President of Georgia Giorgi Margcelashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili and other Georgian government officials attended an event at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University today, dedicated to the renewal of the Georgian University Society, aiming is to unite alumni’s of TSU, alongside university supporters who’ll assist and foster the further development of Tbilisi State University, Georgia Today reports.
The Georgian University Society was first founded in 1917, with a goal to establish the first national university in the Caucasus region. It was exactly 100 years ago today, on December 15th 2017, when the Tbilisi State University was legally founded. Tbilisi State University officially opened on February 8, 1918, (January 26 according to the old calendar), being the first, European type of highest educational institution in the region.
“Georgian University had a crucial function in strengthening the Georgian statehood, as it created a fundament which would bring new independence, forming the new generation who would take on the role of governing the country. It was a place from where the hope of regaining lost independence came from,” The President stated, addressing the audience. “When we speak about the merit with which the new Georgian state was established, the largest part and the most intellectual, emotional and patriotic contribution come from the university,”.
“Tbilisi State University always held more value than that of just an educational institution; it was a pillar of our statehood all through those difficult years, when Georgian statehood was under question,” Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia pointed out in his speech.
According to Kvirikashvili, the renovation of the second building of the TSU, which is considered to be the monument of national cultural heritage, is planned; as well as the renovation works at the inorganic chemistry and electrochemistry institute and ISET. “I think this will be another step for creating a future for our university, I’m sure it will maintain all the important areas, strengthening the basis for developing fundamental sciences, but also developing many new directions.” The PM said.
