New employment system in Georgia

Nino ArveladZe

Last year “Education and Employment Forum 2005” was held by the Georgian Business Development Center “Kavkasia” and the Association of Students and Young Scientists of TSU.

This year “Education and Employment Forum 2006” was held in TSU’s central library on October 20, 21 and 22. This time the project’s organizer “Kavkasia” offered a novelty to young people wishing to find a job – it created a database of CVs, which will be in future used by the interested companies.
On October 20 Education Forum was held, at which students and those wishing to continue their studies met the representatives of 40 international and local educational and training organizations. The students had an opportunity of familiarizing themselves with the offered educational programs and take part in them.
“Education and Employment Forum 2006” is a final stage of “Business Development and Employment Political Program”. The program is financed within the framework of the US International Development Agency’s project for supporting small and medium business (USAID SME Support Project), the executor of which is the International Executive Service Corps (IESC).
The Executive Director of the Georgian Business Development Center “Kavkasia” – Sergi Baramidze took the floor at the Education Forum. He said that it is important for them to have information on all the training and educational programs, by means of which they can raise the level of their knowledge and get a real chance of getting a job.
The representative of USAID SME Support Project – Irina Salukvadze spoke about the Education Forum. She pointed out that, first of all, the project contributes to creation of new enterprises and jobs, while “Education and Employment Forum 2006” serves this purpose. Irina Salukvadze emphasized that they are going to implement similar projects in Georgia’s different regions as well, as a result of which more students will have a chance of getting a job and raising their qualification.
The forum was also important in view of the fact that other universities took part in it along with TSU. The Rector of the Georgian-American University said that the union between business and higher school has a decisive role for successful implementation of the education reform in Georgia and raising of the level of student’s education, since this union gives an opportunity for higher educational institutions to rest upon not only international experience, but also the requirements of local business, in which our students will be mainly employed. That is why the dialog with future employers about the level of students is very important. Besides, this employment will de decisive in formation of future specialists and give them an opportunity of practical application of knowledge they received at their lectures.
Deputy Chairman of the Georgian Parliament – Jemal Inaishvili thanked the organizers of the forum and the companies that took part in it. He pointed out that eradication of unemployment is the key task of any country. He spoke about the difficult situation in Georgia and emphasized that professional preparation of cadres is one of the main criteria of the development of our country and economy.
Others guests of the forum spoke about the importance of employment and wished success to those wishing to get a job.
At the forum, certificates were given to the students that had taken the training course.
On October 22 the students that have taken the training course presented their business projects to the companies and several approved ones received financing. The subject of students’ employment is a new one on Georgia’s labor-market, so we believe that it needs a serious study and that is why we invite everyone to take part in the discussion on this subject in the next issue.