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The Collaborative Workshop on Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences was held at the Institute of Geography, University of Cologne, from 15–18 December 2025.

The workshop served the main mission of the Cologne International Forum EnviroLink project—to support the development of an international master’s programme in Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences at Ilia State University. The new programme is based on the IMES programme at the University of Cologne, which draws on two decades of interdisciplinary teaching experience, and will create a dual-degree opportunity for Georgian and German students. During the workshop it was agreed to apply for the Erasmus+ mobility grant. The main goal is to build capacity and a shared understanding in Georgia of how to design, implement, and sustain interdisciplinary teaching across the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities.

The new programme also addresses emerging environmental challenges of the 21st century, such as microplastic pollution. Laboratory capacities to tackle these issues are being developed at Ilia State University, supported by expertise and knowledge transfer from the University of Cologne.

At the same time, work focused on the co-creation of a shared teaching module, designed as an Immersive Environmental Lab, which integrates VR-supported fieldwork, GIS applications, and COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) -based collaboration to connect learners across both universities. Through structured exchanges with faculty, students, quality management, and international offices, clear steps were defined toward programme design, shared teaching activities, and sustainable collaboration.

The workshop’s purpose was straightforward: to develop a realistic programme draft, align academic and organizational expectations, build capacity, and transfer knowledge in order to strengthen long-term cooperation between Ilia State University and the University of Cologne in interdisciplinary environmental studies and education.

Workshop participants from Ilia State University:

Elene Zhuravliova, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Medicine

Mikheil Elashvili, Director of the Cultural Heritage and Environment Research Center

Salome Bilanishvili, Head of the International Relations Office

Tamar Barbakadze, Head of Quality Assurance Office of the Faculty of Natural sciences and Medicine

Levan Navrozashvili, Head of the Complex Environmental Laboratory

Lasha Sukhishvili, Director of the Institute of Earth Sciences and National Seismic Monitoring Center

Zurab Javakhishvili, Head of the Nature Protection and Forestry Program

Nino Ustiashvili, coordinator of the Geoecology laboratory

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