The Legal Entity of Public Law – Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (BSU) has been implementing vocational educational programs since 2011. In order to create a flexible and effective system for program delivery, by decision of the BSU Representative Council, an auxiliary educational structural unit – the BSU Center for Vocational Programs Management and Lifelong Learning (hereinafter referred to as the "Center") – was established on October 5, 2018. The Center is led by the Director of the Center.

The Center's areas of activity include:

a) Management of BSU's vocational programs;

b) Lifelong learning.

In the field of vocational program management, the Center's objectives are:

a) Planning and implementing a diverse range of Lifelong Learning programs/courses for applicants, students, university staff and other interested individuals, aiming for their professional development, qualification advancement and the acquisition of new skills;

b) Developing short-term educational programs tailored to labor market demands and ensuring their quality, taking international experience into account and adhering to modern standards;

c) Developing cooperation with employers, professional associations and educational institutions to implement best practices and effectively deliver programs in the field of continuous education;

d) Promoting the principle of lifelong learning, raising public awareness and ensuring the effective administration of Lifelong Learning programs.

The administration of individual areas within the Center's Lifelong Learning is carried out by the heads of these respective fields (hereinafter referred to as "Coordinators"), such as the Applicant Preparation Department, Foreign Language Learning Department, Teacher Training Department, etc. The governing body of the Center's Lifelong Learning division is the Coordinating Council, which is accountable to the Rector (in the academic sphere) and the Head of Administration (in the financial sphere). The composition of the Coordinating Council is approved by order of the Rector. The Chairman of the Council is the Director of the Center and the members of the Council are the coordinators of the individual Lifelong Learning areas.

The administration of the Center's vocational programs management division is carried out by the Director of the Center and the staff employed in this division, in accordance with Georgian legislation, the Center's regulations, the job descriptions of the Center's staff approved by order of the Head of Administration and other legal acts of BSU's governing bodies.

The Center implements the following vocational educational programs: 1. Financial Services; 2.Accounting; 3. Library Studies; 4. Horticulture; 5. Nursing Education; 6. Preschool Educator.

The infrastructure located in BSU Building No. 6 (15 Leonidze St., Batumi) is primarily designated for the administrative activities and the educational process of the Center (including workspaces, classrooms, IT infrastructure, common areas, computer equipment, inventory, furniture and other educational and material resources).

To meet the needs of implementing BSU's vocational programs, professional training/retraining programs and continuous education programs/training courses, the BSU Administration and the Center also ensure that vocational students, trainees and vocational teaching staff have access to the following spaces/infrastructure under the lawful possession of BSU:

a) In BSU Building No. 1 (35 Ninoshvili St., Batumi - Cadastral Code: 05.23.03.004) – includes classrooms, workspaces of the BSU administration, the Ilia Chavchavadze Library, a gym, an assembly hall, common spaces, computer labs, etc.;

b) In BSU Building No. 2 (32 Rustaveli St., Batumi - Cadastral Code: 05.23.03.004) – includes classrooms, computer labs, laboratories, faculty administrations/deans' offices, a gym, etc.;

c) In BSU Building No. 3 (32 Rustaveli St., Batumi - Cadastral Code: 05.23.03.004) – includes auxiliary structural units of BSU, the dental clinic "BSU Dent", a psychology clinic, the Niko Berdzenishvili Institute, centers and more;

d) In BSU Building No. 4 – the building located at 12 Pirosmani St., Batumi (Cadastral Code: 05.24.05.084) – includes classrooms of the BSU Faculty of Technology, administrations/dean's office, FabLab, the Examination Center, and the printing machinery/equipment room;

e) In Building No. 7 (15 Leonidze St., Batumi) – the university dormitory for BSU students and vocational students;

f) Practice facilities/internship sites – for conducting practical training provided by the relevant educational program (within the framework of memorandums signed between BSU and the practice facilities, and according to the rules and schedules provided by BSU legal acts);

g) Access to other informational/electronic resources, as provided by the relevant legal act/agreement/memorandum.

Center Contact Information:

BSU Website section: https://bsu.edu.ge/sub-54/news/index.html

Email: vocational@bsu.edu.ge

Social Network: https://www.facebook.com/BSUVocationalPrograms

Location for administrative activities and educational process: BSU Building No. 6 – 15 Leonidze St., Batumi.

Director of the Center: Badri Gechbaia

E-mail: gechbaia.badri@bsu.edu.ge

Tel.: (+995) 593 722115