Mission and Aims of the University
2. 1. The Description of the Status Quo
In the Post-Soviet era, the Georgian education system has severe problems caused by the Soviet totalitarian legacy and the Marxist-Leninist ideology that was imposed on people.
The distorted and misinterpreted Marxist theory, which was represented by Leninist theoretical principles, served as foundation for the Russian Bolshevik Empire, the Soviet Union. It turned into the sole and compulsory ideology of this state throughout its entire existence of 70 years. Scientific achievements and discoveries fell victims to this ideology. Social sciences such as history, sociology, linguistics, philosophy, economics, psychology, and others, experienced particular setbacks since the results of research in these fields had to be based on Marxist-Leninist theory.
The totalitarian regime did not promote the establishment of a civil society. On the contrary, it purposely hampered the development of democracy. It prevented the building of a legitimate state and eliminated any step leading towards the supremacy of law.
The soviet state machine throughout the years of its existence brought up society with distorted values and an underdeveloped civil and legal consciousness. This is a society that does not know about liberal market economy, business administration, and management of different spheres of public life. The lack of this knowledge became desperately evident after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The inadequate knowledge in the sphere of social sciences turned out especially painful for Georgia, because our country became the immediate target and victim of the revenge-seeking Russian state machine and its ideology.
The essential guarantee of wellbeing of our country is in its speedy economic recovery. This cannot be achieved without the provision for students of adequate Western quality education in social sciences.
2.2. The Type of Knowledge that is Needed at the Stage
The rapid advancement of new technologies has posed qualitatively new challenges to people working in the sphere of social sciences and social relations. The growing complexity of management of these spheres and the emergence of especially new trends have put forward the necessity of multidisciplinary knowledge. It has become obvious that the young people who plan to work in the sphere of social sciences should acquire multidisciplinary education and skills of creative thinking. They should equally well know social sciences: Anthropology, Philosophy, History, Psychology, and Economics, as well as computer technology, statistics, qualitative ad quantitative research methods, modern marketing and management technologies.
2. 3. The Mission of the University
2. 3.1. General
The mission of the University of Georgia is to educate professionals who will be equipped with modern practical, theoretical and methodological knowledge and will contribute to the transformation of the outdated unlawful and non-democratic society into a modern democratic developed community with a high level of civil consciousness, a rule of la and ethical standbards. For its part, this will contribute to the integration of the country in European structures, the EU and NATO.
2. 3. 2. Education for Lives of Service
University of Georgia seeks to be a lively community of learning, research, and service. A community of the people who study and investigate how to put education in public services The University’s mission is to educate the whole person for successful careers of service to the community, to the nation, and to the world built on the four pillars of honesty, generosity of spirit, hard work, and professional qualification. In Georgian everything the same, but the four pillars are related to the career
As a comprehensive and miscellaneous university
The University offers a modern diverse core curriculum that has been worked out by professionals to help students develop a broad base of knowledge in a variety of disciplines, an interest in intellectual pursuits, the ability to reason and communicate, and a growing awareness of the global community
As a multi-level university
University of Georgia offers programs leading to the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor’s degrees that build on a liberal education foundation and concentrate on developing professional skills for career (theoretical and practical) or pursuing graduate and post-graduate work.
A community build on collegial and democratic principles
The University is committed to the highest level of academic and societal engagement and
seeks to explore the tensions between different societal values in order to engender intellectual growth, high moral principles, and a commitment to service, to engender the economic and intellectual progress, the formation and development of the moral principles to serve the community, nation, state and in general – the humanity.
The university first of all aims at serving the Georgian citizens. Yet, at the same time it welcomes students of all races, all faiths and creeds, all ethnic origins, and all nationalities
2. 3. 3. As a university in the city
The University offers a carefully designed campus life program, “a mini-academic city” with extensive co-curricular, cultural, sports and other activities designed at developing dedication to their choice profession, love for their history, culture, the present-day Georgia and belief that the successful future of humanity lies with the success of each individual nation. The creation of the university “city” will help the students get professional knowledge, grow personally, and form close and firm friendly relations and social responsibility.
2. 3. 4. As a Georgian university
Our era is the epoch of globalization. Some believe that the cultures and civilizations of big nations threaten to devour small nations like Georgia. In reality, societies must be aware that what actually threatens big and small nations equally is backwardness and ignorance. Progressive ideas and progressive experience, taking over and the achievements of other nations never harm national cultures. Just the opposite, this only enriches and empowers them. We can illustrate this with thousands of examples form the long history of existence of the Georgian culture
The mission of the university is not to fight the process of globalization that under way in the world. That would mean flowing against the stream, but rather it is to take advantage of the opportunities that globalization unfolds for the revival and strengthening of the Georgian culture and civilization. The implementation of modern knowledge and skills in the country through various activities and programs will contribute to the economic growth of the state, the restoration of territorial integrity and the education of the law-abiding civil society.
2.3.5. As a university engaged with the world
Georgian University of Social Sciences seeks to bring the world to Georgia by having up to 25% of its student body from the South Caucasus, Europe and the world in general. The University also actively promotes opportunities for study abroad for all of its students who choose this option.
2. 4. Aims
The aims of the University of Georgia proceed from the mission of the university and are stated as follows:
1 Meet western educational standards in the field of social sciences and prepare qualified cadre for work in various fields of social life. These specialists are expected to be acquainted with contemporary American and European management methods and models. They are expected to master English and other languages if required.
2 Provide students with a multidisciplinary education and foster their creative thinking skills, so they develop as fully viable specialists.
3 The modern epoch is the epoch of continuous education. Anyone willing to proceed with their career is obliged to seek professional development through trainings, professional enhancement courses and programs or mastering new professions. It is the goal of the university to work out special programs aimed at providing an opportunity for those working in various fields of social sciences to acquire new knowledge and skills as well as refresh and update the competencies that they already have.
4 Serve the interests of the nation. National interests require not false emotions but preparation of textbooks that are currently nonexistent in the Georgian language, preparation of special terminology, and introduction into society of contemporary knowledge. In the long run, this will improve the living standards of our citizens and will provide a foundation for the advance and success of the Georgian culture and civilization.