According to paragraph "b" of the Decree of the Government of Georgia N 751 of April 4, 2019, by the resolution of the Academic Board of the Technical University of Georgia (on the basis of the minutes of April 03, 2020 N 01-05-04/72 and December 7, 2021 N01*05*02/36) we formed the Faculty of "Sustainable Mountain Development", which is conditioned by the strategic goals of the state for high-mountainous regions within the framework of the Mountain Sustainable Development Program, in terms of training young transdisciplinary, mountaineers, expert professional staff equipped with knowledge of sustainable development.
Sustainable development is considered as a new concept of human development, the key to creating a sustainable and peaceful world is learning. Change towards sustainability depends on a change in thinking. In transdisciplinary research, knowledge from different fields is integrated into a common vision, which allows obtaining a global body of knowledge to respond to new problems. The transdisciplinary approach tries to form and combine different knowledge, which allows for a global and integrated view of reality. Such an approach will better prepare young people for life in the mountains and for the reality they will discover, appreciate and transform in the future.
In order to overcome the poverty of the population of the mountainous regions of Georgia (Caucasus) and to contribute to the creation of a sustainable socio-economic-ecological environment in the mountains, four undergraduate educational programs were created in accordance with the requirements of the Bologna process and in accordance with the UN sustainable development strategy (which is fully financed by the state): 1. Sustainable development of mountain village environment (qualification-Bachelor of Environmental Science) 2. Mountain Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Management (Qualification-Bachelor of Tourism) 3. Management of organic farming systems in mountainous regions (qualification-Bachelor of Management) 4. Natural Hazards Sustainable Environment and Protection (Qualification-Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Engineering)
The undergraduate educational programs, curricula, syllabi and student knowledge assessment system of the Faculty of Mountain Sustainable Development are in full compliance with the requirements established by the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, the norms of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
The educational programs are new and have no analogues in other universities of Georgia or its neighboring countries. For the development of the young faculty with full identical formation to the European standard and the introduction of master's and doctoral educational programs, it cooperates and uses the experience of successful European universities, such as the International University of Italy and the University of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
Programs implemented at the Faculty of Mountain Sustainable Development will have the power to analyze forms and systems of mountain education in mountain communities and systematically assess their impact on mountains and mountain people, the ways in which these effects are achieved, changes among other factors and their potential to support sustainability.
Innovative educational initiatives for the sustainable development of the mountainous region of Georgia will contribute not only to increasing knowledge, but also to changing thinking and practice towards environmental sustainability. Mountain research and education programs give us the opportunity to emphasize the importance of integrity and the need to create transdisciplinary knowledge, give people the knowledge and skills to participate in sustainable development processes, make them more competent and self-confident, and give them more opportunities to achieve a healthy society, taking into account the principles of social values, gender equality and cultural diversityand a productive life through sustainable harmony with nature.
On the one hand, the mountainous region of Georgia has many environmental challenges and requires actions for its further sustainable development, and on the other hand, it has significant biodiversity, resources, natural potential, which can be effectively used for deepening economic development and improving the quality of everyday life of citizens in the mountains.