Lunch at Ambassador John Tefft's residence

March 24, 2009

Ambassador Teft discussing the issues of higher education in Georgia with the rectors. Photo by Sophie Bzishvili

On March 24, Ambassador John F. Tefft hosted a lunch at his residence for seven Georgian University Rectors to discuss ongoing educational reforms, existing partnership with U.S. universities, and the acute post-war challenges that state and private universities face in Georgia today. The issues raised at this informal discussion addressed U.S.-Georgian university collaboration through student and faculty exchange, initiatives of Georgian universities to enhance the quality and scale of education, and the reduction of credit for student loans as a result of the recent financial crisis.  The rectors shared the achievements, plans and concerns of their universities with the Ambassador and expressed a strong desire to continue the long-established friendship and cooperation on educational and cultural programs with the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Georgia.