Dr. George Sharvashidze,

Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University

Since September 2016, Dr. George Sharvashidze twice been elected   as the Rector of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (Georgia),where he was leading TSU’s efforts to help shape the future of the University’s research and education, with an emphasis on innovation and internationalization. At the same time, George Sharvashidze was founder and the first Chairman of the Standing Conference of Rectors of Georgian public higher education institutions, European Universities Association (EUA) council member.

In his role as the Rector of TSU Dr. Sharvashidze has encouraged the strengthening of the University’s international profile and visibility worldwide, brought attention to the importance of  scientific cooperation and high end research among the TSU’s academic and student communities nationally as well on an international level , and promoted collaboration across different academic disciplines. Impressive number of internationally accredited, joint and dual degree programs were introduced, TSU was externally institutionally reviewed by EUA IEP.

During his tenure TSU became the leadingUniversity in the region, according to all major international rankings (THE, Global News and World Report, QS etc.), University budget and intake of students increased on 50 %. Thus, TSU, the oldest University in the Caucasus, regain the status of biggest higher educational institution in the region. 

For his service in Rector’s capacity Dr. Sharvashidze was decorated with Presidential Order of Excellence in 2022.

At various stages of his career, Dr. Sharvashidze served as a First Deputy Minister, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Georgia (1996-2000 and 2013-2016), a Director of National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (2014-2016), aDirector of Open Society Institute’s Academic Fellowship Program (AFP) in Budapest, Hungary(2004-2013) and the President of the International Institute for Education Policy, Planning and Management (EPPM, 2000-2003). In 2014-2019 George Sharvashidze served as the Higher Education Reform Expert (HERE). 

Dr. George Sharvashidze is a European Science Foundation (ESF) expert, an elected member of the Academia Europaea, a member of the expert group on Higher Education, Research and Culture in European Society (HERCULES), a member of the Advisory Council of San Diego State University Georgia Campus, was a member of the Advisory Board of the International School of Economics (ISET) at TSU, a member of the Leadership Council of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network(SDSN) Black Sea chapter, a member of the Black Sea Universities (BSUN) Executive Committee, Executive Committee member of International Association of University Presidents ( IAUP ).

Dr.George Sharvashidze holds a Ph.D. degree(awarded in 2006) in Education Sciences from Sulkhan Saba Orbeliani Tbilisi State Pedagogical University (Georgia), MA degree in Philology with Honors from TSU (awarded in 1984) and is the author of publications in the fields of education policy, strategic planning and education management. 

Since January 2023 Dr. George Sharvashidze was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Armenia. He is an associate professor of Education at the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.