Events

On July 7–8, a two-day conference titled “Sustaining Academic Freedom: Ilia State University and its Academic Partnership with Germany” will be held in Essen, Germany. The event is organized through a partnership between the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr) Liaison Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia and Ilia State University.

The primary objective of the conference is to bring together Georgian and German academics, alongside institutional partners, to examine issues surrounding academic freedom and to explore avenues for supporting higher education in Georgia. The event will be hosted by the College for Social Sciences and Humanities of the University Alliance Ruhr.

The conference will open with welcoming remarks delivered by Professor Nino Doborjginidze, Rector of Ilia State University, and Professor Martin Paul, Rector of the Ruhr University Bochum.

Core Program Tracks:

July 7 - Academic Freedom and Higher Education Policy

Professor Giga Zedania, Director of the Center for Advanced Studies at Ilia State University, will present an overview of the current landscape within the Georgian education system. This will be followed by a panel discussion entitled “Safeguarding Academic Freedom: Georgia, Europe, and Authoritarian Dynamics,” featuring professors from Ilia State University and international researchers.

July 8 - Specific Actions and Academic Cooperation

The second day will focus on funding opportunities for German-Georgian academic cooperation and will feature concurrent working sessions. Workshops will be structured around four thematic tracks: Humanities and Social Sciences, Exact and Natural Sciences, Academic and Financial Support Programs, Institutional Partnerships.

Prior registration is required to attend the conference. Interested participants may register via the following link: https://eveeno.com/272391188

2026