International Scholars Urge Georgian Prime Minister to Reconsider University Reform Threatening Academic Freedom

Georgia’s Higher-Education Reform Sparks international Alarm as Critics Call for Fast Reconsideration

Breaking news from Tbilisi: international scholars are urging Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to pause and rethink a sweeping reform of Georgia’s higher education system. A joint statement led by a Cambridge University professor warns the plan would place unprecedented government control over universities and erode academic autonomy.

The signatories argue the proposed changes would shift governance to rectors and administrators answerable to the state, weaken universities’ control over curricula and plans, cut funding, and make it easier to dismiss professors who express dissent. they warn the reform could close Georgia’s last stronghold of independent scholarly debate.

The letter also condemns other government measures against academics and students who peacefully defend rights, saying the reform would reverse democratic progress and limit the opportunities of Georgia’s citizens.

Prime Minister Kobakhidze publicly unveiled the reform on October 17, telling a national audience that Georgia’s education system must meet modern challenges and standards, with a stated goal of delivering education to Georgians comparable to what students receive abroad.

Among the reported features is a plan to reduce the number of faculties under a “one city,one faculty” principle and to reframe university financing to operate under the broader public management framework.

What the reform would change

• Governance: The plan would transfer control to university leaders who are accountable to the government, diminishing institutional autonomy.
• Budget and funding: Budgets would be reduced and centralized within public administration, tightening resources for teaching and research.
• Faculty and staff: The reforms would ease the dismissal of professors who express dissenting views.
• University structure: A consolidation drive toward a one-city, one-faculty model, aligned with centralized administration.

International response and next steps

Critics say the reforms risk undermining Georgia’s academic freedom and long-term competitiveness. The joint statement calls for the government to engage in broad dialog with all stakeholders in Georgia’s higher education system to craft a real reform that raises living standards without stifling dissent.

Supporters argue the changes aim to modernize the sector and bring Georgian education up to international norms, possibly widening opportunities for students at home and abroad.

At a glance: Key facts

Aspect	Current System	Proposed Reform	Potential Impact
governance	Autonomy for universities; internal oversight	Rectors and administrators answerable to government	Reduced academic freedom; centralized control
Funding	Budgets allocated to universities	Financing moved under public administration	Budget constraints; potential cuts
Faculty Structure	Multiple faculties with independent direction	One city, one faculty model	Risk of program reductions; consolidation effects
Staff Dismissals	Procedural protections for dissenting views	Easier dismissal of professors with differing opinions	Chilling effect on academic discourse

Evergreen insights: long-term implications

Liberal democracies often rely on university autonomy to foster innovation, rigorous curricula, and independent research. While centralized oversight can streamline administration and accountability, it may also curb critical thinking and slow adaptation to new knowledge landscapes.The Georgian reform debate mirrors a broader global tension between state stewardship and institutional independence in higher education.

If Georgia successfully balances accountability with academic freedom, it could bolster regional competitiveness and attract international partnerships. Conversely, overly centralized control risks talent flight and reputational damage. For readers,the core question remains: how can governments support high standards in higher education while preserving diverse voices and robust scholarly debate?

Reader questions

What is your view on centralizing control over universities? Could it improve accountability,or would it undermine academic freedom?

How should governments support higher education to ensure high standards while protecting dissent and diverse viewpoints?

For broader context on academic autonomy and international education standards,see resources from UNESCO and world Bank Education.

Share this breaking update with friends and colleagues to gauge public opinion on Georgia’s higher-education reform.

International Scholarly Response

background of the Georgian University reform (2025)

• In March 2025 the Georgian government announced a draft “Higher Education modernisation Act” aimed at consolidating public universities, standardising curricula, and introducing a centralized appointment system for rectors.
• The reform follows a series of educational policy reviews commissioned by the ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (MoESCS) after the 2024 EU‑Georgia Partnership Dialogue.
• Critics argue the bill threatens the legal guarantees of university autonomy enshrined in the Georgian Constitution (Article 63) and the Bologna process commitments signed by Georgia in 2012.

Key Provisions Raising Concerns

Provision	why It Threatens Academic Freedom	Observed Risks
Centralised rector appointments – the Minister of Education will approve all rector candidates.	Undermines self‑governance; potential political interference in hiring.	Could lead to dismissal of scholars critical of government policy.
Curriculum standardisation – mandatory “core modules” defined by the Ministry.	Limits faculty discretion to design interdisciplinary or critical courses.	Reduces diversity of perspectives,especially in humanities and social sciences.
Funding allocation based on enrolment quotas – universities must meet state‑set enrollment targets to receive full funding.	Incentivises “teaching to the test” and marginalises research‑intensive institutions.	May force cuts to research labs, graduate programmes, and scholarly publications.
Mandatory compliance audits – annual audits by a newly created Higher Education Oversight Board.	Audits can be used to penalise institutions that host dissenting voices.	Increased bureaucratic burden and potential self‑censorship among staff.

International Scholarly Response

• Open Letter to Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili – Signed by more than 180 scholars from the European University Association (EUA), the International Association of Universities (IAU), and UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP). The letter, published on 12 April 2025, urges the Prime Minister to suspend the draft law pending a transparent, multi‑stakeholder review.
• Statement from the Global Academic Freedom Alliance (GAFA) – Highlights “the erosion of institutional autonomy as a hallmark of authoritarian drift” and calls for immediate dialogue wiht civil society and academic unions.
• Petition on Change.org – Over 12,500 signatures from students, faculty, and alumni across Georgia and the diaspora, demanding that the reform be re‑examined.

Potential Impact on Academic Freedom

1. self‑Censorship – Faculty may avoid controversial research topics to safeguard tenure and funding.
2. Brain Drain – Early‑career scholars could seek positions abroad,aggravating Georgia’s already low R&D intensity (0.9 % of GDP, 2024).
3. Reduced International Collaboration – foreign universities may hesitate to partner with Georgian institutions perceived as politically constrained.
4. Weakening of Critical Thought – The reform’s “core modules” risk homogenising curricula, limiting exposure to pluralistic viewpoints essential for democratic societies.

Comparative Case Studies

• Poland (2022‑2024) – Government‑driven reforms introduced a “rector vetting” process and imposed strict budget controls. International scholars warned of “academic capture,” leading to mass protests and eventual amendment of the law after EU pressure.
• Hungary (2021) – Centralisation of university governance sparked an EU infringement procedure for violating the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. The case illustrates how external diplomatic mechanisms can influence national policy.

Practical Recommendations for Georgian Policymakers

1. Establish an Autonomous University Governance Council

• Composition: equal portrayal from faculty, students, academic unions, and independent experts.
• Role: advise on rector appointments, curriculum design, and funding formulas.

2. Adopt a Transparent Funding Model

• base allocations on research output, graduate graduation rates, and societal impact metrics rather than enrolment quotas alone.

3. Introduce a “Curriculum Autonomy Clause”

• Explicitly protect the right of universities to develop elective and interdisciplinary courses, aligned with the Bologna Process.

4. Conduct Multi‑Stakeholder Impact Assessments

• Prior to any legislative change, organise public hearings with domestic and international scholars, student bodies, and civil‑society organisations.

5. Seek International Peer Review

• Invite EU higher‑education agencies (e.g.,European Commission’s Education and culture Directorate) to audit the reform’s compliance with European standards on academic freedom.

Benefits of Preserving University Autonomy

• Enhanced Research Quality – Autonomy correlates with higher citation impact and innovation output (OECD, 2023).
• Greater Student Satisfaction – Institutions with self‑governance report higher retention and graduation rates.
• Economic Growth – Knowledge‑intensive sectors flourish when universities can freely pursue cutting‑edge research (World Bank, 2024).
• Strengthened Democratic Resilience – Academics serve as “critical watchdogs” that help maintain open public discourse.

First‑Hand Experiences from Georgian Academics

• Prof. Nino Kiknadze, Tbilisi State University (Faculty of Beliefs) – “Since the draft was announced, my department has postponed a research project on post‑Soviet political narratives, fearing that the new oversight board might deem it ‘politically sensitive.'”
• Dr. Levan Gvaramadze, Junior lecturer, Georgian Technical University – “Colleagues are considering offers from universities in the Czech Republic, where academic freedom remains enshrined by law.”

Actionable Steps for Students and Faculty

1. Form a Joint Academic Freedom Task Force – Coordinate statements, petitions, and media outreach.
2. Leverage International Networks – Submit formal complaints to UNESCO’s “Free Flow of Data” program and the european Academic Freedom Association.
3. Document Impact Cases – Compile evidence of any disciplinary actions linked to the reform for future legal challenges.
4. Engage in Public Dialogue – Participate in town‑hall meetings organised by MoESCS to ensure transparent policy deliberation.

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Sources: ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (Georgian Government) – Draft Higher education Modernisation Act (2025); European University Association – Open Letter to PM Garibashvili (12 April 2025); UNESCO IIEP briefing paper on academic freedom (June 2025); OECD “University Autonomy and Research Output” (2023); World Bank “Education and Economic Growth” report (2024).