Project

‘Globalization, Bologna and Universities in Countries of Transition: Case of Georgia’

Research aims to focus on higher education reforms and organizational changes in higher education system and universities in concrete in Georgia as the institution building in the context of democratization of newly independent nation-sate and globalization of higher education. The new law of Higher Education in Georgia introduced in 2004 was and is oriented to implement managerialist models, sharply differentiating academic and administrative responsibilities, and attempting to implement regulations and templates for administration that are isomorphic with European and American models. At the same time since 2005 Georgia has been a member of European Higher Education Area “Bologna Process” and follows the regulations and standardization of higher education process within the Bologna framework. It is assumed that the new managerial models and internationally compatible regulations for academic degrees will help to build a modern educational system with universities that are accountable, transparent, and high in quality. The research examines how the process of managerialism affects the public universities in countries of transition from soviet past and how the old soviet universities are transforming (if they) in new 21st century Universities and what are the expected consequences of development of public universities controlled by the state agencies and administration in Future. The case study of Tbilisi State University, the oldest and biggest research university in Georgia, is used to test the hypothesis of the impact of managerialism on universities in countries of transition. The observed malfunction of new embedded organization and institutional models of higher education at public universities tend to provoke inquire why the exposure of models of “best practices” in higher education in countries of transition fail. Findings of the research will contribute to the debate on The Future University and address the discussion on topics: the effects of globalization on universities as well as organization, funding, governance and auditing, and role of academics and academic freedom from organizational and political restrictions in relation of production of knowledge.

About

Professor Marine Chitasvili (Psychology, Tbilisi State University) is a Visiting Fellow at CRASSH, Lent 2011.

CENTRE FOR RESEARCH IN THE ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

Tel: +44 1223 766886
Email enquiries@crassh.cam.ac.uk