PM: One city, one department principle aims to optimal use of limited resources

“One city, one department principle – this objective aims to optimal use of limited resources,” said Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in a live broadcast of Imedi ITV during debates on education reform.

According to the PM, Tbilisi State University was the only university before the 1990s. Aside from that, there were medical, pedagogical and polytechnic universities; this system collapsed during the 1990s, causing serious problems.

“One city, one department principle – this objective aims to optimal use of limited resources. In limited resources, we mean scarce human resources. We have many talented individuals working in the academic sector in different areas, but overall, we have limited resources. If we look at the resources of various countries, such as the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, etc. there is no comparison with our resources in the academic sphere. Therefore, our main objective is to use limited resources effectively.

In Germany, there is one city, one university principle, because they attempt to optimally use existing resources. The only exception is Berlin, where two universities operate based on historic context. There were West and East Germany, and therefore, two universities operate in the city. Other cities have one university.

Georgia had such a system – one university. Tbilisi State University was not only Alma mater but the only university before the 1990s. Beyond that, there were medical, pedagogical and polytechnic universities; this system collapsed during the 1990s that caused serious problems. We want to restore the situation, which will lead to the optimal use of limited resources,” he said.