Higher Education Funding Policy and Research Productivity of Universities in Georgia

This research study explores the existing funding systems of higher education in Georgia and their influence on universities’ research productivity. The research used Harman’s (2007) typology of research funding— institutional, project, and special program—to analyze each approach’s effect on universities’ research productivity. The research revealed that these funding models did not substantially affect the development of scholarly and research capacity. Major barriers to the development of higher education and research are largely related to the amount and financing models. Analysis of the higher education financing policy showed that per capita financing does not allow sufficient research activities at HEI, and targeted financing programs oriented toward developing specific scientific directions or improving scientific infrastructure do not promote research productivity. Based on research findings, the author argues that immediate changes in funding policy are required for the institutional development of university-based research in higher education of Georgia

Ali lahko politika dvojezicnega izobrazevanja v Gruziji prispeva k integracijskim procesom v druzbi?

This article reviews the educational policy for the integration of society in Georgia. It is an analytical research paper on the current situation of ethnic minority education in Georgia. The problems and opportunities of bilingual education policy are analysed in the article. The content analysis research method was utilised in the study. The author argues that bilingual education is a crucial tool for the integration of Georgian society; however, local control, involvement, and context are crucial in the implementation of a national bilingual educational programme. The changes on the political, institutional and pedagogical levels of bilingual education are necessary for the successful implementation of bilingual education reform. (DIPF/Orig.

Woman against a Woman? Inherited Discourses to Reproduce Power: A Gender Discourse Analysis of School Textbooks in the Context of Georgia

This study conducted a critical discourse analysis of research studies on school textbooks conducted in Georgia. The research aimed to address the following questions: What specific discourses are identified in school textbooks developed under the first, second, and third generations of the National Curriculum in Georgia? What factors contribute to the development of these identified discourses in the context of Georgia’s educational system? A total of ten published research studies in this field were selected for analysis. Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis (FCDA), developed by Lazar was used for the categorization of discourses. This discourse analysis yielded significant findings and carried both theoretical and practical implications. First, the study uncovers a noteworthy pattern in school textbooks and contributes to the development of a framework for analyzing school textbooks. Second, the study identified the formation of specific discourses through the omission and invisibility of women. This pattern is termed the development of “language-free” discourses. Third, the study demonstrated that the structural power of women in education alone is insufficient for transforming power relations through discursive practices. Therefore, in order to achieve transformation and change, it is important to challenge and transform the learned and inherited discourses of those who hold power in education. Fourth, the value of this research study is its contribution to identifying future research directions in the field

Bilingual Educational Policy in Georgia: Can it Benefit the Process of the Integration of Society?

This article reviews the educational policy for the integration of society in Georgia. It is an analytical research paper on the current situation of ethnic minority education in Georgia. The problems and opportunities of bilingual education policy are analysed in the article. The content analysis research method was utilised in the study. The author argues that bilingual education is a crucial tool for the integration of Georgian society; however, local control, involvement, and context are crucial in the implementation of a national bilingual educational programme. The changes on the political, institutional and pedagogical levels of bilingual education are necessary for the successful implementation of bilingual education reform