The Faculty of Mountain Sustainable Development is innovative

GTU's Mountain Sustainable Faculty is the first transdisciplinary faculty in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and the Caucasus in the direction of teaching mountain problems; It was created in accordance with paragraph "b" of the Decree No. 751 of the Government of Georgia of April 4, 2019 of the Academic Council of the Technical University of Georgia (on the basis of the minutes of April 03, 2020 N 01-05-04/72 and resolution of December 7, 2021 N01*05*02/36). The first flow of students was received in 2021 and it is characterized by an increasing number of students. Today, more than 250 students are studying at the young faculty.

Modern educational and priority programs

The Faculty of Sustainable Mountain has modern transdisciplinary educational programs:

• Sustainable mountain tourism and hospitality management (qualification-Bachelor of Tourism)
• Sustainable mountain tourism and hospitality management
• Management of organic farming systems in mountainous regions (qualification-Bachelor of Management)
• Natural hazards, sustainable environment and protection (qualification-environmental engineering)

All four bachelor's programs of the faculty are fully funded by the state as priority programs. The above-mentioned accredited bachelor's programs provide training of high-level, competitive young mountain sustainable environment-seeking expert specialists. Teaching is conducted in Georgian language.

The training process is conducted by professionals

They employee qalified professors with extensive practical experience.

Opportunity to receive high-quality innovative education and employment

The faculty collaborates with successful business organizations and employers in the public, private, and non-governmental sectors, including the National Agency for Protected Areas, Environment, Resort Development and Rural Development, Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Partnership with them provides an opportunity to receive high-quality innovative education.

Faculty cooperation with government administration

The faculty is involved in annual regional events organized by the government administration - "Mountain Days"; This year, the faculty participated in two regional mountain events with the slogan "Climb the mountain" (Imereti - Gordi and Mestia - Ughviri Lake)

Faculty cooperation with municipal structures

The faculty has memoranda of cooperation with the municipalities of Khashuri and Tianeti, which are distinguished by the number of settlements with mountain status; Professor-teachers and students carry out scientific-research activities at the base of farmers of municipalities. In the autumn of 2023, it is planned to organize a forum in Khashuri municipality, where the results of scientific experiments and future trends of sustainable development of rural and agricultural areas in mountainous regions will be presented.

Faculty collaboration with public schools

The faculty cooperates with public/general education schools of Tsalki, Kazbegi, Samtredia, Martvili, Chkhorotsku, Akhaltsikhe municipalities; Together with them, he participates in various activities and ensures the future generation's interest in sustainable development issues and mountain issues. Faculty and general educational institutions will implement joint pilot training programs for the purpose of sustainable development.

International cooperation

The faculty cooperates with international organizations interested in mountain issues, diplomatic corps (embassies of Italy and Austria); collaborates with the world-renowned research center "UNIMONT" (University of Milan, Italy), University of Scottish Highlands and Glaciers (UHI, Scotland, Great Britain) and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU, Vienna, Austria); joint scientific research projects, international thematic conferences, seminars and webinars have been started; It is planned to create joint educational master's programs.

Student life and extracurricular activities

Varied and interesting student life, loaded with local and international scientific-practical conferences, student projects, seasonal schools, cultural-cognitive and sports events. Students' field trips are carried out in the surroundings of Tbilisi (Vere ravine), in the municipalities of Khashuri, Dusheti, Kazbegi and Tianeti. Vazha-Pshavela is the spiritual guide of the Faculty of Sustainable Development of Mountain. Every year on July 14, the faculty participates in the event - Vazhaoba and presents a presentation of thematic, innovative issues dedicated to the mountain. Also, on the same day, the graduates of the faculty will honor his eternal memory, both on Mtatsminda and in his native village of Chargali.

Ambitious goals of young faculty

According to the decision of the University Rectorate, the Faculty of Sustainable Mountain Development will have the opportunity in the near future to use the university bases in the territory of Borjomi Municipality - Tsemi and Faravani of Ninotsminda Municipality for student field-study, scientific-research thematic classes, and it is also possible to hold the annual International Mountain Day - December 11 Various local or international events (conferences, forums, seasonal schools)