The President opened the Georgian-American Technology University in Batumi today. Mikheil Saakashvili addressed the gathered audience and spoke to them about the importance of the university. The Head of State noted that this is a historic day and the highest quality school is already present in Georgia, which will give Georgian youth an education of modern standards and a real chance to realize their skills and talents.

After his address, Mikheil Saakashvili toured the exhibition held at the Batumi Technology University where he learned about the novelties offered at 6 universities of Georgia. Additionally, the President also learned about the innovations offered at the technology universities of the world, including the achievement in terms of military production in Georgia.

“For example, Hotel Kempinsky has an AC system which works on the water obtained from the sea, and this technology was invented by a Georgian in the 90s, but Germans were the ones who patented it and now we have to pay 100 times more in order to buy it from them. We had problems in terms of weapons. We could not buy weapons for 2-3 years. This is why we were able to create firing systems, drones, and small commercial aircrafts. This means that Georgians have an incredible talent. But the Georgian Technical University in Tbilisi was the only school that had a basis for this. We have to work with the Tbilisi Technical University as well as other schools in this direction…We opened a Public Service Hall in Tbilisi yesterday, and Americans attended the ceremony. They said that they have not seen an administrative building like that in America or Europe. They haven’t even seen such a university building in America either, but we have to take care of all the universities, including the Batumi University. Very good kids study here but they just need positive reinforcement and scholarships. First of all, these instructors must also teach at the Batumi University and second, we are increasing the scholarship program for these students to study abroad. There are 100 scholarships allocated for the Batumi University students in order to study at leading American and European Universities. Education abroad is important because they will come back and teach here. In 5-10 years there will be such innovations in Georgia that they will astonish everyone” – stated Mikheil Saakashvili.

Foreign and Georgian instructors will hold an orientation week for up to 4,000 university students and up to 1,000 12^th graders of Georgia. Students will be informed about the latest achievements of engineering and natural sciences as well as study programs of the university and future job opportunities.

The university will admit 240 students at the beginning and 500 later. The study programs and degrees offered at the university will be in full compliance with those of American universities.