Georgian University of Social Sciences
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[edit] The University of Georgia
At the end of 2002, two professors from Tbilisi State University and Georgian Technical University, Giuli Alasania and Manana Sanadze, decided to set up a Centre for American Studies that would offer the MA degree in American Studies.
After negotiations with the Rector of Georgian Technical University, Mr. Ramaz Khurodze, it was decided to establish this Centre in GTU.
The aim of the work of the Centre was to study and popularize one of the most successful states of the world, the USA. Later on, similar programs were offered in European studies. According to the wish of the MA students, the programs were developed in a way that made it possible for them to study not only the USA or Europe in general, but also to gain knowledge in the management model of one of various spheres of the social life of the USA or Europe: Business Administration, Public Administration, Management of Culture and Education, etc. Further on, the relations between the Centre and the Georgian Technical University evolved as follows: on July 21, 2004 the School of Social Sciences, Ltd, was set up by the Georgian Technical University and private persons Drs. G. Alasania and M. Sanadze.
The school developed quickly. The number of MA students soon exceeded a hundred. The programs were also diversified. Therefore, in the same year, 2004, the partners decided to establish a higher educational institution, a University, and the School of Social Sciences Ltd was renamed the Georgian University of Social Sciences.
[edit] The Aims of the University
In the Post-Soviet era, the Georgian education system has severe problems caused by the Soviet totalitarian legacy and the Marxist-Leninist ideology that was imposed on people.
The distorted and misinterpreted Marxist theory, which was represented by Leninist theoretical principles, served as foundation for the Russian Bolshevik empire, the Soviet Union. It turned into the sole and compulsory ideology of this state throughout its entire existence of 70 years. Scientific achievements and discoveries fell victims to this ideology. Social sciences such as history, sociology, linguistics, philosophy, economics, psychology, and others, experienced particular setbacks since the results of research in these fields had to be based on Marxist-Leninist theory.
The totalitarian regime did not promote the establishment of a civil society. On the contrary, it purposely hampered the development of democracy. It prevented the building of a legitimate state and eliminated any step leading towards the supremacy of law.
The Soviet state machine throughout the years of its existence brought up society with distorted values and an underdeveloped civil and legal consciousness. This is a society that does not know about liberal market economy, business administration, and management of different spheres of public life. The lack of this knowledge became desperately evident after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The inadequate knowledge in the sphere of social sciences turned out especially painful for Georgia, because our country became the immediate target and victim of the revenge-seeking Russian state machine and its ideology.
The essential guarantee of well-being of our country is in its speedy economic recovery. This cannot be achieved without the provision for students of adequate Western quality education in social sciences. Quick development of social sciences in Georgia should promote changes in people’s mentality. This will transform the contemporary backward, not law-abiding, undemocratic society into highly developed, law-abiding, democratically minded, moral society aware of its citizenship responsibilities.
In addition it should be mentioned that the development of new technologies has posed qualitatively new challenges to people working in the sphere of social sciences and social relations. The growing complexity of management of these spheres and the emergence of especially new trends has put forward the necessity of multidisciplinary knowledge. It is obvious that the young people who plan to work in the sphere of social sciences should acquire multidisciplinary education and skills of creative thinking. They should equally well know social sciences: Anthropology, Philosophy, History, Psychology, and Economics, as well as computer technology, management, and the basics of marketing, and, of course, foreign languages, particularly English, which under globalization have undoubtedly turned into an international language.
The Georgian University of Social Sciences aims to prepare specialists and grant them adequate knowledge and know-how.
One of the priorities of the Georgian University of Social Sciences is to prepare specially designed programs, so as to foster their students’ and graduates’ employment in various spheres of work. Our aim is to provide knowledge and to enable people to sharpen their skills.
The 21st century is the century of globalization. A certain part of our society is convinced that the cultures and civilizations of bigger nations will pose a threat for smaller nations, such as Georgia. On the contrary, society should realize that the only thing threatening the cultural identity of small as well as big nations is insufficient development and inadequate knowledge. Advances in science, technology, and know-how, as well as the achievements made by other nations, should be shared just as the experience and achievements of other cultures should be shared. This will not harm the cultures of smaller nations. This will only amplify and enrich national cultures. This can be proved by a great number of examples from the history of Georgian culture. The main thing is not to struggle against globalization throughout the world but to use the opportunities offered by this process to restore and empower our national culture. The University intends to work extensively in this field.
Thus the goals of the Georgian University Of Social Sciences are to:
• Meet western educational standards in the field of social sciences and prepare qualified cadre for work in various fields of social life. These specialists are expected to be acquainted with contemporary American and European management methods and models. They are expected to master English and other languages if required.
• Provide students with a multidisciplinary education and foster their creative thinking skills, so they develop as fully viable specialists.
• Provide officials working in the sphere of social work the opportunity of acquiring necessary knowledge as well as to give them new knowledge and skills
• Serve the interests of the nation. National interests require not false emotions but preparation of textbooks that are currently nonexistent in the Georgian language, preparation of special terminology, and introduction into society of contemporary knowledge. In the long run, this will improve the living standards of our citizens and will provide a foundation for the advance and success of the Georgian culture and civilization.
