Georgian PM: University merger cancelled, GTU to focus on technical studies

The Georgian government has scrapped plans to merge Tbilisi State University with the Georgian Technical University (GTU), Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has announced.

Speaking at a briefing following a meeting with GTU’s rector and faculty, Kobakhidze confirmed that the two institutions will remain separate, Caliber.Az reports via Georgian media.

He also outlined changes for GTU, stating that admissions to its humanities faculties will be discontinued.

“Under the principle of ‘One city — one faculty,’ GTU will be transformed into a purely technical university. In future, it will only offer courses that were taught before the 1990s,” the Prime Minister said.

Protests took place at Tbilisi State University (TSU) and Georgian Technical University (GTU) following Education Minister Givi Mikanadze’s January 29 announcement of a plan to merge the two institutions. The minister argued the merger would elevate TSU’s academic standing and international rankings, but the plan was unveiled without public consultation.

TSU’s Senate, the university’s representative governing body, overwhelmingly rejected the merger on February 4, voting 39-1 to urge the government to halt the process and hold inclusive discussions.

The Senate warned that the merger carries “administrative and academic risks,” including governance conflicts, staff uncertainty, and potential disruption to teaching. Faculty groups at both universities have echoed these concerns, calling the plan “not substantiated and therefore not appropriate.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev