ISET is very proud of the fact that every single one of its students has walked into meaningful employment after graduation, but it is both pleasing and special when ISET graduates are hired to work for the institute itself. Their contributions and efforts help inspire the next generations, as well as continue to drive the ISET Policy Institute's research. From September, the Policy Institute will be employing a further three ISETers, all of whom graduated as part of the Class of 2020. Among these is valedictorian Guram Lobzhanidze, who will now work as a Junior Researcher for the Energy and…

ISET is proud to welcome Mr. Luc Leruth, a professional of considerable academic experience who has worked for many years in financial institutions, to the ISET Policy Institute as one of its Lead Economists. A native of Belgium, Mr. Leruth previously worked as the Director of a number of the IMF's Technical Assistance Centres in Africa and the Pacific region. He has also enjoyed a career in academia, having spent time at the Indian Statistical Institute in Delhi, and the universities of Liege, Brussels, and Essex, with his work being published in a number of scientific journals.

ISET is renowned for its strong community spirit, which is perhaps best demonstrated by the activities of its Alumni Association, a non-commercial legal entity established in 2016. As well as organising activities and events for members of the ISET family, the Alumni Association is also a useful network for later personal and professional development. As a non-profit group, the Association is purely donation-based, with the top contributors in 2020 being former ISETers Salome Baslandze, Robizon Khubulashvili, Nino Doghonadze, Giorgi Papava, and Lasha Labadze. The Alumni Association also distributes study stipends and recently launched a new one for 'the best improver',…

In a first for Georgia's education sector, the ISET MA Class of 2020 underwent its graduation ceremony entirely online. Guest speakers – including Minister of Education Mikheil Chkenkeli, ISET Governing Board Director Jean-Frederic Paulsen, and Deputy Swedish Ambassador Erik Illes – appeared over Zoom, followed by members of the Class of 2020 itself, and finishing with an address by Valedictorian Guram Lobzhanidze. Guram, though displaying the cheerful optimism that has become the mark of any ISETer, told the online audience that while he was under no illusions that the job market and economy had become unforgiving places, he had no…