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Internationalization of higher education and science remains a priority for the country. It should be noted that the internationalization of higher education is not an end in itself, but it is a quality improvement tool, the strengthening of which should be supported by both the state and universities. This is the main idea for which the Government of Georgia supports the development of joint doctoral programs to increase the scientific potential of leaders in the field.

In order to increase competitiveness in the international educational market, it is important to strengthen the educational and research potential of the country by training leaders. A successful way of internationalization is considered to be the development of international joint programs, which envisages cooperation between students, academic staff, administration and institutional level. Each party involved in the development and implementation of an international joint program learns from each other and strengthens intercultural and international competences. Internationalization includes all the missions of the university – teaching, research and the third mission of the university. A doctoral program in education encompasses all of these aspects – it provides the development of teaching and research directions, and its graduates will be in the service of their field and society.

In response to the above-mentioned challenge, the joint doctoral program - "International Doctoral Program in Governance and Administration in Education and Science" ("Joint Doctoral Program") is an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia under the program - "Innovation, Inclusion and Quality Project - Georgia (I2Q)" , within The financial supporter of the program is the World Bank/International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), within the framework of the loan agreement with the Government of Georgia.

Another priority for promoting the internationalization of higher education in Georgia is the development of an entrepreneurship module within the higher education curriculum, as well as the development of a module to improve English language skills for students who meet the following discipline requirements:

• conducting field research within the framework of bachelor's and master's programs;
• analysis of international practice;
• Development of an entrepreneurship training module, which will later be offered to other universities as a free or optional component;
• Development of English language courses with relevant literature – creating a specific module and encouraging English as a mediator in the teaching of sectoral courses and disciplines.

Among the measures promoting internationalization, one of the important components is the so-called "International Excellence School", which provides an academic environment by offering short-term courses.

the so-called The "International Excellence School" should be focused on innovation - preparing young and experienced researchers to achieve more success in grant competitions and in areas such as project management, technology application and innovation. Attention will be paid to cross-sector cooperation, patenting and licensing, as well as intellectual property legislation at both national and international levels. Participants should familiarize themselves with international best practices as well as national legislation and regulations in this area.

Internationalization as a tool for quality enhancement – ​​Tamar Sanikidze

The internationalization of HE and Science remains a priority. It should be underlined, that internationalization of higher education is not an end in itself, but an instrument for quality enhancement, and has to be supported by the government and universities – this is the main idea why the GoG supports the development of a joint doctoral program for educating leads in the sector.

In order to achieve a high degree of competitiveness in the international educational market, it is important to strengthen the educational and research capacity of the country by educating leaders. The development of international joint-degree programs is considered a successful way of internationalization. It envisions cooperation on student, academic staff, administration, and institutional levels. All parties involved in the development and implementation of an international joint-degree program learn from each other and sharpen their intercultural and international competencies. Definition of internationalization entailed all missions of a university – teaching, research and service to society or third mission of a university. The doctoral program in education will cover all these aspects - it will provide teaching and research and its graduates will serve the field and society.

To address the challenge, the joint PhD program "International doctoral program in Governance and Administration in Education and Science" ("the joint PhD program") became an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia within the Innovation, Inclusion, and Quality Project (I2Q) Program with the financial support of the World Bank / International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) based on the Loan Agreement with the Government of Georgia.

Another priority towards supporting the internationalization of HE in Georgia, is to develop an entrepreneurship module for higher education studies as well as a module for enhancing English language skills for students considering discipline requirements:

• Conduct a field study in bachelor and master programs;
• Analyze international practices;
• Create an entrepreneurship module, which will then be offered to any institutions as a free or elective component;
• Development of English language instructed courses with the corresponding literature – create a specific module and promote the English Language as a mediator for teaching field-specific courses and disciplines).    

Among the measures promoting internationalization, it is one of the important components of establishing an International Excellence School, which provides a focused academic environment with short-term courses. The focus of the International Excellence school should be on innovation with the main aim to prepare early career researchers, as well as train experienced researchers to be more successful in the grant application, project management, technology transfer and innovation, intersectoral cooperation, patenting, licensing , intellectual property laws and rights both on national and international levels. Participants should be familiar with international good practices as well as national laws and regulations in the field.