History

Georgian Technical University has a century-long history, beginning in 1922. In the beginning of the 20th century, the implementation of a wide programme for the restoration and development of state agriculture in Georgia necessitated the training of engineering personnel of various profiles; thus, Ivane Javakhishvili, rector of the already established Tbilisi University, decided to add the Polytechnic Faculty to the university.

A team with minimal resources was formed, and its graduates played a crucial role in the country's social and cultural activities. Throughout Georgian Technical University's century-long history, alumni have played an important part in the country's economic, social, and cultural growth. They have carried out several enthusiastic and ambitious projects for the country's development, including the creation of one of the most audacious ideas in Georgian engineering, "Engurhesi," and the launch into space of the first Georgian space object, "Reflector."

Tbilisi Polytechnic Institute was founded for the first time in the Caucasus on July 11, 1917, where renown members of the elite such as Petre Melikishvili, Aleksandre Javakhishvili, Simon Avaliani, Andria Benashvili, Aleksandre Didebulidze, Shalva Nutsubidze, Nikoloz Muskhelishvili, and others worked.

On January 16, 1922, the Engineering Faculty of the Tbilisi Polytechnic Institute, created in 1917, joined a polytechnic faculty at Tbilisi State University, with the Rector of the University, Ivane Javakhishvili, chairing the first session. Professor Alexander Didebulidze was elected as Dean of the Faculty. Andria Razmadze, a professor of higher mathematics, conducted the first lecture.

In the first academic year, 182 students enrolled at Tbilisi University's Polytechnic Faculty, which solely offered construction, mechanical, and mining courses.

On June 28, 1928, Georgia's first engineers publicly presented their graduation projects. They earned an engineering degree from Tbilisi State University. The first Georgian engineers were: Nikoloz Kalatozishvili, Ivane Gvichia, Aleksandre Mikaberidze, Evgeni Chikovani and Irakli Magalashvili.  They were soon joined by four other engineers - Konstantine Peradze, Parmen Jikia, Mikheil Khevsuriani and Malakia Bregvadze.

Professors from the polytechnic faculty created Georgian technical terminology. Furthermore, the first textbooks in special disciplines were developed and translated into Georgian.

The Georgian Polytechnic Institute actively contributed to the development of the country's industrial fields. The construction of the Zemo Avchala hydroelectric project began, led by prominent scientist and engineer Besarion Chichinadze. During the same time period, the universally recognised scientific schools of construction mechanics and construction seismology were established, and their representatives began constructing industrial and civil buildings, gravity and arch dams, underground hydroelectric power plants, and other types of structures in Georgia's difficult terrain.

Georgian scientists made significant contributions to railway planning, building, and operations.

The mining enterprise was founded by the first generation of Georgian miners, who were disciples of Grigol Tsulukidze, one of the university's founders. Tkibuli, Tkvarcheli, Chiatura, Akhaltsikhe, and other deposits have begun operations.

Geologists, led by renowned scientists Aleksandre Janelidze, Aleksandre Tvalchrelidze, and Kalistrate Gabunia, began to apply complicated structural-tectonic, geophysical, and geochemical approaches in their search. It became feasible to find new mineral reserves in Madneuli, Shaori, Tkvarcheli, and other locations.

Georgian energy workers also made significant contributions to the country's development. A unified energy system was established, and the country was connected by a network of high-voltage transmission lines. Rionhesi, Khramhesi, Engurhesi, Tbilsresi, and numerous more energy facilities marked the start of Georgian energy traditions.

In the 1950s of the twentieth century, the groundwork was prepared for a new field: automatic control and control systems. The Georgian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Electronics, Automation, and Telemechanics (later the Institute of Control Systems) produced the first Georgian electronic-calculating machine, "Delisi" in 1963.

Georgian polytechnics played an especially important role in World War II. Six institute alumni who fought in WWII were granted the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Professors and students at the institute also actively participated in the process of restoring and developing the public economy in the postwar era.

In 1929, the first chemical scientific research institute was formed. In 1932, the Institute of Pharmacochemistry was formed, followed by the Institutes of Metallurgy, Applied Chemistry, and Electrochemistry.

Metallurgical science evolved alongside the advancement of chemistry. Giorgi Nikoladze led the construction of an electric furnace for ore in Tbilisi's Didube area in 1930, which established the method of ferromanganese extraction from Chiatura manganese ore.

Machine science development began in the 1930s of the twentieth century. 

The Georgian Polytechnic Institute founded the Faculty of Architecture in 1969, with Professor Akaki Berishvili serving as its first dean (1969–1972).

In the latter part of the 1940s, the Georgian government instructed the Polytechnic Institute's management, in collaboration with pertinent agencies, to create a development plan for the institute's future and choose a suitable location for the construction of a single, integrated educational and scientific complex.  

The Georgian Polytechnic Institute integrated with the Tbilisi Institute of Railway Transport Engineers in 1959. Following that, the faculties of automation and computer engineering, hydraulic engineering and plumbing, communication and electronics, auto-mechanic faculties, and problem-solving and field laboratories were established, where necessary scientific research works for the country were conducted.

The institute turned into a technical university at the end of the 1990s, and changes were initiated to adapt to the European education system, including democratisation and the formation of the principle of autonomy (Rector Professor Gocha Chogovadze).

Georgian Technical University has implemented a three-level teaching structure that includes bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees (Rector Professor Ramaz Khurodze). The groundwork was laid for the introduction of new specialties such as engineering management, state management, finance, business administration, and law.

The theology training-scientific centre at Georgian Technical University was founded in 2001 with the blessing of His Holiness and Beatitude, Ilia II, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, the Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, and the Metropolitan Bishop of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia. The centre was led by Metropolitan Anania (Japaridze), a member of the Georgian Orthodox Church's Holy Synod.

At the conclusion of the first decade of the 21st century, Georgian Technical University's organisation as a higher education institution had evolved dramatically. It was joined by other scientific research organisations with substantial human resources and material-technical foundations. A new university statute was approved.

Nowadays, in independent Georgia, young professionals, scientists, and researchers in engineering and technical fields have the chance to achieve a lot more, which is a precondition for Georgian Technical University and its alumni to continue the century-long heritage