Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, received the Georgian Minister of Education and Science, Mikheil Chkhenkeli, for a courtesy visit on 8 November. The Georgian minister also discussed education, research and innovation (ERI) with State Secretary Martina Hirayama.
Mr Chkhenkeli’s visit focused on the dual system of vocational education and training. Switzerland and Georgia have established a good partnership in this area through their joint project to modernise Georgia’s vocational education and training in agriculture. Now in its third phase, the project was developed in 2013 by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in cooperation with the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science. The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) supports the SDC’s implementation of the project by ensuring exchanges at the diplomatic and technical levels.
Scientific cooperation between Switzerland and Georgia has the potential for further expansion. Switzerland promotes bottom-up research collaboration that develops organically between universities, institutes and researchers. Direct links like these are the best foundation for high-quality scientific cooperation between the two countries’ stakeholders and institutions. For example, between 2017 and 2021, funding schemes from the Swiss National Science Foundation supported 34 research projects involving an element of partnership with Georgia. In addition, 14 young Georgian scientists have received a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship since Georgia joined the programme in 2013.
Next year will mark 30 years of Swiss-Georgian bilateral relations.
Focus on vocational education and training during Switzerland visit by Georgian Minister of Education and Science
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