, Turkey in the south, Azerbaijan – in the south-east. Population: 4,7 million Native language: Georgian Currency: Lari (Gel) Calling code: +995; the area code of Tbilisi is 322 Area: 69,700 sq. km (N.B. 20% of Georgia’s territory is not under Georgian Government control.) Facts About Georgia population: 3.7 million Capital City: Tbilisi (population: 1.1 million) People: 71% Georgian (including subgroups of Svanetians, Mingrelians, Ajas), 7.7% Armenian, 6.5% Russian, 6% Azeri, 3% Ossetians, 1.8% Abkhaz Languages: Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7% note: Abkhaz (official in Abkhazia) Religion(s): Orthodox 84%, Muslim 9%, Armenian Apostolic 4%, Currency: Lari (GEL) Government: Georgia is republic with executive, legislative and judicial branches. HISTORY OF GEORGIA Archeologists and historians have established that Georgia was one of the main regions which saw the emergence and development of primitive man and the origins of civilization. Stone implements fashioned during the Paleolithic Age have been found here. The people of Georgia were amongst the first in the Caucasus to master the smelting and casting of metals; first copper and bronze, then, as early as the 9th-7th centuries BC, iron. During the Bronze Age, large tribal confederations were formed here, the basis of the first Georgian states: Colchis (6th century B.C.) in Western Georgia, and Kartli (4th century B.C.) in the east. The history of Georgian statehood begins with emergence of Colchis and Iberian kingdoms. Colchis kingdom was formed approximately in the 6th century BC. Iberian kingdom appeared in the 4th century BC. Until the 1st century AD the territory of modern Georgia passed from one great empire to another. In the 4th century AD Christianity came to Kartli. In the beginning of the 8th century Arabs subordinated Western and Eastern Georgia. But it the end of the century their influence was weakened under the pressure of civil uprisings. It was the time of independent princedoms formation in Georgia. In the 10th century independent princedoms united to resist outside enemies’ attacks. King Bagrat III united eastern and western parts of Georgia in a single state. In the next century, David IV the Builder initiated the Georgian Golden Age by driving the Turks from the country and expanding Georgian cultural and political influence southward and eastward to the Caspian Sea. That era of unparalleled power and prestige for the Georgian monarchy concluded with the great literary flowering of Queen Tamar’s reign. In the 13th century Mongol-Tatars invaded the country. In the beginning of the 15th century the ruined country could not recover from Timur’s army’s invasion and save its integrity. In the 15th century Georgian feudal state broke up into several separate kingdoms and princedoms were the objects of fierce struggle between Iran and Ottoman Empire (Turkey) for domination in Transcaucasia until the end of the 18th century. In 1773 king Herekle asked Russia for military assistance. In this period, Russian troops intermittently occupied parts of Georgia, making the country a pawn in the explosive Russian-Turkish rivalry of the last three decades of the eighteenth century. After the Persians sacked Tbilisi in 1795, king Herekle again sought the protection of Orthodox Russia. Annexation by the Russian Empire began a new stage of Georgian history. This relationship would last nearly two centuries. In 1918 Georgia gained its independence again. On November 25, 1921 Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic was established and was a part of the USSR firstly as a part of Transcaucasia Socialist Federal Soviet Republic (together with Armenia and Azerbaijan) from December, 1922. From 1936 to 1991 Georgia was a Soviet republic within the USSR. In 1991 Georgia declared independence as well as other countries of the former Union. TBILISI Tbilisi (Georgian: თბილისი [Tbilisi]) is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mtkvari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936. The city covers an area of 726 km² (280.3 square miles) and has 1,480,000 inhabitants. Founded in the 5th century by Vakhtang Gorgasali, the Georgian King of Iberia, and made into a capital in the 6th century, Tbilisi is a significant industrial, social, and cultural centre. The city is also emerging as an important transit route for global energy and trade projects. Located strategically at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and lying along the historic Silk Road routes, Tbilisi has often been a point of contention between various rival powers and empires. The history of the city can be seen by its architecture, Rustaveli Avenue and downtown are blended with the narrower streets of the medieval Narikala district. The demographics of the city is diverse and historically it has been home to people from diverse cultures, religions and ethnicities. Despite being overwhelmingly Orthodox Christian, Tbilisi is one of the few places in the world where a synagogue and a mosque are located next to each other, in the ancient Bath district several hundred meters from the Metekhi Church. Tbilisi has one international airport. Notable tourist destinations include the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, Freedom Square, Sioni Cathedral, Metekhi, Narikala, Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, Anchiskhati Basilica, Mtatsminda Pantheon (Holy Mountain), Kashueti Church along with the National and Historic Museums of Georgia and a number of art galleries. http://museum.ge/?lang_id=ENGGEO&sec_id=31 Port & Visa The countries whose citizens do not need a visa to enter and stay on the territory of Georgia for 360 days: All countries of the European Union, United States of America, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Israel, the Holy See, Principality of Andorra, San-Marino, Republic of Iceland, United Arab Emirates, State of Kuwait, South Korea, State of Qatar, Kingdom of Bahrain, Oman, Brunei, Singapore, Australia, Monaco, New Zealand, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Seychelles, Botswana, Croatia, Chile, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Argentina, Malaysia, Mexico, Uruguay, Mauritius, Panama, Costa Rica, South Africa, Brazil, Thailand, Belize, Saudi Arabia, Republic of Albania, Republic of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Republic of Iraq. All foreign visitors (except the countries listed below) must possess a passport valid for at least the next 6 months. Some participants may require visas in order to enter Georgia. Please check with your local Georgian Consulate or Embassy for details regarding visa and entry requirements. If no such representation exists in a particular country, please visit the site: http://www.mfa.gov.ge. Travel information The fastest and consequently the least tiring way to get to Georgia is by plane. For flying information visit the http://www.airport.ge/ Air travel to Tbilisi There are direct flights to Tbilisi International Airport from/to all main cities in Europe and Asia: Kiev, Antalya, Tel Aviv, Tehran, Urumqi, Aktau, Baku, Riga, Minsk, Munich, Istanbul-Ataturk, Prague, Warsaw, Istanbul-S.Gokçen, Amsterdam, Moscow- Domodedovo. For detail information please see: http://www.tbilisiairport.com Airport Taxies are located at the curbside of arrival and departure halls provide transportation service to all parts of the city throughout the day. Price from airport to city center 30GEL = 20US$ Cost of living In order to live comfortably while you are in Tbilisi. The coast of living is cheaper than any other cities in the European countries. It is difficult to give a precise figure because of differences in the student lifestyle. You will receive advice from financial advisers at the on how best to dandle your money, but initially it is important to note that you should have some cash for immediate costs (e.g. airport costs or transport). You may need further funds in the form of travelers cheques, which can be readily cashed. There are foreign exchange offices everywhere in Georgia. We strongly recommend that while in Georgia you do not carry large amounts of cash on your person or leave cash in your room. We suggest opening a bank account as soon as possible after arrival. There are four banks with branches in the different areas. There are numerous automatic teller machines that dispense cash 24 hours a day. Any major amounts of money may be sent in the form of a bank transfer, but electronic transfers are, in most cases the most efficient method of sending founds to Georgia.