Division of Urban Planning

The teaching of urban planning as an academic discipline originated within the Department of Architectural Planning in the 1960s under the designation "Urban Planning Design." The academic staff active during this period formed the core nucleus of the Department of Urban Planning (Urbanistics). Among them were: Givi Beridze, Givi Shavdia, Giorgi Shaishmelashvili, Giorgi Salukvadze, Vladimer (Lado) Vardosanidze, Otar Nakhutsrishvili, Ekaterine (Chiora) Tevzadze, Tengiz Makharashvili, and Pavle Dzindzibadze. Pedagogical work alongside them has been carried out by: Marika Pochkhua, Maia Javakhishvili, Temur Kldiashvili, Merab Bolkvadze, Temur Zedelashvili, Temur Bochorishvili, Irakli Murgulia, and Nino Chkheidze.

From the initial cohort of urban planning educators, a particularly prominent legacy was left by the country's recognized urban planners: Aleksandre Nikolaishvili, Bidzina Maminashvili, and Nodar Mikadze.

The founder and first head of the Department of Urban Planning from 1992 to 1995 was Professor Giorgi Shaishmelashvili. From 1996 to 2005, the department was chaired by Professor Tengiz Makharashvili; in 2005–2006 by architect Pavle Dzindzibadze; and from 2006, Full Professor Giorgi Shaishmelashvili once again assumed leadership of the department.

Since 2008, the department has been designated as the Division of Urban Planning (Urbanistics). The division offers instruction in key academic disciplines, including: Urban Ecology, Urban Reconstruction, Landscape Architecture, Fundamentals of Urban Planning Theory, Urban Rehabilitation, Urban Engineering Infrastructure and Transportation, among others.

• The academic discipline "Urban Ecology", founded by Professor Giorgi Salukvadze, aims to educate highly qualified specialists in urban ecology and to foster students' capacity to understand the protection, preservation, restoration, and revitalization of the urban ecological environment. Students master the core concepts and principles of urban ecology, the causes of environmental degradation, environmental assessment methodologies, and the methodological foundations of urban ecology, while reviewing both domestic and international practice.
• The academic discipline "Urban Reconstruction" aims to provide students with foundational knowledge in urban reconstruction design; to instill an understanding of reconstruction as an ongoing process directed at reconciling disparities between a city's spatial-planning structure and evolving social requirements; to provide a comprehensive understanding of key principles of urban rehabilitation—such as relieving historic city centers of incompatible functions and excessive traffic flows, and establishing new nodes of attraction beyond historic cores; to teach the principles of urban reconstruction grounded in sustainable development imperatives; and to familiarize students with active international conventions and charters in urban reconstruction and heritage preservation.
• The academic discipline "Sociocultural Foundations of Urban Development" (led by Professor Vl. Vardosanidze) was integrated into the architectural curriculum to overcome narrow, technocratic perspectives on urban development. A defining trend of contemporary civic life is establishing the primacy of humanistic principles—a shift of paramount relevance to urban design and the shaping of urban environments. Architectural entities have consistently reflected not only their author's individual vision but also the broader socio-cultural context. Consequently, it is vital for students to grasp the fundamental principle that the urban environment and its constituent elements represent the material manifestation of ongoing socio-cultural processes within society.
• The academic discipline "Landscape Architecture" aims to teach students the fundamentals of landscape design, the developmental stages, styles, movements, and trends in landscape architecture, and to introduce foreign and domestic precedents in the field. Furthermore, it seeks to cultivate an environmental approach and spatial thinking within the framework of broad contemporary ecological requirements when addressing any professional task.
• The academic discipline "Fundamentals of Urban Planning Theory" aims to instruct students in the foundational principles of urban planning theory, the planning and development of human settlements, and the comprehensive organization of urban infrastructure.
• The academic discipline "Urban Rehabilitation" aims to develop students' ability to apply theoretical knowledge acquired in urban planning disciplines to practical design in urban rehabilitation (a specialized area of urban planning design); to foster recognition of core principles in urban rehabilitation design—specifically, acknowledging the equal importance of economic development, social cohesion, and environmental protection as essential prerequisites for sustainable development; and to cultivate an understanding of urban rehabilitation as a primary instrument of sustainable development.
• The academic discipline "Urban Engineering Infrastructure and Transportation" aims to prepare professionally skilled specialists with a profile in urban planning design, instilling conceptual and spatial-planning analytical abilities required for developing complex projects.

The primary mission of the division is to instill an awareness of the social mission of the profession—ensuring that every architect-urban planner understands their responsibility to society.

The long history of the Division of Urban Planning illustrates the evolving nature of the fundamental challenges faced by the Georgian urban planning school over time. During the initial years following the department's founding, the primary challenge lay in overcoming the difficulties of transitioning seven decades of Soviet urban planning practice to market economy conditions. The second fundamental challenge emerged at the beginning of the 21st century, centered on sustainable development requirements and the implementation of new urban planning policies, demanding an adequate response from the Division of Urban Planning.

In this context, integrating the principles and values of sustainable development into academic curricula represents a key strategic vector for the Division of Urban Planning. The priority assigned to these themes is reflected in the faculty's scientific publications, lecture series, and Master's and Doctoral research.

Scientific research constitutes an integral component of pedagogical activity within the Division of Urban Planning, aligning fully with the requirements of the Charter of Architectural Education (UNESCO/UIA, 1993).

The scope of scientific activity encompasses both localized issues of urban development and topics of vital importance to the spatial-territorial organization of the country—including settlement planning and regional planning, which had been neglected for years.

The integration of newly accumulated scientific knowledge into the educational process is positively reflected across all levels of academic activity (student scientific conferences, as well as Master's and Doctoral degree programs).